La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull Review

The La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull arrives as one of the most-celebrated cigars in modern American premium smoking. The Ecuadoran Habano wrapper is dark, oily, and slightly mottled, with the unmistakable character of well-aged Habano-seed tobacco. The pyramid shape, tapered at the cap and widening toward the foot, is unmistakable. The construction is dense and uniformly packed.

The cap is precisely applied with the tapered pyramid point. The Andalusian Bull band, with its distinctive bull-themed graphics, marks the cigar's brand identity. Cigar Aficionado named the Andalusian Bull the #1 cigar of 2016 (97 points), and the blend has remained remarkably consistent in the years since.

The cold draw pulls at moderate resistance, slightly tighter than a parejo would feel due to the tapered cap. Pre-light flavors are concentrated: cedar, dried fruit, faint coffee, light pepper. The aroma at the foot is dense, sweet earth, refined cedar, espresso bean.

The first third opens at full medium-full body. Within two draws, refined cedar, balanced pepper, dark coffee, and a thin leather note settle in. The Ecuadoran Habano wrapper drives the cigar with the refined character that earned the Andalusian Bull its 2016 #1 ranking.

The pyramid shape produces a continuously-changing smoking experience. As the cigar burns from the narrow cap toward the wider foot, the smoke concentration shifts and the flavors evolve. The burn line is razor-sharp. The ash holds firmly with tight gray banding.

The retrohale is the Andalusian Bull's defining moment. Sweet cedar wraps around refined pepper and resolves into espresso and dried fruit. The retrohale rivals premium cigars priced significantly higher.

For comparable Cigar of the Year-level cigars at similar pricing, see the Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado (CA #1 2014) and My Father Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo (CA #1 2015). Together with the Andalusian Bull, these three cigars represent three consecutive Cigar of the Year winners.

The second third is where the pyramid shape pays off. As the cigar widens, the smoke concentrates and the flavors deepen. Cedar holds. Coffee shifts to fresh espresso. A subtle dried-fruit sweetness emerges, fig and date, that complements the cedar core. Leather thickens.

This is the third where the Andalusian Bull earned its 97-point Cigar Aficionado rating. The complexity is layered without being aggressive. Six or seven distinct notes available on any single draw, integrated rather than stacked. The Ecuadoran Habano wrapper delivers a flavor profile that mainstream Habano cigars cannot match.

Body holds at full medium-full. The pepper recedes from accent into a balanced background note. A faint baking-spice character, cinnamon and clove, appears on the finish.

Construction continues flawless. The draw is at perfect resistance. The ash drops cleanly. For more on La Flor Dominicana's blending philosophy, the brand has consistently produced top-tier Dominican cigars at premium pricing.

The final third pushes deeper into cedar, coffee, and dried fruit. The pepper returns more prominently. Leather thickens. A faint sweetness emerges, almost a brown sugar note that signals the deeply-aged Ecuadoran Habano wrapper.

This is where the Andalusian Bull proves its Cigar of the Year status. Most Habano-wrapped cigars get harsh in the final inches. The Andalusian Bull continues to develop. The flavors deepen rather than collapse.

The cigar warms slightly in the last inch but never becomes uncomfortable. Total smoke time runs 80 to 100 minutes at a relaxed pace.

The La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull sits among the most-celebrated cigars produced in modern American premium. Cigar Aficionado named it the #1 cigar of 2016 (97 points), and the blend has remained remarkably consistent since. Together with the Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado (CA #1 2014) and My Father Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo (CA #1 2015), the Andalusian Bull represents three consecutive Cigar of the Year winners.

What La Flor Dominicana does better than most Dominican brands is push beyond the mild stereotype. The Andalusian Bull, like the Padron 1926 series and OpusX, demonstrates that Dominican cigars can compete at the very top of the modern premium market.

For smokers building a comprehensive premium humidor, the Andalusian Bull earns a place alongside the Padron 1964 Anniversary Maduro Robusto, Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo, and other reference benchmarks. Compare current pricing across 19 retailers before any box purchase.

Final score: 95/100.

Best paired with espresso, aged bourbon (Knob Creek 12, Eagle Rare, Booker's), Highland Scotch (Macallan 18, Glenmorangie 18), or aged Cognac. The Andalusian Bull's refined Ecuadoran Habano profile pairs broadly across premium spirits.