Trinidad vitola aging

[vhampl03]

I know opinions vary but wonder if any experienced Trinidad smokers can provide guidance as to which violas smoke well young and which need age?

Looking for the type of guidance that @Elpresidente has provided in 24:24 threads - that Medio Siglo are good after 60 days down, CoRo need 3-5 years, etc.

Thanks in advance and apologies if I’ve missed an existing thread on this topic.....asking this selfishly since I have Media Luna, La Trova, Vigia, and Topes from our host and trying to game plan enjoying them.

-Vance

[NSXCIGAR]

Trinidad can be good with minimal age. The only model I personally think might really need age to iron out some kinks is Vigia. All others, a year, two at the most is all that's needed.

I've also smoked some 5-10 year aged Trini and I really couldn't notice that much difference. They seem to really not change too much to my taste. Maybe after 10-15 years something changes but most models haven't been around that long yet. 

[Boxer31]

I have found the vigia and topes pretty good young

[El Presidente]

I agree with NSX. You can't go too far wrong with young Trini but put them down for 90 days if you can. 

They all smoke better at the 2 year mark but improvement from that time on is not exponential (IMHO). 

[rascalmonkey]

a 2-3 yr old Vigia I smoked recently was one of the best smokes I've had in the past year

and it was the last of a box that were pretty good when 1 yr old

[Winoheel]

Smoking one of my all time favorites now, 2009 Robusto Extra!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, rascalmonkey said:

a 2-3 yr old Vigia I smoked recently was one of the best smokes I've had in the past year

and it was the last of a box that were pretty good when 1 yr old

Good to hear 2-3 years might be all it takes. I just haven't had much luck with them and I feel age will help but haven't had too many that weren't fairly fresh. It also just could have been the run from 16-18. Haven't had any recently.

17 minutes ago, Winoheel said:

Smoking one of my all time favorites now, 2009 Robusto Extra!

Those were good to go from day one and have remained excellent. A short lived legend.

[Tstew75]

I pretty much only collect Fundadores/Vigia/La Trova/Reyes (been perplexed by the new vitolas pricing vs. Vigia)...at the moment haven't been super happy with Vigias 2018-current I've smoked, tho many have been UAO which could require more time? Using La Trova as my example, 17s are smoking lights out yet I don't have other older Trinis to compare to. I'm guessing I love Trini at 3+years age? I will learn alot smoking over the next year I'm guessing...

[BrightonCorgi]

I have some Fundi's from around '05 that taste older than they should.  Kind of lost some of its oomph.

[chuckpnoy]

On 10/5/2020 at 12:40 AM, Tstew75 said:

I pretty much only collect Fundadores/Vigia/La Trova/Reyes (been perplexed by the new vitolas pricing vs. Vigia)...at the moment haven't been super happy with Vigias 2018-current I've smoked, tho many have been UAO which could require more time? Using La Trova as my example, 17s are smoking lights out yet I don't have other older Trinis to compare to. I'm guessing I love Trini at 3+years age? I will learn alot smoking over the next year I'm guessing...

What about Esmeralda?  What do you think?

[MrBirdman]

4 hours ago, chuckpnoy said:

What about Esmeralda?  What do you think?

They haven’t been around long enough to really know, but I imagine they will be in line with other Trini’s and smoke well after a year or two tops. 

[zigarrenziggy]

12 minutes ago, MrBirdman said:

They haven’t been around long enough to really know, but I imagine they will be in line with other Trini’s and smoke well after a year or two tops. 

I have a box of Esmeralda from Oct 19, so I guess I'll bite the bullet for the team and try one out and report back. Woe is me...

[MrBirdman]

19 minutes ago, zigarrenziggy said:

I have a box of Esmeralda from Oct 19, so I guess I'll bite the bullet for the team and try one out and report back. Woe is me...

Haha you're the one who convinced me I needed to grab a box! I normally don't go in for anything that big, now I'm just trying to keep my hands off it until it's got at least 30 days rest. 

[Tstew75]

On 10/7/2020 at 7:49 AM, chuckpnoy said:

What about Esmeralda?  What do you think?

I think all the new Trini vitolas are mad overpriced vs. Vigia. I fade them all

[NSXCIGAR]

On 10/7/2020 at 9:54 PM, Lrabold89 said:

why do you think this about vigia? i have had some really great young vigia (~2 yrs)..in fact i smoke quite a b it of them....sometimes they can be a little flat and boring but hardly ever seem like having kinks/too much youth...whats your take?..thanks!

Opposite for me, although it's been a couple years since I've had any Vigia. I've found them to be very very punchy and rough. I find a lot more leather and wood in a Vigia than other Trinis. There's plenty there and I think that kind of profile could really become great with time.

I've certainly never had a bland Vigia. Every one I've had was quite strong and flavorful. In fact, I would probably consider it the strongest Trini model.

 

2 hours ago, Tstew75 said:

I think all the new Trini vitolas are mad overpriced vs. Vigia. I fade them all

I fully agree. The Vigia pricing is actually quite good. But how is the Media Luna--a cigar 30% smaller--more expensive? 

And am I going to spend $23 on a Topes or $25 on a La Trova? 

 

On 10/8/2020 at 1:49 AM, chuckpnoy said:

What about Esmeralda?  What do you think?

This seems to be the most well-received of the new releases, although the ML appears to be the best seller of the three. These seem to be smoking very well young so we'll see how they change. 

[Deeg]

Without having smoked any of the newbies (which makes my opinion pretty useless, lol) it’s hard for me to imagine any of them offering a fuller smoking experience than the Fundadores.

[Hoepssa]

On 10/6/2020 at 1:47 AM, BrightonCorgi said:

I have some Fundi's from around '05 that taste older than they should.  Kind of lost some of its oomph.

Same.

It was not hard to buy 05' Fundy in Spain around 2017-18, I bought some sticks from different estancs, boring sticks.

Seems like that unique taste from Trini is gone faster than normal Habanos... 

[PuroDiario]

This is a great discussion, have had it through the years back home with relatives many times. Meaning, discussing if Trinidad better young or with some age?...conclusion was we always smoke all before the 3 years mark...and we still love them so why wait. Reyes probably one of the best potential to age (imho but i end up smoking them young), vigias i do not see the need to wait (maybe a year does not hurt, but it always works), coloniales i can have them day in and day out with not much time on, Topes and La Trova I do them young jajaja..Fundadores last box I have smoked, was over the week of Christmas of 217 (i think), it had some years on it (i need to check, probably the box with last couple of sticks is still there) and was excellent, but I would not say the difference with a young Fundadores was extreme for what is worth.

[BrightonCorgi]

15 hours ago, Hoepssa said:

Seems like that unique taste from Trini is gone faster than normal Habanos... 

Totally.  I remember the original release of the Fundi's were highly regarded and trying some 10 years in; I liked the current ones better.

[Kayslay]

I feel the Vigia and Topes have a nice snap to them young. Which is part of what draws me in. The Vigia being more cream, and the Topes being more cedar.

The reyes in my experience does benefit from a couple years minimum. Younger reyes are espresso bombs, and with a couple years they begin to get some cream from the Vigia profile.