11/2/2014

Cigar: Carlos Torano Casa Torano Maduro
Size: Lancero, 7.0”x38
MSRP: $7.55
Strength: Mild-Medium
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Origin: Honduras



I wanted to write this review in my normal format; I was going to separate the cigar into thirds and explain the evolution I was getting with the flavors, burn, etc. However, as I was in the second third, I realized that that was not going to happen…

Before lighting, I notice that this jet-black lancer is very oily, with some small veins and slight splotchiness near the cap. The wrapper is extremely musty smelling while the foot smells very chocolaty. I use a punch over the pigtail cap and get a nice draw with just the right amount of resistance. The cold draw tastes mostly of sweet chocolate, but there is a hint of floral to it too.



The cigar lights very easily due to its small gauge, and immediately it begins to dump smoke off the foot. I get some spiciness in the retrohale, but there is no flavor of pepper on the tongue; I taste cedar and chocolate with a (very) slight creaminess that is more in texture than flavor.



The ash tends to last an inch or so before falling into my lap. This happens more than once. The flavors stay the same as I smoke the cigar – chocolate and cedar – but do vary in prominence. About halfway, the chocolate turns bitterer. It is no longer the sweet candy-like chocolate from before. It is more of a baker’s bitter chocolate.



The cedar flavor tries to battle the bitterness of the chocolate, but by the time the final third is reached, the bitterness begins to overpower all other tastes. The burn is extremely cool and the burn line and coning is perfect; I am not smoking this cigar too fast. The flavor is not harsh either, just bitter. No es bueno, mis hermanos de la hoja.

Overall, the cigar seems fine for a yard-gar. There is no complexity to it. But, while it did get incredibly bitter in the end, the flavors at the beginning were nice. The construction seemed spot on, giving it some much needed points in my book. The burn line was perfect and the smoke was cool. I would like to say I’d smoke it again, but I really have no use for a lancero yard-gar.