A wise owl one asked how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll pop. This morning I asked how many cigar sizes and shapes are there? I’ve seen charts with as many as 72 different sizes. But in reality there are an infinite amount of cigar sizes. We’ve seen Skip Martin release a cigar measuring 11 x 133, and last week Dos Hombres released a 11 x 90 cigar called the Emperor which we will review down the road.
Why did I ask the question you may ask? Well, the reason is simple of the traditional sizes I reach for the Torpedo or Belicoso the least of any size on the shelf. And I had to ask myself why. They tend to be more expensive for one, and if I want a smaller ring gauge that the pointed tip offers I will reach for a Corona or Lancero. However, some cigars don’t offer that option, which leads me to wonder why is the Torpedo a dying breed in the cigar industry.
Cigar: Serino Royale Connecticut
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut
Binder: Nicaragua (Jalapa)
Filler: Nicaragua (Esteli, Jalapa)
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Size: Torpedo
The Look: The Serino Royale comes in a classy white dress box that is features the elaborate and classy Serino band in oversized fashion on the box. Inside the Ecuador Connecticut wrapper have a darker hue to them then some of the classic Connecticut wrapped sticks on the shelves of many humidors. There is a dual band on the cigar with the Serino 20th Anniversary band serving as the primary traditional placement moniker while the foot band denotes Royale Connecticut. Both use a heavy wine stock paper that many would be familiar with on Opus X. The wrapper is flawlessly applied and is loaded with oils. The foot is well packed with a nice balanced feel in the hand.
The Notes: The cold draw of the cigar has a nice maple sweetness to it with hints of pecans and a smooth buttery note that lingers. The foot of the cigar serves up a warm aroma of spices and a touch of cedar. There seems to be the potential at this point for the cigar to really deliver an experience that is atypical of a Connecticut wrapped stick.
Once the Serino Connecticut Royale Torpedo is properly toasted and lit a buttery smooth creaminess is instantly picked up before a butter pecan like richness develops well before the first inch of the cigar. The cigar is incredibly smooth and there are subtle nuances of cedar, citrus and a slightly floral component as well. The retrohale is woody and nutty and pulls the cigar together with a soft aroma.
In the second third of the cigar some of the rich butter notes fade away leaving a dominant combination of wood and pecan, with some of the citrus notes of orange zest appearing on the aroma coming from the cigar. The finish of the cigar is short, like a Connecticut cigar should be in my opinion, but the complexity is very hight.
The last third of the Serino Connecticut Royale Torpedo is sees the citrus notes become the primary note. There is some nuttiness in the background, but it is more generic at this point then the easily identifiable pecan notes earlier in the cigar. As the cigar closes out some cedar is noticeable on the finish.
The Finish: Anthony Serino who heads up Serino Cigars isn’t a household name but he has been in the cigar industry for 20 years. We thought highly of other Serino lines, but this one might top them all. It’s a great mild smoke with a lot of complexity and subtle nuances that will be great for a new smoker or a season cigar veteran who wants to slow down. It’s one of my favorite Connecticut cigars now, and worthy of a buy.
Score: 93
Price: $10.39 / $183.99
Serino Royale Connecticut
Serino Royale Connecticut Foot
Serino Royale Connecticut Burn
