Fundadores

[Head83]

A question for those of you that has much more years in the CC world than me.  How do the Fundadores of today compare to the days of old when they were the diplomatic favorites of Fidel?  Have the flavors and mixes changed?  Are today's version even representational of the days of old or something totally different and new, or better or even worst?  Just curious of anyones opinion that may have been lucky to try one of the old gems we hear about. 

[kuma]

not to sure but have a bunch of Fundies left over from a LFTH w/date of 2011.  I'm sure they are ready to smoke

but finding the time to smoke one is the issue!

[Habana Mike]

Smoked a ton of the original NISU release in the late 90's/early 2000s. Wish I'd stockpiled a few of those 50 cabs!

Still keep a fairly steady diet of these. Not what they once were, different tobaccos now but remains a smoke I enjoy.

I recall they were darker and richer in the early days, brighter and lighter lately.

[Piligrim]

Had a 50 cab from 2005. Amazing cigars, same profile as 2011, but much more delicate because of aging

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[TheGipper]

I'll be impressed if there's anyone on this board who was actually smoked a diplomatic Trinidad.  They are mindbogglingly rare.

I think the diplomatics had a different ring gauge.  If I remember right they were 38 vs the publicly available version which is 40.

[Head83]

Maybe thats the best question!!  Who has had one of these unicorns and can speak to it??

 

[Head83]

14 minutes ago, Piligrim said:

Had a 50 cab from 2005. Amazing cigars, same profile as 2011, but much more delicate because of aging

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Do you have anymore of those 05s left??  I bet they are a dream at this point!

 

[blank]

41 minutes ago, TheGipper said:

I'll be impressed if there's anyone on this board who was actually smoked a diplomatic Trinidad.  They are mindbogglingly rare.

I think the diplomatics had a different ring gauge.  If I remember right they were 38 vs the publicly available version which is 40.

Taken from Cigar Journal

it’s remarkable how different Trinidad was at the beginning. It started life in secret 48 years ago at Cohiba’s El Laguito factory where it was made exclusively for the Cuban Council of State (not for Fidel Castro, as some say). It came in just one, long, thin size, a Laguito No. 1 (192 mm | 71⁄2 x 38 ring gauge) like the Cohiba Lancero, and had a rich, deep, earthy flavour similar to Partagás.

In 1992, a visiting journalist revealed its existence and soon, Trinidad Diplomats, as they became known, started to be sold at auction. I remember in 1997, when a box of 25 sold in Geneva for nearly USD 15,000. Encouraged by such a phenomenal result, Habanos S.A. decided to adopt Trinidad as one of the new brands it launched at the end of the 20th century. A team was assembled at El Laguito under Emilia Tamayo, the then director, to review the size and to create a new blend – the old one was deemed too strong. Its key member was Raúl Valladares, known as the “Maestro de Maestros” (master of masters) amongst Tabacuba’s master blenders. A unique relationship was born between Raúl and Habanos S.A.’s marketing director at the time, Ana Lopez. Ana wanted a medium- strength cigar full of fragrance and aroma.

The result was astounding, as I found out, when, in November 1997, I was roped into the final tasting committee at El Laguito for the new Fundadores size, which had two ring gauge points added to its girth. Raúl had done it. Gone was the strident taste of the Diplomats, and in its place a delightful, approachable, medium-bodied and, above all, fragrant flavour.

[Piligrim]

Do you have anymore of those 05s left??  I bet they are a dream at this point!
 

Had few boxes, our importer holds some more, but doesn't sell until end of the Autumn

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[Piligrim]

Thanks for sharing! There was also Trini Gran Panatela laguito no 1 size at dinner of the century in 1994.
All regular and limited releases of Trinidad have special sizes which never existed in other brands. Only Robusto T was robusto size 50x124

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[Piligrim]

Thanks for sharing! There was also Trini Gran Panatela laguito no 1 size at dinner of the century in 1994.
All regular and limited releases of Trinidad have special sizes which never existed in other brands. Only Robusto T was robusto size 50x124

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[BrightonCorgi]

Call me the odd man out, but I like the newer Fundadores over the original Habanos production release.

[PigFish]

I can say that  I enjoy the late 90's Trinidads as well. I have smoked a couple since tossing one into Chris' box pass. They are still wonderful.

The diplomatic version, I would not know, but having smoked Presidencia cigars, typically in much larger formats, I found them less refined and less reliable. In the world of consistency, I found old Trinidads to be some of the best.

I have not smoked any of them any newer. I think I once had some from the 2K's that were in cardboard and recall enjoying them but I cannot say that I remember any details of them.

I hope you find the answers that you seek! That is as much information that I can provide.

-Piggy

[Corylax18]

10 minutes ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Call me the odd man out, but I like the newer Fundadores over the original Habanos production release.

I've never had the privilege of smoking an original diplomatic release, but I am perfectly happy with the flavors of the current blend.

[BrightonCorgi]

3 hours ago, Corylax18 said:

I've never had the privilege of smoking an original diplomatic release, but I am perfectly happy with the flavors of the current blend.

I never had the Diplomatic ones, but bought the original production ones from when they announced Trinidad as a new brand.  I believe it was just before SCDH and VR came to market.

[foursite12]

And how do they compare to Cohiba  Lanceros?

[jay8354]

As has been mentioned, these had a lot of potential but due to mis-management, have suffered a lot in terms of quality and availability.

When I first tried these in late 90s, I believe it was 99, all I remembered was the cigar tasted of cupcake. This was a fresh one that I ordered before buying a box of 24.

The blend these days are supposedly different. Quality have been consistently an issue. Change in consumer taste (short length, bigger ring gauges) did not help.

Now discontinued, I believe.

They could have been a contender.

[JohnS]

2 hours ago, foursite12 said:

And how do they compare to Cohiba  Lanceros?

In my humble opinion, they are equally good. The Fundadores is perhaps, in general, a little richer and spicier than the Lanceros, and I understand the Lanceros have had more 'power' in the past, But personally, I 'd be happy to pick up either (or both!) Below is some video and topic links to peruse further....

 

[Fuzz AI]

52 minutes ago, jay8354 said:

As has been mentioned, these had a lot of potential but due to mis-management, have suffered a lot in terms of quality and availability.

When I first tried these in late 90s, I believe it was 99, all I remembered was the cigar tasted of cupcake. This was a fresh one that I ordered before buying a box of 24.

The blend these days are supposedly different. Quality have been consistently an issue. Change in consumer taste (short length, bigger ring gauges) did not help.

Now discontinued, I believe.

They could have been a contender.

A pox on you! The Fundadores are not discontinued!!

We just had boxes of the JUN 17 on 24:24. Hell, you even commented on that thread!

[jay8354]

Can't remember, too many things, need a cigar and slow down to take things back into perspective.

A Fundadores might help with that.