Torano Vault -Vaults to the Top

How does a cigar gets its name?  Last week I had the opportunity to sit down for a chat with Jack Torano of Torano Cigars.  Jack has recently returned to the family business to work for his cousin Charlie as director of marketing.  We sat down to talk in the conference room at their facility in Miami.  Before I could even settle in my chair, Jack asked what I wanted to smoke, or rather what of their cigars I liked.  As those of you who read the blog know I regularly smoke the Torano Exodus 1959 Torpedo.  But rather than smoke something I know, I asked Jack to pick something new.  He produced a Torano Vault Robusto.  As we were smoking he recounted the family history of Torano in the cigar world which started over 90 years ago when his great-great-grandfather traveled to relocate from Spain to Cuba.  The family was until the revolution primarily tobacco growers owning 17 farms that were nationalized.  That didn’t force the family out of the business it just caused them to relocate once again.  In the early 80’s with the Torano brand about to fade away, Carlos Torano began making cigars.  There was no turning back.

The Vault gets its name from the place where the Torano blend records are stored.  Since the 80’s they have kept a record of every tobacco blend that they tried, those that were successful and those that were not.  Once a year they go back and review their notes, looking for inspiration.  The Vault came form just that.  There was a blend that they had tried about ten years ago, and found it to be lacking.  Recently Charlie had the idea to add one more tobacco leaf to the blend.  A leaf that was previously unavailable from the volcanic island in Nicaragua.  This tobacco is called Ometepe and is used as a second binder leaf in the stick.   So from the Vault and volcano we get a wonderful smoke.

When you first notice this cigar it appears well made with a dark oily surface.  I thought that it smelled sweet, Jack Torano thought I was smelling the butane.  I’m sticking with a sweet nose to start.  It clipped easily and lit without problem.

The burn on the cigar was crisp and the ash light grey speckled with darker black.  The flavors after a few puffs were of chocolate and spice, definitely a medium to full bodied cigar.  We smoked for about an hour and them I was treated to a tour.  It could have been labelled the tour of cousins since Torano is most clearly a family business.

At $7.20 this is a medium priced cigar that gives nice full flavor for an enjoyable hour.  I am sure that there will be more in my Vault in the future.