Trinidad Ingenios EL 2007, Dic. 2007 "SOA" box code - final score, 92

[CanuckSARTech]

So, I’ve got another review here…

Earlier today, for lunch (I regretted this later), I again delved into my box of these Trinidad Ingenios EL 2007's (with a box code of "SOA" from December 2007). These were from the first year that the EL releases were constructed with binder, filler, and wrapper that was all aged (2 years, I believe - previous, it was just the wrapper that had the extra aging).

Reviewed Cigar: Trinidad Ingenios EL 2007

Box Date: Dic. 2007

Factory/Manufacture Code: SOA

Packaging: 12-box

Price: Never talk money...

Length: 6 1/2", or 165 mm

Ring Gauge: 42

Format: Lonsdale

Weight: Don't you know it isn't polite to ask a fella this??

Construction/Appearance & Pre-Light: The wrapper on this beauty was virtually flawless. It was a darker, almost maduro shade. The oily sheen was very noticable to the touch, as was a very fine and slight toothyness to the wrapper - you couldn't really see a tooth, per se, but you could definitely feel almost an extreme "fine-grit sandpaper" sensation. The pigtail cap was beautiful and elegantly finished off. The feel of the overall cigar and construction was a bit on the firm side, but I'm a robusto man, so the thinner-gauged cigars have a definite firmness to them that stands out to me. The pre-light scents were of caramel-covered roasted-nuts, like dark peanuts or roasted brazil nuts. There were also very heavy scents of dark chocolate, and a bit of creamy toasted quality tobacco. Cold draws revealed a heavy hit of cinnamon-like sensation to the mouth and lips - I could tell there was lots of power in this stick for me to enjoy. The draw was definitely on the firmer/tight side, but not unworkable at all.

Opening Impressions: After a lighting up and initial draws, I really noticed none of that dark chocolate. Again, roasted brazil nuts with caramel and cream, pushed forth by quality toasted tobacco. Light to medium in body for the opening. Very nice.

First Third: The roasted nuts stayed there with the creamy toasted tobacco, but those took a seat to the side to let through flavours of caramel and a ginger tone. Definite medium body, great flavours.

Second Third: Well, unfortunately I had some problems in the 2nd third. I hit a plug (or a couple of them). The cigar went out three times in the 2nd third, and I had to relight and/or touch up 4 or 5 times in this third. Besides the burn, things progressed along nicely flavour-wise. The body of this cigar was now going strong, in a medium-full to full profile, with the nuts, caramel, cream, toasted tobacco, etc., all there but also starting to step aside for a bit. I started having two predominant flavours push forward here, which I find eerily funny and similar to other Ingenios reviews that I've read - I started to get a very heavy flavour of gingerbread, and it was being interlaced with a black-pepper encrusted roasted-eggplant. Now, this combination might not sound appealing - I would not want to eat these things together in tandem. However, it made this cigar absolutely spectacular. These flavours haven't really been out front for me with this cigar before - generally, in my previous sticks of this box, I've just got the caramel, roast nuts, dark chocolate, and some leather with ginger. But, every stick that I've smoked of these to date have been in less than stellar smoking conditions - damp, rainy, windy, sometimes snowstorms, etc. Today, it was just a perfect smoking experience, to let it all meld together fully. Also, I'm finding that my cigars are much better balanced out since I've moved things into my wood cabinet humidor, out of my desktop humidor and coolerdor. It's making a definite difference for the better.

Final Third: I had to also touch-up the burn a couple of times with my torch in this third as well. Flavours and body still the same from the 2nd third; full body. The other flavours were joined in the last third with some nice caramel-laden creme brulee. An excellent finish, and strong as hell too.

Finishing Comments / Overall Impression: Amazing. The flavours were just constantly evolving, in your face but not offensive, with a progressively powerful body behind them. I smoked this doozy on a relatively empty stomach, only having a small helping of some eggs and toast about 3 hours previous. Well, this sucker completely made my head spin by the end of it - it was somewhat of a great cigar experience, aside from the burn and relight issues. I rated this Ingenios as a 92, but without the burn/draw/relight, this would have been an easy 96, if not a 97. I've never had a cigar that I have/would rate over a 95, and I believe that this thing was striding towards that. These now have just about 3 years on them, and with the strong flavours and body to them, these cigars should be mellowed out and performing absolutely gorgeously within the next year or two, and they will be something that I will be looking forward to seeing how they progress at 5, 7, 10, and 12 years of age (if I can make them last until then - I feel I'll have to pick up another box!)

Final Score: 92

Total Smoking Time: 2 hours

Paired Beverage: Strong coffee (Cuban "Cafe Serrano") with 1st half, and then Bacardi Black rum w/ Coke during 2nd half

Thanks for reading my review. Hope you enjoyed it.

Cheers.

[dochowl]

Great review. Glad to hear someone is having a good time with these cigars. The 3 or 4 that I have had have left me feeling underwhelmed. For the price, maybe I am just expecting too much.

[shrink]

Thanks for the excellent review. I sampled one of mine a couple of weeks ago. I thought it was OK, but these need a few more years.

[MontrealRon]

Excellent review!!!

It's great to hear such positive commentary on this cigar that has been so poorly received.

Then again, I remember how the Partagas Piramides LEs were panned when they were released.

I guess that positive reviews of young cigars can be quite useful,

but perhaps more negative ones should be taken with a grain of salt;

it may well be that some aging is necessary for that particular cigar to fully blossom.

[CanuckSARTech]

Thanks fellas.

Yeah, I wasn't a huge fan of these when they first came out to much - well, I was, but I was sitting on the fence as due to all the various review talk at the time.

I'm finding so far that they're well worth it. As I don't smoke skinnier-gauged cigars that often (I like my robustos and the like), so I find that the ambient temp, humidity, wind, phase of the moon, etc., etc. (LOL) all comes into play. I realize that my previous tastes/experiences of this stick have been during some less than stellar conditions. And, I also realize that I've only had four or five from this box now - a fair taste, but still, not overly complete or comprehensive, granted.

But, I feel that with just a bit more time, and then in good smoking conditions, these will be amazing.

[Dbone]

I like the review, brother. Pictues are nice too

I passed on these, and now they're pretty expensive. Sounds like this guy really made you work for the enjoyment, but some smokes are like that. After relights, loping off the head or foot again, massaging to relax her, and all the other special attention they ask for sometimes makes it all worth it.

[rp99pts]

I have 2 boxes of these marinating in my Aristocrat. I think they are fantastic smokes....Great review

[Ginseng]

One of my immediate favorites upon release. Haven't tried one in maybe a year. Your review has spurred me to do a little cooler diving.

Wilkey

[Guest rob]

I love the vitola - it looks so elegant and refined. Great photos!

[CanuckSARTech]

I love the vitola - it looks so elegant and refined. Great photos!

I wish the photos were a bit better - it's my wife's little Canon digital camera. I need to find the macro settings, so it focuses and captures the colours better.

[Disburden]

A wonderful review, I really like the look of the vitola, it's up my alley!

[Puros Y Vino]

Nice review there Keith. A lot of people get "gingerbread" notes from Trinidad. I get it on the cold draw and through the smoke itself.

[Guest crazymancal]

Ive been smoking thru a box with code LPM OCT-07 and they are excellent !!! Great review, one of my favorite LE's !!!

[crazymancal]

Ive been smoking thru a box with code LPM OCT-07 and they are excellent !!! Great review, one of my favorite LE's !!!

Cmc

[gersonmorelli]

Interesting... I smoked one of these today. Last time I had them was about 6 months ago and was underwhelmed. This time it started just ok, with nutty and cedar profile with some creaminess to it every now and then. At the end of the 2nd third towards the last third the cigar delivered an awesome gingerbread and vanilla/creme brulle sweetness.

Mixed feelings on these. Let's see how it develops.

[riazp]

I'm soon going to get my hands on a couple of boxes of ingenios DIC 07, i wanted that specific box code because my son was born in december 2007. I have 4 in my humi that I obtained in a split, still have yet to smoke one. waiting till my sons 4th birthday. Exellent review!

[thechenman]

While I love the Trinidad marca...the Ingenios has been my least favorite Trini release...haven't had a good one, but it could be my box. Many of them have draws that are way too tight.

[crazymancal]

Smoked another Ingenios today after lunch....pure honey,cinn. and sweet fruit cake. Burn was excellent and draw was just a hair firm but very enjoyable. Really like these and may try to pick up another box to put away. I would give the half dozen ive smoked so far 92-93 points each.

Cmc