Cigar review competition. Trinidad Reyes OIK NOV 04 Colorado Claro

[ewipper]

A renowned retailer, almost as renowned as Rob, once remarked to me that "a good box of Fundadores is like heroin." Years later, tearing through the FOH Humidor Lisa stumbled across this box of Reyes. Apprehensive about the Pinar Del Rio factory code, which for me resonates as the factory responsible for plugged Vegueros and the death of the Robaina blend, I took a leap of faith that Habanos would get it right in ostensibly the first year of production for these Trinidad line extensions. The Trinidad blend markedly deteriorated after 1998. What was then a glorious pasty herb butter went bland before 2003 when they replaced the sweet hay and herbaceousness with a sharp wasabi strength tobacco that muted the gorgeous subtleties of Trinidad to leave the faintest trace of butter detectable to the palate (at least in the ring gauges under 50).

Something made me stop and look at this box though. The veins on the wrapper are slightly raised and knotted, reminiscent, almost, of old corojo wrapper. Were it but a smidge thinner I may have been fooled. A sweet silky butter makes for an optimistic and familiar dry draw and here we go.

If Bolivar supposed to be toasted tobacco, the aroma from this Reyes is honey wheat toast. And the Trinidad butter is there, prominently. This is a cigar to be sipped because the tobacco is so combustible that it will literally burn your mouth if you force it. But if you draw, slowly and intently the plumes of rich flavorful smoke pour out of the back while the aromatic stacks of burning wrapper smoke stream off the front. And most importantly, no blisters in the burn, evidencing a perfect binder and a perfect bunch.

The only thing missing from this stick is a flavor that hasn't been in Trinidad since the farmhouse. The oregano is fighting it's way to the surface, but it is still shy. these cigars will age and they may one day taste something like a Trinidad of old.

As one smokes through Reyeses, Fundadores and Coloniales and appreciates the strength and complexity of these cigars, one wonders why Habanos cannot come to terms with the fact that some blends,like Trinidad, do not work in a large ring gauge. The thicker the Trinidad, the more bland, thin in flavor and complexity, and hopelessly retarded for aging they become. Like the classic Juan Lopez blends, Trinidad was born to be a classic corona gauge, 40-44, no more, no less.

As usual, staring at the remanants of a great box that went before its time, one wonders what might have been had this box stayed intact and aged. Right now they're not quite heroin, but crack is just as addictive.

[mazolaman]

Nice review Eddie,well written.

[NJP]

Knowledge of that nature is all in my dreams. I pray my time learning and enjoying can find a level such as yours.

Thank you

[aavkk]

great review and very well written Eddie. thanks for sharing. I've not had any of the early release Reyes, but the 07's are definitely interesting smokes now. I like the reference to butter.

[CUBANO]

Great review thanks for sharing.

[nick17]

thanks for the review its vary well done the reys is always a good cigar i wish it was just bigger