Beneath the Band: Trinidad Fundadores

[El Presidente]

 

This series to explore whether a particular cigar is humidor worthy. Cost these days is an issue for many so let's see if we can highlight some absolute standouts. This should particularly assist those new to the cigar world.  

To be fair, most of the cigars we have featured to date have scored exceptionally well. Surprisingly well! 

Scoring is: 1-3 (Poor)   4-6 (Average to good)   7-10  (very good to excellent)  Use the Poll. 

You are more than free to comment away 

Trinidad Fundadores to me is a legendary cigar. With our MOFOH Fat Fundy, we pay hommage to this Trinidad. Once upon a time it was a special staple in most humidors. Is that still the case today? 

Today: Trinidad Fundadores.  Do you enjoy them? Fresh or aged? If aged....how long before they generally hit their stride.

Let's kick off the discussion 

 

[Coloniales]

Luckily I stocked up with a few boxes of '98s so I am good for many years. These were EL production, never had a bad one. Cheers.

[JohnS]

Those 1998 Trinidad Fundadores were the 'cream of the crop', that's for sure. We had another golden run around 2017-18. However, I'm not sure that these reached the heights of those '98s. For me, every time I reach for one of my 2017/18 stock it's a lottery whether they'll stay lit.

[chasy]

I’ll abstain from this poll.

[Lucas Buck]

An all time classic and one of my favorite cigars. I’ve had just one or two over the years that weren’t great. The OR are transcendent & ‘98s as previously mentioned are superb. 

[Fugu]

Yeah - I mean …… yeah!  

[Ford2112]

I love them. But I'm a pleb now when it comes to budgeting.

[Chucko8]

Definitely humidor worthy, but given the current pricing structure not at all in the value range.

[LaoFan]

6 hours ago, JohnS said:

Those 1998 Trinidad Fundadores were the 'cream of the crop', that's for sure. We had another golden run around 2017-18. However, I'm not sure that these reached the heights of those '98s. For me, every time I reach for one of my 2017/18 stock it's a lottery whether they'll stay lit.

I bought boxes in '17/'18 for $400~ a box. They're superb smokes.

[KCCubano]

6 hours ago, JohnS said:

Those 1998 Trinidad Fundadores were the 'cream of the crop', that's for sure. We had another golden run around 2017-18. However, I'm not sure that these reached the heights of those '98s. For me, every time I reach for one of my 2017/18 stock it's a lottery whether they'll stay lit.

I smoked a 98 with a buddy years ago and I agree. 

[Glass Half Full]

@JohnS — when you speak, I listen

I’m lucky to have had an ‘97 just last month.  It is a stunning. highly memorable cigar. Seems unfair for that to be a yardstick for others. Enjoyed it with good friends in memory of a friend.
 

I had a few of the 2017-18s well before that rarified recent experience.  Those were so good I sought them out — even did a trade for them some years ago here on FOH — and gained a great friendship with @Islandboy ever since

These Trinis seem to always help make memories:)

[loose_axle]

Love them and would take them over a CoLa. I have one last box bought before the price hike and that's just waiting a special occasion. I won't be buying anymore. 

[99call]

I smoked two of the old band Fundies around 2005 and they were exceptional. So much more of an interesting blend that today's iteration. 

Old band:  Aromatic Sandalwood, cashew, incense, new leather, cream.

Today's iteration reflects the blend across the line, i.e. that Donuty, sweet, rich profile, and you could argue that indulgent simple blend works more effectively in a La Trova or an Esmeralda format. 

The Fundy of today is still a fantastic cigar, and I would take it over a COLA any day.

[Cestis4]

About a year ago I smoked a '05, '11, '23 back to back; Breakfast, lunch and dinner. The '11 was for me one of the best I’ve smoked. It was a damn great day! I have one single '05 left and might just set flame to it this weekend. 

 

 

[MrBirdman]

I smoked one of the original band Trinidad in college - absolutely a thing of beauty. I remember cashews, cream, and something else I couldn’t put my finger on. Current blend is somewhat different. They’re exceptional now but that was something special. My two best friends at school and I smoked them together (ordered from Canada at a premium though far less than they command today) - I remember my roommate James just saying, “this is how a cigar should taste.”

RIP James P. Whitney 

[Fugu]

On 9/2/2025 at 10:14 PM, El Presidente said:

Do you enjoy them? Fresh or aged? If aged....how long before they generally hit their stride.

One of the few marcas I really prefer with some age on them. Seven years makes a Fundy shine.

[pohlmad]

I have some 2019’s that have been so bad fresh that we threw the sticks aside and chose different cigars, twice. That is not easy considering the price and how hard they are to find!  Haven’t touched them since. Given that many have talked about how good they are with age, I will revisit them now. 

[El Presidente]

5 hours ago, pohlmad said:

I have some 2019’s that have been so bad fresh that we threw the sticks aside and chose different cigars, twice. That is not easy considering the price and how hard they are to find!  Haven’t touched them since. Given that many have talked about how good they are with age, I will revisit them now. 

Let us know how your revisit goes  

Fingers crossed for you!

[Glass Half Full]

6 hours ago, pohlmad said:

I have some 2019’s that have been so bad fresh that we threw the sticks aside and chose different cigars, twice. That is not easy considering the price and how hard they are to find!  Haven’t touched them since. Given that many have talked about how good they are with age, I will revisit them now. 

Yes, I too was sad to read of your experience. To be sure, inconsistency is part of the experience generally for CCs, but rarely is that said of this marca.

In case it’s helpful, most often for skinnies (such as this cigar), I find a less than ideal experience can be solved by lowering the RH for storage. I’ll go so far as to pop a 58% within the box of skinnies despite my usual storage of 60-62 for all CCs. Hopefully that can work for you too. Fingers crossed.