Another new cigar company that came across my mailbox recently is Troianiello Cigars. Founded by Michael Troianiello and based out Scranton, Pennsylvania, the company is celebrating its one year anniversary this month (April). The company launched last year with a flurry of premium and flavored blends, including some well crafted barber poles. The premium line currently includes a Connecticut, Habano, Maduro, Barber Pole and a Triple Barber Pole. All blends were created by Michael.
On the company’s website, Michael notes:
“When I was a kid, my grandfather smoked cigars. I grew up surrounded by the smell of them and as I grew older, I became a cigar aficionado. They reminded me of home and family, and it was something I wanted to experience again. From then on, I developed an interest in them. Asking those I met what brand they were, what they liked about it, where they got it from. But every cigar I had never felt right. They didn’t satisfy my nostalgia or my palette like I wanted them too.
So I went to work to develop my own unique blend that I knew would be perfect. After traveling around the Dominican Republic and working in factories, I found the perfect blend. Now I’m excited to share my expertise with my customers so they can find their perfect cigar and re-experience all their good memories too.”
For this review, I will be focusing on the Troianiello Cigars Habano which I received from the company as part of a sampler pack to be reviewed on Stogie Press.
The Troianiello Cigars Habano is expressed in both a toro and a box pressed torpedo and come packaged in 25-count boxes.
- Toro (6 x 52) – MSRP $10.00
- Box Pressed Torpedo (6 x 52) – MSRP $11.00
This Nicaraguan Puro blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Nicaraguan Habano
- Binder -Nicaraguan
- Filler – Nicaraguan
They are available for sale on the company’s website Troianiello Cigars.
Pre-Light Examination
The Troianiello Cigars Habano sports a dark brown habano wrapper that has some decent marbling throughout and a few noticeable veins. The cigar is firmly packed and seems well constructed including its pig tail finish to a well applied triple and a closed foot.
A single band adorns the cigar, using a motif similar to the Italian flag. The design kind of remind me of a an old school pizza parlor sign. The center of the band displays the company’s logo and the blend “Habano” is inscribed on a scroll across the logo. The band also states the home of company – Scranton, PA and on the bottom it is noted “Handmade”.
Running the Troianiello Cigars Habano across the nose, I picked inviting floral and spice notes both on the barrel and the closed foot.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that I found to be a bit more restricted than I prefer, but then again it is a closed foot. It offered notes of butter, spice, and touch of earth.
With the pre-light examination out of the way, it was time to fire this one and see what journey it will take me on. I used my double flame torch to warm the foot to that even orange glow. The foot took quickly to the heat and delivered an initial burst of spicy pepper and coffee. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial notes are a burst of spicy pepper and a coffee nuance
- There is a slight tanginess to the early profile
- The smoke was delivered at full volume
- A touch of natural sweetness and cream begins to balance it out
- Dry leather notes add some complexity
- A bright white ash forms on top of a wavy medium thick char line
- Ash fell early revealing a flat cone
- Dry fruit and floral notes inch their way in
- The cigar is a bit dry (astringent) on the palate
- Burn has straightened out nicely moving through the second third
- Cocoa notes enter to add pleasure
- A sweet nutty aroma is wafting off the foot
- Umami spice nuances notes appear deep in the second third
- Continued underlying floral notes down to the finish
- Medium to full in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Final Analysis
The Troianiello Cigars Habano Toro was decent cigar presented in a well constructed vitola and a fairly pleasant array of flavor notes and aromas. I enjoyed the sweet nutty aroma in the second third and the natural sweetness and cream early in the burn. The burn was Ok, though it did have a bit of a wave through the early stages which eventually corrected itself in the second third. There was a tanginess early in the burn but that transitioned away. The complexity was above average with plenty of nuances for the experienced palate. This is worth picking up a fiver. I rate it a 90.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Bit Astringent in Second Third; (-1) Flat Burn Cone; (-1) Tangy notes early in the burn
