JUNE 19, 2022 - PHIL KURUT, COMEDY - CIGARS - MUSIC
MATILDE SERENA TORO BRAVO (6 1/2 x 54)
WRAPPER: ECUADORIAN CONNECTICUT
BINDER: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
FILLER: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, NICARAGUA
Serena offers up cream, wood, and sweetness through its first easy pulls. Coffee and cedar flow from the retrohale, and coffee, leather, and a tingle of spice hang out on the finish.
The smoke output is excellent, but I’m struggling to keep things moving so far, as Serena doesn’t seem very interested in burning. That’s odd.
A few helpful touch-ups, and we’re back in business. The ash and burn are a bit ugly. Its momma says it’s ugly.
Cream, cedar, and acidic coffee take the wheel. Jesus took a break.
Earth and coffee, a bit on the acidic side, and touches of spice sit somewhat quietly on the finish.
Not sure where this car is heading.
We seem to be getting on track as we continue. The burn is now spot on, and cream, earth, stone fruit, and coffee come to the forefront. The coffee has lost its acidic quality. Good deal.
Serena’s retrohale keeps it pretty basic with earth and some light cream. The finish presents a coffee/leather combination, some very restrained spice, and bits of wood.
As I remove the first band (post picture), it seems as though a touch of super glue and a welder might have been employed for its application. I never hear welders talk about their freelance work in the cigar industry, but there are definitely some welders making dough applying cigar bands.
Removal of the second band results in the wrapper splitting. Rough ride here. “Watch for the potholes, driver. I’m getting a concussion here.”
Harshness begins to set in, and there’s a distinct chemical taste on the finish. Not a fan of that.
Cream and coffee drive through the draw. They’re much milder and less exciting than before. Who turned on the slow jazz? Why does the driver always get to pick what we’re listening to? Dang it.
The retrohale is part charcoal, part something else. The charcoal masks the other quite well, but the other wasn’t much to talk about anyway.
Highlights: draw and smoke output.
Well, crap.
SMOKE TIME: 1 hr. 11 mins.
RATING: 1.75 / 4 - Jesus took a lunch break.