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.