Trinidad Vigia 19 - FWRC

[MrGlass]

Before I start, I hate this cigar.  I hate the current trend towards short fat sticks, and have refused to buy them so far.  The ring gauge doesn't bother me, but with this length, the cigar just doesn't feel in proportion.  And with the obscene taxes in Australia, this cigar just doesn't offer any value for someone like me.  Why would I pay nearly twice the price for this over a Petit Corona when it offers a similar smoking time?  I get that this price discrepancy may not be the case all over the world, but it is a reality for me and simply what I have to deal with.  And these cigars would have to put up one hell of a performance to justify that sort of difference.  That being said, with the incredible popularity of these, I recently picked up a single to at least give it a chance to see what the fuss is all about.  After all, hating on something without even trying it isn't a healthy way to live.

The construction of this cigar is quite good with a silky smooth wrapper.  The draw was a little firm on the cold draw, but it opened a touch once lit, providing a good amount of resistance.  The cigar immediately opened with black coffee and doughnuts, but it was the mouthfeel that really took me by surprise.  I don't quite know how to describe it, but the smoke and flavour were so thick it was almost chewy, really bringing that doughnut character to a whole other level.

The middle third presented more of the same, throwing some spicy pepper into the mix as the cigar progressed.  The cigar is still very young, and I think it really deserves some more downtime to give this a chance to settle.  Through the final third, the cigar continued to pick up in strength, and that black coffee intensified even further.  The total smoke time was 1:15.

Overall, it knocked my socks off.  It was much more powerful than I expected, and credit where credit is due, it did end up offering an experience unlike anything else I have regularly smoked.  I'm still not going to buy them, but then again I was never the target market for something like this anyway.  These cigars were made for the time poor, and I have always been the sort of person who would rather forgo a cigar entirely if time doesn't allow it rather than squeezing one into a limited window.  For a shorter smoke, I'll stick to my Petit Corona's, but I certainly have more respect for these now.