Torano Signature Collection Robusto

Size: 5 X 52

Wrapper: Sun Grown Brazilian Maduro

Binder: Broadleaf

Filler: Dominican Cubano Ligero/Nicaraguan Habano Ligero

Photo by John Maldonado

While in Puerto Rico, a good friend enjoyed a Torano cigar and felt so strongly about it that he called me as he was smoking it to recommend it. That conversation paired with a well-timed email from my friends over at tampahumidor.com announcing a deal on Toranos was all it took for me to take the plunge and order a box of Signature Robustos.

 

It was a loooong day; an early doctor’s appointment, two school science fair visits, and after school activities with all three. The wife was having a girls’ night, so I got the privilege of trying to get them all to bed. Eventually, I got to sit down to relax. I noticed Sopranos was playing on HBO. Awesome! Watching some of my favorite Hollywood gangsters smoking nice fat cigars, I knew when this episode was over it would be time to break out one of my newly delivered Torano Signature 5 X 52 cigars.

I opened my humidor and grabbed a cigar, poured myself a glass of Glenmorangie Artein Private Selection, neat, and went outside to sit on my stoop to enjoy the mild weather with my old standby, jazzradio.com.

I took the cigar from the cellophane wrapper, placed it under my nose and took a nice long sniff. Ahh, it was a nice earthy smell.

The cigar has a nice chocolate color with minimal veins. I clipped the cap and took my usual pre-lighting draw. It had a very smooth open draw (and no sawdust in my mouth).

I used a long wooden match to light the end and that’s all it took. The first few draws contained hints of cacao and then a nutty flavor became prevalent. The smoke was medium. I tasted champagne as the smoke left my mouth. The first third was a flavor jamboree. 

 

The ash, with its brown, grey and streaks of black held strong almost to the halfway point before it fell. That was when the smoke kicked up a notch and the cigar became sweet and spicy. The burn got a little uneven, but not enough for a touch up.

 

The final third had a finish of roasted coffee and leather as the smoke mellowed. Magically, the burn evened out and I was able to smoke my cigar until my fingers began to feel the heat.

1. This was a great smoke full of flavor from beginning to end. Put aside at least and hour yourself to enjoy this smoke. I’m glad that these were recommended to me and I’m looking forward to smoking and sharing these with my cigar smoking buddies. -February 26, 2013
2. robert@cigarassessor.com

The comments section has been opened up, and I’m wondering what your favorite cigar recommendations are, so feel free to chime in.