Since Toraño describes the Virtuoso as its most full-bodied selection, I’m anticipating some power. In actuality, the cigar is very smooth. That’s not to say that it’s mild or weak, but it just doesn’t really pack a punch. The first third is marked by wood and some earth. The second third picks up in strength, as black pepper is introduced. The pepper shares the second third with notes of rich coffee. The final third maintains the peppery flavor, until the cigar shifts to soothing cocoa. I’d label the strength as medium to full-bodied.

So, is this Virtuoso good enough to make you want an encore? Yes, I believe so. It’s not the best that Toraño has to offer, but it’s certainly a quality smoke. Good construction, a nice burn, and a solid mix of flavors make the Virtuoso worthwhile. I’d recommend it to Toraño fans that haven’t tried it and are seeking something with a bit more power from the brand. The cigar comes in packs of five or boxes of 25, with a single hovering around the $4 level. At that price, you don’t have too much to lose.

The Carlos Toraño Virtuoso Encore receives a rating of 3.5 out of four stars.

Carlos Toraño Single Region Serie Jalapa Robusto

The Single Region Serie Jalapa is a highly rated line from Carlos Toraño that was released in August of 2010, and it’s the first cigar from the Single Region series. Smooth, sweet, and flavorful are just some of the adjectives that have been used to describe the line. I’m always up for a smooth cigar, especially early in the morning with a cup of coffee, so hopefully this Robusto I am about to try will be just what the doctor ordered.

The Carlos Toraño Single Region Serie Jalapa Robusto measures 5 x 52. Other sizes in the line include the 6 x 54 Toro Grande and the 7 x 50 Churchill. The Single Region Serie Jalapa moniker comes from the fact that the cigar uses a blend of tobacco from the El Estero farm in the fertile region of Jalapa, Nicaragua. The farm is naturally irrigated by a centuries-old stream that is filled with rich minerals. The stream combines with a mixture of sand and red clay to provide ideal growing conditions for some world class tobacco. Concealing the filler and binder of Jalapa tobacco is a Criollo ‘98 wrapper. As mentioned, this is a smooth line, and it is listed as being medium-bodied in strength.