Cigar Review: Carlos Torano Noventa

La Esperanza (Toro), 6" x 52 ring gauge / approx. $9.50

In 2006, the Carlos Torano Cigar Company celebrated 90 years since Santiago Torano left Spain to move to Cuba. He eventually became one of the largest tobacco growers in that country before being forced to flee the Communist government in 1959. This cigar (Noventa is Spanish for "Ninety") commemorates the move to Cuba with a blend of 5-year-old tobaccos, all of which come from Nicaragua. The wrapper and binder are Habano-seed and the filler is a mix of leaf from 4 of the country's major growing areas: Pueblo Nuevo, Esteli, Jalapa and Condega. I received this cigar as a gift on a trip to CAO Headquarters in late April (at the time they were still distributors of the Torano cigar lines).

When I removed the cellophane, the wrapper leaf glistened with oils. The light brown Habano leaf had a little mottling and nothing in the way of large veins. The black, yellow, red and gold band looked very nice against the light color of the tobacco. I got a distinct manure smell off the body--moreso than with any non-Cuban stick I can remember. From the foot, I got wood notes as well as some more manure and just a hint of chocolate. I cracked the cap pretty badly clipping the cigar and this caused some problems later on (but nothing that I deducted points for...it was my fault). Prelight draw was easy and there were notes of semi-sweet chocolate and chili pepper spice.

Initial light-up rendered distinct cedar and ammonia notes; the ammonia dissipated about 2 minutes in. As the first third continued to burn the flavors I got were primarily cedar with some sweet tobacco and occasional notes of cocoa or chocolate. Right from the start this was showing itself to be a flavorful, medium-bodied cigar. On the retrohale, I got more cedar with the addition of a slightly peppery spice.

The second third started as a continuation of the cedar and an introduction of grassy notes. The burn line was fairly even, though not perfectly straight through the end of the second third. The draw remained very good.

The last third was mostly just a continuation of the second; but while it was not the most complex cigar, it did have a nice consistent flavor all the way to the end. The body was slightly over the mid-point and the nicotine strength was nothing most newbies could not handle. Overall, this was a nice smoke but not a spectacular one, putting it (for me) in the same general category as the Oliva Serie O or Perdomo Lot 23. At the right price, I would buy this one as a regular afternoon smoke. Unfortunately, the "going rate" is north of the $9 mark, which is a bit steep for the amount of flavor the Noventa delivers.

Body: 6/10

Strength:  6/10

Complexity: 6/10

AFP Scale
Prelight 2/2

Construction: 2/2

Flavor: 4/5

Value: .5/1

Total: 8.5/10

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