TacoSauce NC Diary

[TacoSauce]

Serino The Expat Corona Gorda (+++): My first cigar from Serino. This is a nice-sized stick with a handsome and understated green band. There is a pigtail and notably the 1/4 inch closest to the foot has no wrapper. The pre-light aroma has a slight fermented note along with some old leather. The cold draw is sweet hay. After lighting the cigar opens at a mild-medium body and the initial flavor is that of sweet clouds. Reminds me of the Warped Cloud Hopper. Once the wrapper starts burning, the body increases to medium and woody and nutty notes join. The profile remains unchanged for the remainder -- a great sweet, nutty experience. This has a lot of Cameroon character, even though I don't think there is any Cameroon tobacco present. Excellent.

[TacoSauce]

Rocky Patel Sixty Robusto (+): So many bands on this stick -- its just silly looking. However, the pre-light aroma is intoxicating. It has an intense incense and wine aroma that is very pleasing. After lighting, the cigar opens at a medium body with a strong cedar flavor. This is maintained for the first half, however the burn is wavy and the cigar requires 3-4 puffs each time to get any smoke output. If you don't take regular puffs, a slight bitterness creeps in. This rectifies at the half way point and the experience evens out. A bit more sweetness and the occasional fruit note join as well. Overall, this wasn't an interesting experience. Not one of the Rockys I would go back to.

[TacoSauce]

Serino Elenor Rose (-): My second Serino cigar tasting. This is a beautiful stick with a leather and brownie aroma on the pre-light wrapper. The cold draw had a strong note of apple peels. After cutting, I notice that the tobacco is very tightly packed. However, unlike a Cuban cigar where the tobacco is usually tightly pack on one side, this was evenly, tightly packed. There were no identifiable knots and the draw was snug, but passable. After lighting, the cigar opened up at a medium body and the flavor was generic tobacco with a slight sourness. While the burn was even, I struggled to get enough smoke output. I tried to pull some stems from the head of the cigar, but most were so tightly wedged, that they would break rather than pull out. I made it to the half-way point before giving up. Nothing to recommend here.

[Hoosh]

Thanks for posting these NW reviews. As one who smokes almost entirely NWs, it’s nice to read the views of others, especially those that get into some detail. 🙂

[helix]

Many thanks, great reference as I have found your +++ recommendations I tried to be in line with what I like in a cigar also.

[TacoSauce]

On 8/22/2025 at 7:51 PM, Hoosh said:

Thanks for posting these NW reviews. As one who smokes almost entirely NWs, it’s nice to read the views of others, especially those that get into some detail. 🙂

 

On 9/8/2025 at 9:39 PM, helix said:

Many thanks, great reference as I have found your +++ recommendations I tried to be in line with what I like in a cigar also.

Thanks gents. Always nice to hear some positive feedback. I had stopped posting for the past month as I was temporarily "homeless." But now that I've landed in a new place I can get back to what's important. Trouble is, I'm not sure where I can smoke in this new area. So until I figure that out, my pace will be impeded.

[TacoSauce]

Serino Taino Corona Gorda Habano (-): Another stick from Serino. This is a handsome corona gorda with a silky wrapper. The pre-light aroma has an intoxicating and refined incense aroma and the cold draw reminds me of those old-style Mary Jane candies. After lighting, the cigar opens with a firmly medium body. The flavor profile is mostly nutty with a light sourness. There is absolutely no sweetness. This cigar needs some sweetness, yet there is none. It reminds me of some of the less delicious Caldwell blends in that regard. I got just past the half-way point and I couldn't take anymore. It smoked fine and it technically wasn't "bad," but I did not want to smoke it.

[Goldeneye]

Thanks for the review, I have missed your reviews!

[TacoSauce]

Serino Wayfarer Corona (++): This is a nicely sized petit corona. The pre-light aroma is of spicy leather and the cold draw has a note of bouillon cubes. The cigar is densely packed, but the draw is fine. After lighting, the cigar opens at a medium-full body and the flavor notes are cocoa and chili powder. There is some black pepper on the retrohale, but it isn't overwhelming. The profile is Montecristo-like but spicier and more intense. No changes throughout the smoke. Overall, this was a nice experience, but a bit more body than what I typically reach for. 

[TacoSauce]

Sobremesa Solita Short Churchill (+): This is my second tasting of a cigar from the main Sobremesa line. The first was was plugged and couldn't be saved by the PerfectDraw. That earlier experience was one of my all time worst cigar experiences. However, I was convinced to revisit by the Lizards. This stick had a nice hot cocoa aroma off the pre-light wrapper. The cold draw had a faint note of almond shells. After lighting, the cigar opened at a medium-full body and the main flavor was sour leather. This profile was consistent to the end with the occasional nutty note joining throughout. By the end the body had increased to full. This was way more intense body-wise than what I typically smoke and I won't be revisiting this blend.

[TacoSauce]

Matilde Serena Robusto (+): I'm not sure how I came to possess this cigar. Never heard of it before. It is a CT wrapped stick with a mildly spicy pre-light aroma and a nondescript cold draw. After clipping, the draw is wind-tunnel-level open. After lighting, the cigar opens with a mild body and the flavor is very light oriental tobacco with a touch of sweetness and the occasional nutty note. This is the profile to the end. Not enough going on to keep me interested and I almost tossed the stick out of boredom. This is a stick for complete newbies.

[TacoSauce]

La Colmena Black Honey (+): A cute, little belicoso stick with a handsome, dark and velvety wrapper. Pre-light aroma is pungent barnyard and the cold draw is a rich molasses with a hint of heavy window curtains that have been in storage for a decade. After lighting, the cigar opens just under medium-full. The power of suggestion is strong here with the flavor coming through literally as "black honey." Black honey is produced from bees that forage among certain plants and trees. It is dark, gritty, and woody, with a slight sweetness and the funky, slightly bitter and vegetal flavor of beeswax. The body ramped up to medium-full over the course of the smoke, while the flavor notes remained unchanged. Retrohale was pleasant throughout. Overall an interesting stick, but it falls firmly in the fuller-bodied, savory/vegetal camp -- which is not my thing.

[TacoSauce]

Sin Compromiso Seleccion No. 4 (+): A heavily box-pressed robusto from Dunbarton. I tried another vitola in this blend previously and it was too plugged to smoke, but hearing good things form others, I decided to give it a second chance. The pre-light aroma smelled of old books and the cold draw had a strong paint note. The wrapper was blotchy -- as if pectin glue had been spattered on it by Jackson Pollack. After lighting, the stick opened at medium-full and the flavor was paint and steak sauce. There was some refined aged tobacco flavor in there as well and so the whole thing wasn't unpleasant. I fought a significant canoe in the first half, but it fixed itself by the half-way point. In the second half, the flavors remained the same, but a little sweetness joined. The steak-sauce flavor is pretty unique and I imagine some will enjoy that, but overall this profile isn't for me.

[TacoSauce]

ADVentura the Navigator Pinzon (-): A dark-looking Robusto with a burnt plum skin note coming off the pre-light wrapper. The cold draw had a dark fig note. The draw was snug, but manageable. After lighting, the cigar opened at a medium body and the flavor was slightly bitter, muddled charred wood and a slight fruit sourness. While the airflow on the draw felt okay, the smoke output was weaker than expected and the flavor profile felt like there was under-combustion going on. Early on, the wrapper cracked and the cigar started to swell just under the band. This suggested that there was a knot at that position which could explain the poor flavor profile. I smoked through to the mid-way point hoping the issue would resolve, but it never did. Nothing good here, so I tossed the stick.

[TacoSauce]

Joya de Nicaragua Black Nocturno (++): A nice, Corona Gorda-sized stick with a dark, maduro wrapper. The pre-light aroma was barnyard and bookshop. The cold draw was fresh figs and dish soap. After lighting, the cigar opened above medium and the initial flavor was dish soap and burnt toast. The retrohale was immediately pleasant and enjoyable. The flavor profile settled into slightly burnt pumpernickel toast with blackberry jam, but without the sweetness of jam. This profile was maintained for the entire smoke. The body hit medium-full in the first third and then full at the final inch and a half -- where I stopped. What was nice about this profile, was that even though flavors were delivered at a medium-full level, it did not overwhelm or seem harsh. Good construction and burn throughout. A recommended stick. 

[TacoSauce]

Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu Blue No. 1 (++): At 6"1/4 * 52, this is a larger stick than what I want to smoke. Unfortunately it is only available in honkin' big ring gauges. I got this single after having enjoyed the Tatuaje Escasos and hearing that this blend had a similar profile. Pre-light aroma reminds me of the smell coming off a piece of wood that has been singed by a novice using a table saw for the first time. Nothing notable from the cold draw. After lighting, the cigar opens at a medium body and the flavor is a nice mix of refined, cooling, Patoro-like creaminess as well as a bolder, toasted bread note. I think this is a better profile than most Patoros, because the extra toasted bread flavor brings the body up and prevents the experience from being too mild. The flavor profile does not change throughout. Construction and burn were both excellent. I like this profile better than most of the classic Tatuaje blends, however, I think the Escasos wins overall.

[TacoSauce]

Plasencia Alma del Fuego Flama (++): This is my second tasting of this blend. Previously I had the Cadente, and found that it had a singular flavor of pencil shavings. The Flama is a short lancero or panatela sized stick. It has been sitting without cello in the humidor for a number of months, so had no notable pre-light aroma. Also nothing of note on the cold draw. After lighting, the cigar opened just above medium body and the initial flavor was a blast of cedar and sweet bread pudding. A nice opening! The sweet bread notes faded over the first inch and the cigar settled into a cedar profile with hints of burnt toast and a very occasional caramel note. Unlike the Cadentes, this was a straight cedarwood note, and didn't present as pencil shavings. By the end of the stick the body was at medium-full. Through the smoke, there was voluminous smoke output and the smoke had a velvety texture that was appreciated. This was a nice post-dinner smoke, but I don't think it is a $18 cigar.

[TacoSauce]

Crux Epicure Habano Gordo (+): How on earth did this 6 x 60 monstrosity get into my humidor? There are rules for a reason. We can't just have stupidly large cigars laying around willy-nilly! Sticks of this size offend me. Pre-light aroma was of leather shoes and the cold draw had a walnut note. After lighting (which took a long time), the cigar opened at medium bodied and the initial flavor was leather with a rich, fresh plum. The plum note disappeared as soon as the cigar got up to temp, leaving sour leather with an unpleasant bitterness that lingered on the finish. This lasted for the first inch and then the bitterness faded and the sour leather got stronger. As I got close to the half-way point I got the occasional nutty note which elevated the experience nicely. I ran out of time at the end of the second third and tossed the stick at that point. I wouldn't go back for another Gordo, but I might try a smaller vitola in the future. 

[Odessa]

@TacoSauce

Hello, I hope you are well. Do you have any experience with La Palina Classic Rosado? Thank you.

[TacoSauce]

1 hour ago, Odessa said:

Hello, I hope you are well. Do you have any experience with La Palina Classic Rosado? Thank you.

Yessir! I can post it in my next review. Coming soon!

[TacoSauce]

La Palina Classic Rosado Robusto (++): I had the first one of these a long time ago (before I started this diary), and only now am I getting back to revisiting the blend. In the interim, I've compared all other Rosados to this one and the others have fallen short. This stick has a beautiful, if blotchy, red wrapper. The pre-light aroma smells of hot chocolate and the cold draw has a lychee note. After lighting, the cigar opens at a medium-full level -- this surprises me since I remember this being a firmly medium stick. A lot of flavor with this one. The profile is "rosado", but delivered darker and more burnt than I remember. There is a nice, tangy sensation coming from the wrapper as well. Wood and charred nuts are also present. This profile was consistent to the half-way point at which time I had to abandon the stick. I abandoned it due to smoking time constraint. I had 1 hour to smoke, and somehow I only made it half-way through this 5 1/2 inch cigar. How is that even possible? Perhaps I was in a time-warp or was abducted by aliens. No way to tell. Despite not having time to smoke it entirely, this was still a flavor-packed experience and I will be going back to this blend. I think I liked my earlier, more medium experience with this blend better, but this was still a great smoke.

[Odessa]

2 hours ago, TacoSauce said:

La Palina Classic Rosado Robusto (++): .

In the interim, I've compared all other Rosados to this one and the others have fallen short. 

First of all, I would like to thank you very much for your comprehensive review. I truly appreciate it!

I have a question regarding your statement "In the interim, I've compared all other Rosados to this one and the others have fallen short." Have you had a chance to smoke the Arturo Fuente Rosado Sun Grown Magnum R or the Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Flor Fina 8-5-8 Rosado Sun Grown, and compare them to the La Palina Classic Rosado Robusto?

Thanks so much for sharing your experience - I really appreciate it!

May the cigars be rich and life even richer. All the best to you! 😊

[TacoSauce]

On 10/25/2025 at 10:18 AM, Odessa said:

I have a question regarding your statement "In the interim, I've compared all other Rosados to this one and the others have fallen short." Have you had a chance to smoke the Arturo Fuente Rosado Sun Grown Magnum R or the Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Flor Fina 8-5-8 Rosado Sun Grown, and compare them to the La Palina Classic Rosado Robusto?

I've had the Fuente Sungrown Magnum R series -- the 44 is my favorite so far. I would say that the Mag R 44 is a better cigar than the Palina Classic Rosado. However, while the Fuente is more delicious, it doesn't give off what I consider to be "classic rosado" flavors. Through that lens, I consider the Mag Rs to be Rosado in name only, and that makes the Palina a better Rosado experience.

Regarding the Sun Grown Gran Reservas -- I am not a fan of anything with that wrapper in that line. For a Gran Reserva, it has to be a Cameroon or I won't smoke it.

[Odessa]

4 hours ago, TacoSauce said:

I've had the Fuente Sungrown Magnum R series.

Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply. Wishing you all the best!

[TacoSauce]

Joya de Nicaragua Antano CT Corona Gorda (+): A squishy feeling corona gorda with a CT wrapper. Pre-light aroma reminds me of a fish market and the cold draw has a faint, sweet apricot note. The draw is wide open -- feels like this is underpacked. After lighting, the cigar opens at a medium body and there is immediately a big dose of flavor and pepper. This punches above most CT stick in this regard. The flavor is slight sweet oak, black pepper and a hint of chili powder. The retrohale tingles a bit, but is manageable. The loose pack caused this to smoke hot and there was an slight canoe for the entire smoke. Lots of smoke production from this stick, but the smoke had the acrid smell of stale cigarettes. Even I recognize that I smell awful after smoking this cigar. Overall, an impressive amount of flavor for a CT stick, but I didn't enjoy it enough to want another.