Serino Cigars Wayfarer Cigar Review – The Journey Begins

When you think of the name Wayfarer it conjures up visions of traveling the world. I know what that is like, having been around the earth a few times in my life. Everywhere I travel though, I make it a point to find the local cigar shop and position myself nearby so that after a long day of work, I have a place to relax and enjoy the company of fellow cigar enthusiasts. Of course a true Wayfarer is one who travels by foot not air, car, or train. So when I do travel to distant lands I like to walk about and meet the locals also, it is the only real way to enjoy the culture of the land. If you want to experience my travels all you have to do is visit the Stogie Press travel section here.

Today though, I am going to be reviewing the new Wayfarer Cigar from the Serino Cigar Company. It traveled from the  La Corona Cigars, S.A. Factory in Esteli, Nicaragua to the Serino Cigars warehouse in Pompano Beach, FL and then to the Stogie Press office in Melbourne. FL. A well-traveled cigar, waiting to be smoked and reviewed.

If you have been following the Serino Cigar Company over the past few years, you know they are company has been creating some terrific boutique blends and have received numerous accolades along their journey including being placed in the Stogie Press Top 25 Boutique Cigars for 2016 with the introduction of the Serino Royale 20th Anniversary Maduro XX .

This year the company upped the ante in Las Vegas with the introduction of a cigar that company founder, Anthony Serino’s son, Carson blended. I have to say the apple does not fall far from the tree as evidenced in this new company line – The Wayfarer.

Carson was schooled well by both his father and his blending mentor, Cuban Master Blender Omar González-Alemán.  In an interview with Cigar Noise Nation, Carson describes his life around cigars:

“My father has been in the industry for 20 years. He really loved cigars and kind of jumped into it blindly back then. I was 7 years old when this happened. I’ve been around cigars my whole life, a lot of retail stores, a lot of factories, a lot of characters for sure, a lot of memories, and none I’d ever trade! I was the first in my family to go to college and went up to Florida State University double majoring in entrepreneurship/marketing with full intention of going into the industry with my father upon graduating. Luckily for me, in my final two years of schooling we met Omar Gonzalez Aleman and had an opportunity to build a brand for years to come. As a person that likes the creative aspect of building brands while simultaneously being an avid cigar smoker for a large portion of my life, it all kind of lined up.”

He also described his cigar industry idol:

“From a personal standpoint, Omar Gonzalez Aleman. I’ve been around a lot of cigar folks growing up but no one has taught me more about the process of making cigars than Omar. In terms of sheer legendary status and historical contribution, Alejandro Robaina.”

As you read, this has been quite the journey for Carson and I am sure there is much more to come, but for now, let’s talk now about the Serino Wayfarer cigar.

The Serino Cigars Wayfarer

As noted this is the latest creation from the Serino Cigar Company and is one that Carson, personally had great input on. According to the Serino Cigar Co. press release, the Wayfarer, otherwise known as Carson’s Personal Cigar, is not totally new to the market. In fact it was previously sold naked as ‘The Wayfarer’ to select retailers and handed out as an event exclusive. It is now in full production and available at Serino Cigar retailers across the country.

The Wayfarer blend is described as:

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo ‘99
• Binder: Jalapa, Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua (undisclosed)

The Serino Wayfarer will initially be available in three vitolas, later to be expanded to five. Two will be special releases. Each vitlola will be packaged in 20-count boxes.

• Corona Gorda w/ Cuban triple cap (6 x 46) – $7.70 MSRP
• Robusto w/ Cuban Perilla cap (5 x 52) – $8.50 MSRP
• “The 109” cap Toro (6 ¼ x 50) – $9.20 MSRP

Future Releases:

• Corona (5 1/8 x 44) – $6.95 MSRP (Boxes of 20, $139)
• Dalia (6 ¾ x 43) – MSRP TBA

The Serino Wayfarer, like all Serino Cigars are being produced at  La Corona Cigars, S.A. Factory in Esteli, Nicaragua and was blended by Luis Omar González and  Carson Anthony Serino.

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For this review I sampled the Serino Cigars Wayfarer Corona Gorda, which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.

Pre-Light Examination

The Wayfarer is quite a stunning cigar when you pick it up. The milk chocolate-brown wrapper is silky smooth to the touch with a fine marbling throughout. The Seams are nearly invisible and it is finished with a triple (almost quad) cap. Closer exam shows the light oiling on the wrapper with a slight sheen when held in the light. The cigar is well pecked and solid to the touch.

There is a single band on the cigar with some intricate design work. Using a black and gold motif, the band prominently displays the name “Wayfarer” in the center with Serino Cigar printed below and the letters CO. in a small gold circle at the bottom. There are some leafs and scrolls surrounding the front art. The side of the band has an image of a true wayfarer with a striped jacket and carrying as suitcase as he walks along in his travels. The words “Serino Cigar Co.” are also printed on each side.

Besides the beautiful construction and adornment of the Wayfarer, it exudes some enticing pre-light aromas including a baking spice note on the shaft and sweet fruit, pepper, and light earth off the foot.

I used my Pailio double blade cutter to slice the cap on this beauty and there was plenty of cap leaf left around the cigar – that’s how expertly applied the cap was.  I gave a few cold draw puffs and noted the perfect restriction (at least to my liking). Notes of red pepper and earth coat the palate even before putting a flame to it.

Well enough chit chat. It is time to go on a little journey with the Serino Cigars Wayfarer and see where it leads us.

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Cigar Review Notes

• Real nasal opener to start as the pepper hits heavy in the first puffs
• But hiding in the back is a fruit note, trying to punch through the vale of pepper
• After a 1/4 inch of burn a raisin note finally makes its way to the surface
• The raisin is quickly joined with a cafe latte 
• Ash is light grey and rests on a medium char line
• The smoke is full and creamy in texture, engulfing the whole palate
• As the pepper faded, after a half-inch of burn, the retro-hale become elegantly smooth
• Raisin is shifting to a dry candied fruit with a developing sweetness
• Roasted acorn aroma is coming off the foot
• Sweetness evolves into more of a caramel
• Ash fell deep into first third
• Slightly off centered burn cone is noticed
• Cedar enters
• Burn is a bit off moving into second third
• Cigar 101 Lesson – Turning the cigar so the shorter burn is on the bottom corrects the burn without a touch up
• Dry cocoa powder notes enter
• Smoke is ultra smooth and the aroma evolved to a nut
• Cedar is quite present in the profile
• Mouth watering spearmint enters
• Strength is a medium by the halfway point
• Ash falls again deep in second third, this time a flat and centered burn cone is revealed
• Gentle pepper enters and the aroma shifts to a maple syrup– loving how the aroma is evolving –  very enticing
• Pepper continues to evolve through the final with a lingering fruit and mint background
• Ended at  medium plus in strength
• Total Smoking Time was one hour and 15 minutes

Overall the Serino Cigars Wayfarer was an outstanding addition to the company’s line of premium cigars with enticing flavors and shifting aromas. Other than the early burn anomaly, which corrected itself, the journey was flawless. I highly recommend this cigar to all, regardless of experience, as it will please from foot to nub. Try pairing this with an aged rum to enhance the natural sweetness. As the Serino Cigar company says; Take The Journey.