Every February, Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic comes alive for the ProCigar Festival, a celebration of premium cigars.

This year, I had the privilege of visiting La Flor Dominicana (LFD), the second factory visit of this festival — here’s how it went down👇.

Walking into the LFD factory with Litto Gomez as our guide felt pretty iconic I must say. He is charismatic, passionate, and deeply knowledgeable about cigars, he was undeniably one of the standout personalities of ProCigar Festival 2026.

I first encountered Litto last year at the Meet the Makers event hosted by Tor Imports in Edinburgh, from a far, where his charisma was evident on stage then.

I recently realised that the Andalusian Bull — an absolute powerhouse cigar and a past “Cigar of the Year” according to Cigar Aficionado — was one of his creations. So, standing in his factory a few months later felt pretty surreal.

From Jeweller to Cigar Icon

Before venturing into the cigar industry, Litto was a successful jeweller. However, a traumatic armed robbery at his jewellery store prompted him to completely pivot his life and career.

Together with his wife, Ines Lorenzo-Gomez, Litto founded LFD (though I believe it was under a different name) in the mid-1990s, despite having no prior background in tobacco. Over time, they turned it into a globally celebrated brand.

The Philosophy Behind LFD

Litto explained that LFD didn’t start with a grand plan or deep pockets. It began with hustle: hauling two tons of tobacco in an old Toyota mini van, suppliers offering credit based on trust, and supporters stepping in without knowing what the future held. Success wasn’t about certainty; it was about showing up day after day and taking the next step.

Initially, the goal might have been financial, but that changed when he walked into a hot, dusty warehouse filled with tobacco leaves.

The aroma, texture, and energy of the raw material transformed the mission from making money to building something meaningful for life. When passion replaces profit as the primary driver, everything changes.

Even decades later, Litto emphasises that the learning never stops. He says tobacco is alive; each crop behaves differently, fermentation shifts unpredictably, and every aging room has its own personality. There’s no autopilot in a cigar factory — every leaf must be smelled, touched, observed, and tasted. Mistakes are absorbed internally; they never reach the customer.

That’s true craftsmanship!

Decisions guided by the cigar smoker

One principle stands above all:

“If you’re unsure about a decision, ask one question— how does this benefit the LFD smoker?”

Not the accountant, not the margins, not convenience. The smoker is the ultimate judge. Every decision — from selecting tobacco to timing the aging — serves that experience.

Gomez explains that consistency doesn’t happen by accident. Aging, fermentation, and blending all require patience, discipline, and sometimes years of adjustments. If a blend isn’t ready, it waits. Real quality requires the courage to wait.

Lessons in Integrity & Industry

Gomez mentions that the cigar world is smaller than it seems. Word travels fast; dishonesty, cutting corners, or failing to deliver can end careers. However, respecting suppliers, customers, and competitors builds a reputation that opens doors.

Stories from the cigar boom of the 1990s illustrate this point, he says. Factories sprang up overnight, millions were invested, and many disappeared just as quickly. Survival wasn’t about wealth; it was about principles. Character outlasts hype.

Competition doesn’t require tearing others down. The mindset at LFD is simple: make the best cigar possible and let the work speak for itself. That confidence builds industries, not rivalries.

That sentiment was on full display at the Welcome Party of the ProCigar Festival, where the spirit of collaboration over competition echoed throughout the night.

It carried through the factory tour as well, especially toward the end, where Litto showcased his AI-style wall of fame portraits honouring his peers — a powerful tribute to the very people who helped shape the industry alongside him.

Also, randomly, Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate — whose own cigar factories are based in Nicaragua — unexpectedly joined the tour. Near the end, he delivered an incredible, heartfelt speech — genuinely in awe of the empire Litto has built. I was fortunate enough to capture that moment on camera.

Great lessons we could all take away in our day to day lives: build boldly, respect your peers, celebrate excellence — and let your work do the talking.

Here’s a little video of the factory tour:

The Global Golden Era

Gomez says that cigar enthusiasts are enjoying exceptional tobacco from all over the world. Much like wine, cigars are in a global golden era — diverse, rich, and constantly evolving. It’s a win for everyone… though I’m not so sure legislators worldwide would agree! 🙈😬

He loves walking into the factory each morning, looking around, and feeling pride — not for money or status, but for what has been built: leaf by leaf, decision by decision, year after year.

His children are also involved in the business. I had the pleasure of chatting with his son Tony Gomez, who plays a central role in the company and is responsible for blending some of LFD’s fan-favourite cigars, including La Nox (“the night” in Latin). Maureen, a brilliant fellow cigar enthusiast I met at the festival, couldn’t stop raving about it! I haven’t had a chance to try one yet, though I think one might have come through the boxes we received at the dinners and parties — definitely need to give it a shot!

After the tour, we enjoyed some of the best BBQ’s around; the Gomez family certainly know how to entertain a crowd. It was an unforgettable experience!

Tor Imports distributes LFD cigars here in the UK, and Scott Vines’ approach at Tor seems to focus on partnering with brands that have strong family roots, heritage, and quality, while also fostering personal connections with the makers. Given that, it makes perfect sense why he partnered with Litto Gomez and his family — their values and craftsmanship align perfectly.

A huge thank you to everyone at La Flor Dominicana for the hospitality, the honesty, and the inspiration 🙏. It was absolutely terrific — a moment I genuinely won’t ever forget. I know I keep saying it lately, but these experiences have been truly unreal.

Also happy Dominican Republic Independence Day! 🇩🇴

Interested in visiting?

This visit was part of the ProCigar Festival. If you are considering attending, details for next year’s 2027 festival will be available on the official ProCigar website later this year!