Let's cut straight to this Dominican beast - the Don Lucas 20th Anniversary Gordito packs a 60-ring gauge punch in just 4 inches. Priced at $144 for 10 stogies, this 2016 limited edition features oily Dominican wrappers hugging tightly rolled aged fillers. The "Gordito" (Spanish for "chubby guy") lives up to its name with dense smoke output that'll make your cigar lounge neighbors jealous.
The initial puffs hit with black coffee bitterness tempered by burnt caramel sweetness. Thick smoke coats the tongue while maintaining decent draw resistance - needs a proper V-cut to avoid laborious puffing.
Leather and black pepper emerge as the core flavors, with an undercurrent of cinnamon spice. Watch for occasional uneven burns requiring touch-ups, typical of thick 60-ring cigars. Smoke temperature remains cool thanks to the Dominican filler's natural sweetness balancing the strength.
Unsweetened cocoa powder dominates as tar buildup becomes noticeable. I tapped out at the 45-minute mark before nicotine nausea set in - newbies should pair this with sugary drinks. The nub stays flavorful if you dare go full cigar ashtray mode.
Rolled in Punta Cana's tourist-friendly factory using traditional "entubado" bunching technique. The Gillet family maintains small-batch production - about 20 rollers still handcraft these. While marketed as "Dominican puro", enthusiasts debate the San Andrés-esque wrapper characteristics. Worth the factory tour if you're already hitting DR's beaches.
