Torano something-or-other... got it in a sampler pack a few months ago. Moderately dark wrapper, cedar half-sleeve, two bands. It was exquisite until I ashed it for the first time: perfect draw, outstanding flavor, great aroma, then... PLUGGED! Every inch, and I have never seen a cigar so tightly packed. Even though it only cost me $2-$3, there was no way I was tossing a smoke like this, so I huffed and puffed through it. It was worth it. I can't wait to get a good one.

Got very lucky yesterday, cigarick! Smoked my first CT Reserva Selecta Robusto yesterday afternoon. Gorgeous day it was in Alabama -- sunny, light breeze, about 70 degrees, the wife and I sittin' out by our barn taking a mid-afternoon champagne break. Fired that stick up and never looked back. Hell, I damned near forgot about the four yards of sand I'd just wheel-barrowed into the horse stalls! Beautiful sandy brown wrapper with subtle veining -- very well made indeed. The burn was incredibly slow and even, managed to work the almost all-white ash to about a half inch from the second band before it dropped in my lap! Perfect draw from start to finish, and the flavors were outstanding and no harshness whatsoever. I was worried about it being too mild a cigar for me, but as it turned out, it was as great a smoking experience as I've ever had with any full-bodied cigar!!! A fabulous stick -- and one I would never have tried were it not for stumbling on CBid a month ago and "winning" a sampler! Hat's off to CBid and the BOTL!!!

Jim

Bro', that one was supposed to be mine! Ah, well, next time...

What's your addy, cr? I'm getting another lot and I'll fire a couple your way!!!

Jim

Much too generous, Sirrah! Unfortunately, unkind fate makes it difficult for me to reciprocate such magnanimity at this time, therefore I must most gratefully (and hopefully temporarily) decline your profuse munificence.

very eloquently declined....but I am a Torano fan, and if I hear of a bad experience with one...your darn skippy I am gonna make it right. I can't speak for "kayak", but he offered, and if you don't take him up on the offer, I will demolish you both with well-aged Torano goodies that aren't tightly rolled. Well....I might just do it anyway, but kayak was first in line...his choice:)

Cigarick, I am pretty sure what you smoked was a Torano Signature. White Labels? Could have also been the 1916 Cameroon....dark gren labels. Either way, these two are my favorite of the whole line besides Tribute(haven't tried), and If the labels were white, I can definitely hook both of you guys up with a few goodies. No return at all necessary.

dgrubworm44 at aoldotcom

Dave

cr

No need to reciprocate, man! It would be a pleasure for me to drop some sticks in your direction! Just my way of paying it forward in classic CBid style!

Fire off your address to me -- and one day dowon the road you can do the same for another BOTL in a tangle with life's hurdles!

smelly4tay -- you're a BOTL role model, man! Sure is a pleasure having made your acquaintance on this forum!

kayakbound at yahoo dot com

Jim

So it's official: A Tag Team Smelly/Kayak Torano bombing mission. I send the Torano Sigantures, Kayak sends the Reserve Select. No if's, and's, or but's.

...And Kayak, Thank you for the kind words! If you liked the Reserve Select(One of my fave's)...I have a few cigars, like Buc Crew that will compete with the Reserve Select.

I need e-mails from both of you, with some snailer's.

All the best wishes to you both!
Dave

bravissimo, gents!

i'm a 100% new-but-true toraño fan, and i have to cordially invite you gentlemen to the toraño site:

http://www.torano.com/default.asp 

(no sales there; get your toraño cigars HERE on CBID!)

though i'm not very experienced, i have sampled one each of the following: tribute (mmmm!), 1916 cameroon (spice!), 1959 exodus gold, exodus silver edition, reserva selecta natural, RS maduro, and (my favorite, tied with the tribute) the signature maduro.

i've NOT tried (though i'm dying to try!) the nicaraguan selection or the dominico. i can't find 'em. 😞 a friend from the toraño site sent me one of the Brick line cigars to try, and that's on tap for tomorrow, god willing. 🙂

i never liked a maduro until i had a toraño sig. absolutely fantastic cigar.

by the way, from the description you gave, sounds like you had the 1916 cammie. on the toraño site, under the CIGARS tab, select OUR LINE to see pics of their offerings (and read descriptions).

anyway, i could go on all day and night about these amazing cigars. sorry that your first one was plugged, but from all i've heard from the many, many fans of this line, it is VERY rare. guess it happens to the best, though. i'm sure that your next experience will be flawless, and i hope you'll post another review after you sample one from the mucho generoso smelly and kayak!

What Cavallo said! I have an Ultimate sampler on the way! My personal fave right now is the 1959 Exodus Gold Double Corona. I can say that 'cuz I've seen the Toros, Robustos, and Torpedos for sale on here, but no Double Coronas! LOL at least I'm not having to worry about driving the bidding up on my fave! I wish I had my camera charged up when I smoked my first, I almost went for pliers! Butt was about 1/2"!

Okay, I see how it's going to be--you guys are going to relentlessly torture me with brotherly generosity and kindness until I crumble into a quivering, misty-eyed mass of embarassed male protoplasm, so I'm going to put a end to this right now: snailer sent!

Seriously, you guys are too much. I am humbly honored to part of the best cigar forum on the grid.

Brotherhood of the Leaf, indeed!

Sticks in the mail tomorrow or Wednesday, cr! And the pleasure is all mine [that is, until you fire up one of those Reserva Selectas!!!].

Cheers!

kb

I agree........don't think I've ever had a bad Torano. Some are better than others, to my taste, but never a bad one. I too would love to try the nicaraguan selection or the dominico but have been unable to locate them. Ah well.....such is the beauty of the search for cigars............

Hey arwings,
Shoot me your snailer, and I'll see if I can't make that change.
Later
Dave (A.K.A. Homebrew)
homebrew at arkansas dot net

oops! for some reason i thought the sig just had one band, but it IS double banded. both the sig and the 1916 have cedar sleeves, too. so if it was the white label, that was a sig; a green label, a '16. 🙂

anyway, hope you enjoy 'em when you get 'em. excellent generosity, you guys!

Thanks Homebrew........snailer sent.

Wow... I'm loving all these Torano fans and it looks like I'm going to have to seek out a Tribute to see what the fuss is about. With about 50-60 Toranos in the stash I would consider my Toranos on of my more favorite smokes. Most of what I got are Exodus 59's Gold, some silver and some Reserva Selecta tubos.

However last night's treat was a very well aged Signature Maduro that I've had in the 'dor for over 2 years. I was working very late last night and decided to take a break around 9:30pm to the spot all Seattle Cbidders know and love. Broke out my Signature and enjoyed a very smooth, rich, complex smoke. Real nice!! Once of the best Torano experiences I've had.

My sense is that the Toranos really age well.
I'm looking forward to the next year when my stash purchased mostly in 2001 and 2002 really rounds into it's own

DB

My first Torano, a signature, didn't draw well. I had heard so many good things about them here I just kept it going instead of pitching it. The cigar had an OK finish but that was it. Have 4 more different smokes from the Torano Sampler Package to try but after the first one I'm in no hurry to light another.

That first one I had was a real tough draw, but the flavor was terrific. Really looking forward to trying some others.

Redneck... The one I had last night drew like a charm. Almost perfect, but that's the effect of aging. I've smoked them right from the shipment before and had a couple less than satisfying moments. give'em time