Pre-light Experience

A very light brown wrapper that has some veins running the length of the cigar on one side. The seams are very well blended and nearly invisible. There appear to be two well applied caps. There are two bands, the primary being the standard Matilde band and the second denoting the line. The bands are primarily an aqua blue with gold bordering and lettering. The aqua blue is a nice match with the wrapper color. The aroma from the wrapper is a lightly sweet hay. The foot aroma is a less sweet hay. The pre-light draw is a mix of lightly sweet hay, leather and pepper. There is also a slight peppery tingle on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Matilde Serena Corona has a Colorado Claro shade wrapper. Veins are well pressed aside from a one inch vein protruding near the bottom band. Seams are invisible and tight. Cigar feels well bunched and rolled as there is a slightly spongy give to the entire cigar. The head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. Nosing the wrapper gives pungent fresh barnyard and spicy cedar. Nosing the foot gives barnyard, hay and white pepper. Cold draw tells dry wood, salt on the tip of the tongue and white pepper on the lips.

First Third

Initial draws remind me of cinnamon toast without any sweetness. After a few draws, the toast transitions to a warm oak and the cinnamon remains as a secondary flavor. At three quarters of an inch in, some cream joins the warm oak and the cinnamon drops back a little more. The retrohale is primarily oak with a little pepper in the background. At an inch and a quarter the retrohale transitions to a bready note. At an inch and a half, some hay and slight bitterness join in with the oak. The strength in this third was right at medium.

First Third

Initial flavors bring richness in toasted wood, cream and black pepper spice. Half inch in, a roasted dried nuttiness and baking spices enter the profile. On the retrohale, there is a surprising amount of relatively powerful black pepper, followed by roasted dry nuts. The finish is lengthy with slight bright stone fruit, toasted wood and tongue layering black pepper. In terms of body and strength, medium throughout the entire first third.

Second Third

As this third begins, the oak remains up front and the hay and bitterness have gone away while the cinnamon has come back to the background and finish. Half an inch in, the cinnamon goes away and the oak gains a bit of char. At three quarters of an inch in, the oak gains a bit of toastiness while the slight char also remains. At an inch and a quarter, the char goes away and leaves the toasty oak. The retrohale is a very full oak. The strength in this third is slightly above medium.

Second Third

Not a lot of changes from the first third. Still a balanced delivery of toasted wood, cream, black pepper, roasted dried nuttiness and baking spices. An introduction of wood bitterness allows for a greater depth of earthiness. Through the nose, still a relatively powerful black pepper spice and roasted dry nuts. The finish still lingers with mainly dry wood and tongue layering black pepper. Body and strength continues at the medium mark.

Final Third

As this third begins, the toasty oak continues with a slight bit of cream joining in. At a half inch, the cream goes away and leaves the toasty oak. The retrohale also carries the toasty oak. As the cigar gets toward the end, it heats up a bit which brings a nice warmth to the toasty oak. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Final Third

Last thirds flavor profile, although still tasty, has died down in nuance and complexities. It is now namely flavors of toasted wood, wood bitterness, balanced black pepper and slight cream. The retrohale remains unchanged with a rather powerful black pepper and roasted dry nuts. The finish is still lengthy with wood bitterness, dry wood and tongue layering black pepper. Body and strength continues at the medium mark.

Burn

The burn was fantastic. A razor sharp burn line the entire way and an ash that held on in one inch segments.

Burn

Burn performance was very good. Ample smoke production and a great total burn time of 2 hours and 10 minutes. Burn line was razor sharp until the last 20 minutes. Ashes held on fairly tight the entire time, averaging 1.5 inch increments.

Draw

The draw was just slightly tighter than I prefer, but I don’t feel it caused any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

This is a fantastic cigar. Really nice cinnamon and toasty oak notes throughout. Great performance only adds to the appeal. Strength is a bit up there for typical mild Connecticut smokers, but for those that are OK with a medium strength profile, it is a must try. I’ve already bought a few of these in multiple vitolas. While price doesn’t factor into our scoring, it’s worth noting that this has a great price point and provides good value. These could definitely fit with some people as an ideal daily smoke.

Draw

The draw was perfect. Just the right amount of resistance to take in all the flavors.

Overall

Yet another “new wave” of Connecticut Shade cigars with very good flavors and body to match. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of spice level, especially on the retrohale. This kept me engaged and made me look forward to the mouth draws and the retrohale. The levels of creamy nuttiness was what I expected out of a good Connecticut Shade. Although the last third did not live up to the first and second third, the vast majority of the cigar was very good. That coupled by a great draw and burn, this is easily a very good cigar.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

8.13

Cost/Point

$0.83

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

8.20

Cost/Point

$0.82

Scoring System