Tony Serino has been in the cigar industry for more than 20 years. You may not have heard of him until 2016 when he launched Serino cigars and then in 2017 his son Carson launched Wayfarer and in 2018, Taino. This year at the 2019 IPCPR they showed off the Serino Vintage 2012 which is limited to only 1,000 cigars made. They were rolled 3 years ago by three-pairs of rollers at La Corona Cigars, S.A. Factory in Esteli, Nicaragua before they were set aside to be aged.
Cigar Review: Serino Vintage 2012
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano 2000
Binder: Nicaragua (Jalapa Criollo ’98)
Filler: Nicaragua (Corona ’99)
Length: 9.25
Ring Gauge: 47
Size: “A”
The Look: Each cigar features the Serino Royale looking band of blue, gold and red. The toothy wrapper has some crystallization to it and a fair amount of oils leading me to expect a flavorful smoke with a razor thin burn line. Each A size cigar comes individually packed in its own personal wooden cigar box with a slide top lid and a cedar spill inside that can be used to light the cigar. In the hand the cigar with a closed foot has nice weight to it and no soft spots with a velvet like feel to it.
The Notes: The aroma off the wrapper is incredibly sweet with the cold draw revealing a touch of molasses and mesquite with a lingering sweetness after the cigar is put down. After quickly torching the closed foot the initial note of the cigar is a burst of pepper before subsiding to a creamy cedar component.
As we move into the first third of this cigar that requires a serious commitment there are notes of cedar that remain dominant with touches of molasses. As we move further into the first third the molasses notes become dominant with a nutty finish. The retrohale of the cigar offers an abundance of pepper which tapers off to reveal a lengthy cinnamon finish.
In the second third the molasses notes slide back as the cigar becomes very nutty like a roasted peanut. It’s exceptionally smooth with a moderate finish. There is an occasional hint of cedar as the second third begins but it begins to grow in intensity becoming the focal point of the cigar as the second third comes to a close. The retrohale continues to server up pepper with a hint of cinnamon and earth as well.
As we close out this cigar I realize it has lasted then some relationships I’ve been in and more enjoyable then some as well. The cigar is loaded with cedar at this point and it dominates the palate with a touch of leather on the finish. The retrohale still has pepper with hints of cashews showing up for the first time.
The Finish: 4 hours. That’s how long it took me to smoke the Serino Vintage 2012 and the first two-thirds were spectacular. The last third which saw the cedar notes really take hold and while enjoyable lacked the complexity of the first two-thirds. On a normal size cigar this flavor profile would have been right in my wheel house but I wanted more of the first two-thirds. It was almost like smoking a different cigar and in a four hour marathon one could argue that it was welcomed. I still picked up a couple of more for my humidor because I want more of those notes I experienced in the first two-thirds.
Score: 91
Price: $19.99
Serino Vintage 2012
Serino Vintage 2012 Foot
Serino Vintage 2012 Burn
