Anthony Serino, President of Serino Cigar Company and APS Distributors recently announced they were breaking into the premium cigar market with a new line of high-end cigars. Previously known for producing budget-friendly bundle cigars for different companies and retailers across the world, they are planning to release their new Serino Royale series at the upcoming 2016 IPCPR convention. To bring these cigars to life, they sought the help of Omar Gonzalez Aleman of La Corona Cigars S.A. for blending and production. This line of cigars were made in celebration of the companies 20th year of business. Today’s review will be featuring the prerelease Serino Royale Maduro XX.
What am I smoking?
Cigar Review: Serino Royale Maduro XX Toro
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: La Corona S.A.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano 2000 Seed Maduro Oscuro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua (Jalapa, Esteli)
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Vitola: Toro
Strength: Full
Packaging & Design
This cigar comes packaged in boxes of 20 cigars, all adorned with high quality blue & gold decorative primary and foot bands. Though I have not seen the black lacquer boxes in person, they appear to be well put together and feature a the companies logo on the lid.
First Impressions
Looking at the cigars, there’s no doubt these are a premium cigar. The wrapper looks flawless and feels thick and oily to the touch. There’s also a bit of tooth to it, giving it a nice texture. After cutting, I noticed up front notes of chocolate, black licorice and rich aged tobacco. The draw is a bit on the firmer side, but not off putting.
The Smoke
After toasting, the first puffs offer up some of the same notes that were present in the prelight draw, but have a much more peppery element to them. The Ecuadorian Habano 2000 seed Maduro Oscuro wrapper is very flavorful, leaving a oily richness on my palate.
Into the second third, the Serino Royale Maduro XX is getting more complex. Nuances of marshmallow and cocoa accompany subtleties of sea salt, leather and earth. The burn line was a bit uneven at this point and did need a touch up to keep it in check, but the flavor was not affected.
Finishing up on this cigar, and I’m very pleased with how it performed. It was full in body throughout and had a bit of strength to back it up. Towards the nub, the pepper began to emerge once again and complimented the sweetness of the filler tobaccos. Notes of sugared almonds, caramel and leather finish off this cigar making for a memorable experience.
Final Thoughts
Going from manufacturing bundle cigars to super premium smokes is quite the jump for a company to make, but I feel the Serino Royale Maduro XX was a step in the right direction. Although I experienced a couple minor burn hiccups, the flavor was more enjoyable than I anticipated. I’m looking forward to trying more from the Serino Royale line of cigars.
Score Breakdown
Appearance: 19
Flavor: 19
Balance: 18
Burn: 17
Construction: 18
Rating: 91
Price: $10.39 / $183.99
Serino Royale Maduro XX
Serino Royale Maduro XX Burn
Serino Royale Maduro XX Finish
