Archive for the ‘torano’ Category

Torano Loyal

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

I picked up this cigar the other day at a local shop. The price was right, and it looked good. Charlie Torano says the name “Loyal” is dedicated to his father’s commitment to providing exceptional quality cigars at an affordable price. Without further ado, here are my thoughts on the Torano Loyal…

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican Republic

Size: Robusto 5 x 56

Price: Around $5.00

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The shiny wrapper had minimal flaws, and small to medium sized veins. There was a nice aroma from the wrapper and foot that reminded me of a sweet cedar and rich soil. The cigar was pretty well packed, with a small soft spot near the foot. The pre-light draw had slight resistance, and had an earthy flavor.

The ash held for over an inch, and the burn required one minor correction.

1 Torano_Loyal cigars

Flavor:

The first third was primarily earthy mixed with smooth spice. What kind of spice? I’m not sure. It had a mild spicy zing, that’s about as descriptive as I can get. The smoke feel was smooth with a hint of cedar.

2 Torano_Loyal cigars

The second third became very smooth and sweet. It was like a mixture of woodiness and a cocoa like flavor. Through the nose, the spice really calmed down and became creamy. Simple but not bad at all.

3 Torano_Loyal cigars

The last third kept the same flavor profile as the second third. The only thing that changed was a slight pick up in the body, but it remained in the medium range.

4 Torano_Loyal cigars

Conclusion:

This was a good medium bodied cigar. It wasn’t complex at all, but the flavors were satisfying. Perhaps those of you who seek a complex flavor profile with a lot of twists and turns should look elsewhere. But you are like me, a simple cigar like this can often hit the spot. I say give the Torano Loyal a try.

Master by Carlos Torano

Monday, April 25th, 2011

I picked up this cigar by literally randomly buying it. While I am not a big smoker of Torano cigars, I usually give his stuff a try from time to time. I enjoyed the Single Region, so I figured why not try this one. I paired with water and here is my review of the Master by Carlos Torano.

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Nicaragua (Esteli)

Filler: Nicaragua (Esteli and Jalapa)

Size: Robusto 5 x 50

Price: Around $6.00

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper almost had a velvety appearance, with small veins and no visible flaws. The odor off of the wrapper and foot was a fairly strong barnyard. Overall, the cigar was very well packed, with only small variations here and there. The pre-light draw had slight resistance. The pre-light draw flavor was a dark earthiness with hay.

The burn required one correction, and the ash held for an inch.

1 Master_by_Carlos_Torano cigar

Flavor:

The first third had a nice black pepper that lacked harshness. That pepper was prominent when passing smoke through the nose. The dominant flavor was cedar. Behind the cedar was black coffee. After about 1.5 inches went by, the black pepper calmed down and blended well with the coffee and cedar.

2 Master_by_Carlos_Torano cigar

In the second third, the black pepper was still there and very noticeable though the nose. It also left an interesting sensation on the top of the mouth. The cedar and coffee didn’t go anywhere, and there was a sweet note mixed in with it. I couldn’t pin down anything to compare it too. The smoke feel was thicker in this third. The flavor profile just “Popped” and was very enjoyable.

3 Master_by_Carlos_Torano cigar

The last third had more of that sweet note that was mocha-ish. The woody and coffee flavors were still there, and were held together by that sweetness. Through the nose, the pepper lost some of it’s bite, but it didn’t go anywhere. There was a cinnamon type of tingle in the mouth and on the lips. The overall flavor profile was simply put together well.

4 Master_by_Carlos_Torano cigar

Conclusion:

This was a very good medium to maybe a full bodied cigar. This cigar had a great flavor profile. Everything fit together nicely. That’s the best way I can describe it. I’d strongly recommend picking up a few of these to try. I think you won’t be disappointed.

Carlos Torano Single Region-Serie Jalapa

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

The sickness I had last month really threw me off of reviews. It goes to show just how much a simple sinus issue can effect your palate. It wouldn’t have been fair to do reviews in that condition. I recovered some time ago, but it also threw off my reviewing rhythm. So now, I am finally getting back into the swing of things. Enough idiotic rambling…

I picked up today’s review at a local shop. The Single Region name is pretty self explanatory. This cigar was blended using tobacco grown in Jalapa Valley. The concept of blending a cigar in this fashion sounded interesting, and I had to pick a couple up. I paired this cigar with a glass of water, I offer you my thoughts…

 

Wrapper/Binder/Filler: Nicaragua (Jalapa Valley)

Size: Robusto 5 x 50

Price: Around $6.50

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper looked nice, with minimal flaws and small to medium veins. The odor coming off of the wrapper and foot was earthy with a little poo. It sounds bad, but a tinge of poo can often mean a nice flavor profile. Overall the cigar was evenly rolled and packed. The pre-light draw was free, and had a prominently natural tobacco taste, with a tinge of wood and earth.

The ash held for about 1.5 inches, and the burn required several minor touch-up’s.

1ToranoSingleRegionSerieJalapa

Flavor:

The first third had simple but good flavors. A well balanced mix of wood and sweetness was pretty much it. Way in the background lurked earthiness. When passing smoke through the nose, there was a smooth and easy sweet peppery spice. As I got further in, the smoke feel became thicker feeling but stayed dry.

2ToranoSingleRegionSerieJalapa

The second third kept that woodiness, but the sweetness opened up and became mocha. When retro-haling, the peppery spice really mellowed out and became an easy smooth sweetness. Smoke volume increased. This thing just billowed clouds with a nice aroma. The smoke feel kept this thick feel, but became creamy and coated the mouth.

3ToranoSingleRegionSerieJalapa

The last third kept the same core flavors that I wrote about in the second third. The difference was that some draws were crisp with dominant woody flavors. Other draws were creamy with sweet mocha. Other draws were a combination of both.

4ToranoSingleRegionSerieJalapa

Conclusion:

This was a very good medium to full bodied cigar. I am not a big Torano smoker. It’s not that I don’t like their cigars. For whatever reason, I usually am not drawn to them. The Single Region blend may have changed that for me. The flavor profile was simple but refined and, well, nice. I’d gladly smoke more of these. I’d recommend that you at least give them a chance. I’d be curious of your opinions.

October 8th, 2010 – Torano Cigar Smoker Event

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

This Friday, October 8th, from 6PM to 9PM

torano1St. Pete Cigar will be hosting their final cigar smoker event of 2010. The featured brand is Torano Cigars. As always, there will be one day only deals, raffles, door prizes and food. So make sure you stop by! See you there you bastards!

Carlos Torano Exodus 50 years

Sunday, March 14th, 2010

I’m back once again for a Quick Smoke with Tom. The couple cigars that I smoked beforehand had a draw that was a bit too tight for my liking. This cigar was by no means bad, but in the end I wasn’t terribly impressed with the flavor profile.

As with previous Quick Smoke with Tom reviews, this was recorded using my MacBook webcam. The quality & lighting isn’t quite what it should be, but is usable. This video runs for about 9 minutes.

Speaking of reviews… A few of you have asked when Ed and I will be doing our next review. It will be within a week, and I predict we will do the Alec Bradley Tempus, which is an amazing cigar. Stay tuned.

MP3 Audio Only

Carlos Torano Exodus 1959

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

Today’s review comes to you compliments of a grab bag Cigars Direct sent me. To quote the Torano website – This cigar commemorates the Exodus of expert Cuban cigar families and their impact on the cigar industry after the nationalization of all tobacco farms and cigar factories by the Cuban government in 1959. The Toraños were one of those families.

As you regular readers know, I usually don’t do much of an introduction when reviewing a cigar. I figure you came here for a review and not my silly banter. So keeping with that, I paired up with a glass of water and got to the review.

 

Wrapper: Habano

Binder: Honduras

Filler: Dominican, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica

Price: Around 4 – $5.00

Size: Robusto 5 x 50

 

Pre-smoke & Construction:

The box pressed wrapper was dark and rugged looking, with a few medium sized veins. Sniffing the wrapper reminded me of sweet earth, or soil. The foot had a similar odor, with an added peppery note. Squeezing the cigar, I found no soft spots or inconsistencies. the pre-light draw had slight resistance with a sweet earthy taste.

The burn required no corrections, and the ash held strong for over an inch. Construction overall was great.

1ToranoExodus1959

Flavor:

The first third started off with pretty heavy, yet smooth peppery notes. I detected earthy flavors in the background. Despite the simplicity of the flavor profile, I enjoyed it so far.

2ToranoExodus1959

The second third developed. The pepper remained but combined with an added sweet spice. The earthiness grew in strength and a sweet flavor came about that reminded me of mocha. It wasn’t full blown chocolate or mocha though.

3ToranoExodus1959

The last third showed a few changes. The pepper mellowed out and was overtook by a sweet spice. The earthy notes fell way back but would come to the forefront at times, then fall back again. I couldn’t quite pin down what the sweet flavor was, but I do know it was spicy. I’m leaning towards cinnamon due to the bite it had. Mocha was a player at times in the overall flavor profile as well. Lastly… The smoke feel had an interesting cooling effect.

4ToranoExodus1959

Conclusion:

This was a solid full bodied cigar. I don’t really have a lot to add other then it was enjoyable. A decent selection of Torano cigar can be found at Cigars Direct if this sounds like something you’d enjoy. I say give it a try!

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