Matilde Serena

La Matilde was founded in 2013 by José Seijas, a member of the Cigar Aficionado Hall of Fame with over 40 years of experience in the cigar industry. Much of his career was spent as vice president and general manager of Altadis’s Tabacalera de Garcia Ltd. factory in the Dominican Republic, where he oversaw the production of 60 million cigars annually, including well-known brands like Montecristo, H. Upmann, and Romeo y Julieta.

About a year into his retirement, José decided to return to the cigar industry. This time, he focused on smaller-scale production with the goal of crafting the best cigar possible. He began this new venture with his sons, Enrique and Ricardo.

To honor their roots, the Seijas family revived a historic Dominican brand, reintroducing Matilde in 2014.

Cigar Dojo
This cigar is billed as being milder, something for the novice smoker or a morning session. I think that the idea that a novice should have mild cigars is a disservice. For one, why would you say to a beginner, “Here, have something that’s mild and boring?” Rather, this is a cigar that can show just how powerful flavor can be, without being a strong cigar in terms of strength and body. In and of itself, relegating this to being simply a morning smoke to pair with coffee is under-appreciative. Serena isn’t simply a hussy to get off with, but a beautiful, cultured, sophisticated lady that will show you a thing or two... if you treat her right.

Score: 90/100