Troianiello Connecticut Shade Torpedo - Blind Cigar Review

Troianiello Connecticut Shade Torpedo – Blind Cigar Review

Cigar Info

Troianiello Cigars is a newer cigar company out of Scranton, PA that started selling cigars in 2021. Founder Michael Troianiello was raised around the aroma of his grandfathers cigars, which led his own passion for cigars and getting into cigar manufacturing. His goal was to make a cigar that brought back the nostalgia of his grandfathers cigars. Troianiello Cigars sells their cigars in five different blends: Habano, Maduro, Connecticut, Barber Pole, and Triple Barber Pole. Today we are looking at the Troianiello Connecticut Shade Torpedo.

This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.

Troianiello Connecticut Shade Connecticut shade wrapper, as the name suggests, along with Dominican binder and filler. The company also says that the cigars have been aged an extra 2 years after rolling. The Torpedo has not been offered for sale yet but pricing will be around $8.00. It will be sold in singles, 25 count bundles, and 25 count boxes on their website. Other sizes in the blend include a Churchill 7 x 48 and Toro 6 x 52.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Torpedo
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Undisclosed
Wrapper: Connecticut Shade
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Factory: Undisclosed
Blender: Michael Troianiello
Number of reviewers: 5 Kevin J. (maninblack77) Lauren S. (Lauren S.) Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi) Isaac M. (The Nothing) Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
Price: $8.75
Age: 1 Year
Release Date: 2021
Contributed by: Troianiello Cigars

Initial Impressions – Troianiello Connecticut Shade Torpedo

Appearance: 94

“This box pressed torpedo is beautiful. The blonde color wrapper is smooth and silky with little to know veins. Tightly rolled and than boxed pressed to perfection. It is then finished with a triple cap.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

Aroma: 91

“Aroma is a heavy dose of barnyard along with some caramel that almost matches the wrapper’s hue. Barnyard and sweetness are a bit of a yin and yang I suppose.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

First Third

Flavor: 92
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The cigar opens with loads of chamomile tea with a touch of lemon zest and honey. The retrohale has slight notes of cinnamon. The smoke is oily on the palate and the favors linger for a fairly long time.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

“The blend opens very mildly but is flavorful. A strong sweet floral flavor is the star of the first third. In the background, I’m picking up grassy notes and some hay. The draw is very easy but the burn shows some heavy wobbling.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)

Second Third

Flavor: 91
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The back and forth of sweet and citrus is fully settled in at this point, as is the cedar. As I get past the halfway point there’s a subtle shift that dials back the sweetness. Citrus is still there, but has shifted into a bitter citrus more like grapefruit. I’ve got to say that the transitions work well with the profile thus far.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

“Second third really ramps up the flavor intensity. I get rye bread and oatmeal. Part way through there comes a light roast coffee flavor. I also get a salted peanut shell sensation.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)

Final Third

Flavor: 92
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“If only this cigar performed as well in the last two thirds as it did in the first third. Sadly the flavors just weren’t there as it progressed. The citrus notes are much more muted with only dry tobacco and hay to keep me company. The burn continues to be the star of the show instead of being a secondary character.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

“The flavors in this last third have turned dark. Light roast espresso leads the orchestra with like undertones of cinnamon and anise. The undertones are echoed in the retrohale. As I reach the last inch there is a heavy herbal note that has formed. It has overtaken the senses. The smoke has become a little course and rough.” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

Overall Impressions – Troianiello Connecticut Shade Torpedo

Draw: 93

“Seeing that we have a torpedo here, I opt for using the infamous dickman cut. This yields sufficient draw to start things off.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

Burn: 93

“The burn was very wobbly the entire time, often running up one side, then the other. I also had to touch it up a couple of times after the midway point.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)

Construction: 90

“I could find no fault in construction of this cigar. It looked great and smoked well, no complaints.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)

Overall Strength: Mild-Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 93

“As I stated the first third was impressive but it quickly dropped off as the cigar progressed. Muted citrus and dry tobacco flavors that definitely didn’t change my views of Connecticut shade wrappers. This is not a cigar I’d reach for in a shop. Good not great. But each person’s palate is different.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

“I really enjoyed this as a morning smoke. Just enough spoke to add some interest and kickstart your palate for the day. Nice floral, grass, hay, nutty and toasty flavors. My biggest complaints were that it seemed a bit underfilled leading to a very open draw and quick burn time. Along with some running burn issues through the entire stick.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)

“This cigar was a pleasure to smoke. This cigar would make a morning cup of coffee the most important time of your day. Please seek this cigar out. You will not be sorry. ” –Estevan Z. (TheRealBanzi)

“This cigar was great. While I found the first third to be quite mild and understated, the rest of it was outstanding and really what I wanted the cigar to be the whole time. The transitions brought on flavors that I wouldn’t expect from just looking at the cigar. I totally recommend giving this one a go either in the morning with a cup of coffee or later in the day with the nice light lager.” –Isaac M. (The Nothing)

“I was quite pleased with this cigar. Visually it was striking, while construction held up just as well as the looks. Then you take in the profile it offers and I really don’t have much to complain about here. Who doesn’t love a bit of sweetness in their cigar? Add in some citrus and twang and now I’m a happy camper. Have I ever mentioned that I enjoy a good box-press? Well I do and so should you….check out this cigar that is.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 81

ReviewerAppear.Aroma1/32/33/3DrawBurnConstr.Overall
Experience
Kevin J.9592959085931009088
Lauren S.939590959595858895
Estevan Z.959292929293959595
Isaac M.959085909093929293
Doug S.939090909088909090

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Troianiello Connecticut Shade Torpedo – Blind Cigar Review

Troianiello Connecticut Shade Torpedo
Summary
"I was quite pleased with this cigar. Visually it was striking, while construction held up just as well as the looks. Then you take in the profile it offers and I really don't have much to complain about here. Who doesn't love a bit of sweetness in their cigar? Add in some citrus and twang and now I'm a happy camper. Have I ever mentioned that I enjoy a good box-press? Well I do and so should you....check out this cigar that is." -Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
Appearance
94
Aroma
91
First Third
92
Second Third
91
Final Third
92
Draw
93
Burn
93
Construction
90
Overall Experience
93
92
Great