By Thursday, the week has teeth. 

Sleep is not an option. Coffee is hot, and my morning belongs to La Flor Dominicana.

La Flor Dominicana

In case you ever wondered, the LFD factory feels exactly like its cigars. Direct. Intense. Passionate.

Litto walks you through LFD with the confidence of a man who knows exactly what every leaf in that building is doing.

You don’t need much time with this family-run business to understand what drives them. They all possess a ‘No BS’ nature that is refreshing.

This does not come with arrogance, it is served with humility and respect. Litto mentions the word ‘respect’ numerous times…but it is not about himself. It is always directed at other people or processes. Litto is lightening in a bottle and has never lost sight of where he came from.

The factory has recently expanded…a lot. But I will save that for an article next week so it get’s it full due.

You leave the tour a better understanding of intensity. Not just in flavor, but in philosophy.

Then the now-famous LFD cookout.

The smoke from the fire blends with cigar smoke as if it were planned that way.

This is not a token lunch. This is lots of meat on open flame, smoke in the air, music just loud enough to push conversations closer together.

Did I eat too much? Of course. Do I have any regrets? Not one.*

*Well, maybe I was too late to grab one of the comfortable chairs in the shaded area sooner. I should know better by now. 

The fatigue from the first half of the week tries to creep in, but adrenaline and grilled beef shut it down fast. You tell yourself you will pace this routine better tonight. You will not.

The Pro Cigar White Dinner

The White Dinner at the Monument is a visual reset. If there is a visual version of resetting the palate, this is it.

Clean lines. Fire colored tables. The skyline of Santiago behind it all. It looks composed by an artist.

You glance around and realize most of the people here have been smoking, walking, and hustling for four straight days…yet somehow everyone found a pressed shirt.

The Monument lit up behind the crowd makes the whole thing feel cinematic without trying too hard. It is all the same energy that happens throughout the day…but with better lighting.

Over the years, I have come to think that the event at the monument can’t get any more spectacular (and it didn’t need to). This year, with a full, clear roof and fireworks, proved me wrong.

Thursday proves something important.

This industry knows how to work hard. It also knows how to stage a memorable moment.

Cigar Count: Aggressive but justified
Hydration Level: Needs attention
Voice: Questionable by midnight

If Wednesday was perspective, Thursday is performance.