Serino Royale Connecticut Cigar Review – Truly Majestic

Every Sunday morning I awake to the tap-tap of my friendly Cocker Spaniel’s paw. Ziggy is his name, and there is no sleeping in when Ziggy has to go out.I don’t mind though, it gives me an opportunity to sit on the back deck as the sun rises behind the palm trees and enjoy the awaking of nature around me. The birds are chirping, the squirrels are romping,  and the lizards are running from Ziggy.  It is always a perfect moment to enjoy a fine cigar in without all the hustle and bustle of the day.

Today was one of those days; blue sky, mid 80’s, humidity around 67%, and mild easterly breeze. It was perfect to celebrate the start of a new week with my selection of the Serino Royale Connecticut Torpedo.

The Serino Royale Connecticut is one of 4 blends introduced by the Serino Cigar company to celebrate 20 years in the cigar business. Tony Serino partnered with Omar Gonzales Aleman, owner of the world-famous La Corona Cigars, S.A. in Esteli, Nicaragua to manufacture the 4 blends in the Serino 20th Anniversary series. According to the Serino Cigars website this was a “Grand Alliance” and notes that:

Omar worked in the prestigious Cuban factories such as Partagas and La Corona, where he earned the title of “Head Director”. Manufacturing some of the world’s most prestigious brands such as Romeo y Julieta, Hoyo de Monterrey, Cuaba, Por Larranga, Saint Luis Rey, San Cristobal de Habana and Montecristo, and now creating the Serino Royale Cigars in partnership with the Serino Family.

I reviewed the Serino Royale Maduro XX last year, and it made our top 25 Boutique cigars for 2016.

Spoiler Alert: If I had the Connecticut last year it would have made it in the Top 5 Connecticut cigars for the year – it is that good!

Let’s break down the Serino Royale Connecticut.

The blend is described as:

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
• Binder: Nicaragua – Jalapa
• Filler: Nicaragua – Jalapa and Esteli

The Serino Royale Connecticut is available in 4 vitolas and packaged in beautiful 20-count white gloss boxes.

• Gordo (6 x 60) -MSRP $10.20
• Torpedo (5 1/8 x 52) -MSRP $10.39
• Toro (6 x 52) -MSRP $10.00
• Churchill (7 x 50) -MSRP $10.20

Pre-Light Examination

The Serino Royale Connecticut is really a magnificent specimen of what a fine Connecticut cigar can aspire to be. It has a darker than average Ecuadorian shade wrapper that is velvet smooth and extremely light on veins. The torpedo cap is expertly finished and has near invisible seams. The weight of this cigar in the hand is an early indication that you are getting your money’s worth when it comes to packing and speaking of packing, I found no soft spots along the barrel.

There are two bands on the Serino Royale Connecticut. The primary band is the standard Serino 20th Anniversary band with a regal blue and gold motif. There is a secondary footer band that is also in the blue and gold motif and declares it as the Royale Connecticut. The bands stand out nicely on the dark tan Ecuadorian leaf of the wrapper.

I passed the cigar by my nose and picked up a sweet hay, a hint of pepper and a touch of fruit off the foot. There was not much along barrel. I sliced the tip of the cap to give a 3/8 inch opening which seemed to be just right as the cold draw was only gently restricted with the cut. The cold draw offered earth and pepper notes which enticed me further to want to  apply the flame to it.

As noted, I sampled the Serino Royale Connecticut Torpedo for this review.

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Cigar Review Notes

• Fair amount of pepper starts the journey
• Pepper tones down after 1/4 inch and opens up to a jam covered toast delivered through a full thick and creamy textured smoke
• Light grey ash rests on medium char line
• Hint of cinnamon
• Ash is solid and held tight for an inch and half before falling
• Well centered burn cone
• A fine oily sheen develops above the burn line
• Cinnamon and jam continues with an added cedar note
• A fragrant sweet pecan aroma fills the air around me
• The pecan finds itself into the flavor profile midway though the second third
• I am finding it amazing what blenders are doing with Connecticut wrapper and well aged flavorful fillers.
• No noticeable bitterness in this Connecticut
• The sweetness evolves into a sugary syrup note
• Spice builds into final third
• Mild to Medium Strength
• Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 15 minutes

Overall, the Serino Royale Connecticut was a unique Connecticut Cigar. There was no characteristic bitterness but instead delivered sweetness and nut (pecan) with a balanced complexity of cedar, pepper, fruit, toast and spice. The flavors alone would be enticing enough but the mild to  medium  strength makes this an easy cigar for the morning or late evening. It could easily be enjoyed by both experienced and new palates. Ask me what to pair this with I would say a butter pecan cookie and a fine cup or two of Café Cubano.