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!