Trinidad: great when good!

[RDB]

In the recent weekend review comp, a couple of people had not-so-good experiences with the Vigia. Then those amazing looking boxes turned up on 24:24, and I ummed and ahhed and bought one. So this morning I sparked up a BMP ABR 17 example for a look-see.

It was truly excellent. Unusual appearance: a sort of golden mottling, with a touch of green but lustrous rather than sickly. Draw was perfect, and construction was faultless. Didn’t ash it a single time, it just burnt into a long steady column.

But the thing that makes Trinidad great for me is its unique, complex flavour profile. It’s the kinky marca. It has that burnt cake, caramelised aroma, like opening the oven after leaving the baking a little too long. It has an exotic, far eastern spiciness that is almost like Szechuan pepper: a slightly numbing tingly heat. And it has a fatty, savoury element like fried bacon rinds. Wahoolazuma!

Funny brand though. Expensive, but not Cohiba expensive. One five-star classic in the standard range: the Fundadores. Then two useful vitolas, the little Reyes and the slightly awkward ‘is it a corona gorda?’ Coloniales. Then the ‘can’t make up our minds’ fatty, currently the Vigia. I don’t love the ring gauge but it’s not completely daft. And finally the glamour-puss La Trova, which is just too big for me.

Consistency though... Quite a few of us are too often underwhelmed, or frustrated by construction issues. 

Whadaya think? Are you a believer?

[torsion]

I am a huge believer, the Vigia for me has been a go to smoke and I personally love the flavor profile (even if I hate the size). Sad to hear when people have issues with them re construction.

The '15 Fundadores box, everyone has been bl00dy delicious. One of my first ever box purchases was the Reyes - sadly ran out a while ago and haven't revisited since mainly due to the fact there as so many other releases I've been trying. Also been burning through my '17 Coloniales box however nothing special to note as such but consistent. Not tried enough La Trova to form an opinion and as above the size isn't appealing to me.

RIP Robusto T - we will miss you forever

[SigmundChurchill]

I love the flavor of a good Vigia!  I only wish they were longer.  The best part of the cigar is right before the nub.  

Trinidad Robusto Extra was my favorite cigar when they were available.  I’m really looking forward to the new sizes coming out this year (?).  And the Trini Book coming out, I am sure will be phenomenal.  I heard they are already rolling the book cigars.  I only hope I can get one before the secondary market prices.

[irratebass]

Here's my review of my 1st ever Vigia. I do plan on buying more of these in the future, they really turned me around on the Trinidad line. 

 

 

[99call]

I'm a big believer, as you rightly pointed out the blend has iron fist and velvet glove. 

 Love the addition of the Trinsho. Perfect little hit of Trinidad magic

[Islandboy]

I’m a cautiously reluctant fan. I do get what you mean about the unique taste profile, but I’ve had mixed results.

My first experience with Trini was a 2015 box purchase of Coloniales. A couple of the younger ones were memorable, but overall the box was a real dud, mainly because they tasted more and more like cardboard with time. I’ve also had a few Vigias, which were OK, not real memorable, and such an odd size.

With all the talk around the water cooler, I jumped on the Fundy bus last year. Glad I did, they’re very good, although I’m hoping a bit more time will make the last third more enjoyable. Right now the first third’s the best, then taste slowly diminishes, ending in a bit of harshness - quite the opposite of my experience with CoLa.

Then came La Trova, one of my favorite sticks out there. I’ll take the consistently smooth yet exotic taste of La Trova over Sig VI any day.

[Stump89]

Not a huge fan of the Vigia.  Love everything else about Trinidad.  Love the flavor profile, and from my experience, it's generally VERY consistent. Should smoke them more often because it's a winner every time, but for some reason I don't. 

I think my affinity really comes from the now discontinued Robusto Extra and Robusto T.  Absolute home run smokes and I miss them dearly. 

[TheMonk]

Huge Trini fan here, all round. Every regular vitola in the marca is really good (Fundi is world class), although I do see quite a bit of inconsistency, specially in the Reyes and Vigias. Nonetheless, a good Trini is a fantastic smoke IMO, specially with a bit of age on it (but not too much).

[Wookie]

I've been enjoying Trinidad since they became available in the late 1990s.  Their unique profile of cloves, nutmeg etc appeals to me and I consider them amongst the best of the cubans. I have a few late 1990s fundys left and I can't tell much difference from my box of 2015 fundys..both excellent.  2017 & 2018 Vigias have been good to me as well and so have La Trovas.  Coloniales from 2017 have been fairly bland in comparison. 

[RDB]

3 hours ago, Wookie said:

cloves, nutmeg

That's a good shout. East Indies spices.

[Wookie]

I pulled out a coloniale today which I think is from a 2017 box....maybe getting a bit better. Good body, great draw, and standard Trinidad flavors shining through. Have a great weekend to all.