Taste Test
Reviewed by Rick Woodbridge (February 2004)
The Trinidad Fundadore has always been one of my favourite cigars and when I saw that new sizes were to be released, I jumped at the chance to try what I thought would be the best of the best….the Trinidad Robusto Extra.
The day after receiving my 3-pak from Mo, I lit one up on the drive into the office (a 1 hour commute). I find that I taste more in a cigar when I smoke in the early morning and it’s the first cigar of the day.
I can only describe the appearance of this cigar as promising elegance. Perfectly rolled with a silky wrapper, not an unwanted vein or bump in sight, it makes the mouth water with expectation. The aroma of the unlit tobacco is the most unique I’ve sensed in a Cuban. The tell-tale barnyard essence one expects from a well-aged Cuban cigar is evident but subdued, while a faint hint of citrus promises more from an already rich label.
I cut and performed a pre-light draw and wondered if the Fuentes hadn’t been commissioned to roll this cigar. In short, absolutely perfect draw. The light was even and the burn even and tempered. The first draw was full and voluminous, every note a classic Cuban but with something new, different. The body was medium and perfectly balanced, as in no bitterness on the finish, with the slightest essence of orange peel. There, along side of the citrus was lightly roasted coffee and honey. Not one flavor was withholding the other, each complimentary. It had the taste of maturity, the perfect blending of each element. Every full draw was like a rich dessert, driving me to take just one more bite. I horded and savored each draw as if the precious last one. The ash was classic charcoal grey and tight, and with the exception of one midway touch-up with the lighter, was picture perfect even down to the last ¼ inch that I could hold.
I still had 1/3 of the cigar left after my 1 hour commute and saved it for the drive home. Even after going cold and resting for 9 hours, the relight was perfect, the flavor even richer and my singed fingers can attest to the fact that if I didn’t know better, I would’ve eaten the butt that I could no longer hold for the heat.
Finally, the finish lasted for an hour, honey drenched citrus and coffee. Now, to find a way to mortgage the house for a ready supply of this vitola. Mmmmm…mmmmm…good!.
Trinidad’s. Written OK,but when the reviewer said that it had “barnyard smellings” it turned me off. I do enjoy Cohibas and tend to find that the young ones have a very pronounced “grassy” taste. To me he turned someone off from trying one of these enjoyable sticks.
Score 5/10
Reviewed by FBCoacho
I like the overall review of the cigar, and a long drive is a great time for cigar smoking. What I don't like is the comparison to a Fuente product, which was implying that the cubans cant roll their cigars well. We also know that after a long time between relights a cigar is not going to taste that great. Sounds like a sales pitch to me.....
Score: 8/10
Reviewed by ChrisECheck
A hard to follow review of a cigar that should be enjoyed sitting somewhere besides in a car, for such a luxurious cigar a lot of time should be spent on focusing time and attention on the cigar. To ad insult to the fine Cuban rollers, the name Fuentes is brought up as if a Cuban could never roll such a well made cigar. The review could have been describing one of the many Cuban cigar lines.
Score 7/10
Reviewed by Ted Hood
OVERALL SCORE: 20/30
