Reviews
Date Added: Tuesday 07 June, 2016
Trinidad Fundadores Cigar - 1 Single
by Staff
Reviewed by Joe Gellman (22nd October 2001)
I have often heard smokers describing the Trinidad as a glorified Lancero with an aged wrapper. While there are certainly some things in common between the two, the Trinidad has a life of its own.
Both the Trinidad and the Lancero are rolled are the El Laguito factory. On a recent trip to Cuba our group was given a thorough tour of the El Laguito factory. The factory is nestled between mansions, a short trip from Old Havana. The care given to each step of production at the factory was drilled home after over one-hour, having been taken to every department at the factory. We were even given a tour of the "classroom" where novice rollers are taught the ins and outs of production of the cigars rolled at El Laguito.
It is not unusual, therefore, to be pleased with every Trinidad one buys. This cigar was first made for distribution in late 1990, and, at first, was reserved as a gift from Castro to "special' people. After a while the cigar became available, in very limited production, to the public.
Having had the good fortune to
Date Added: Tuesday 07 June, 2016
Trinidad Coloniales Cigar - 1 Single
by Staff
Reviewed by John Goddard
It's my first try of a Colonial and it appears very well made, with a smooth wrapper. The draw is easy but not too loose, and my first impression is of a fine cigar in excellent condition, with a dark 'earth and wood' character.
The predominant flavour is wood, and I think that smoked too quickly or drawn too heavily, this would become sharp and overpowering. As it is, I smoke very slowly and there's no harshness.
The most striking thing is the way the flavours cycle on the palate. Take a draw, exhale, and the first and foremost flavour is definitely wood, accompanied by an aroma of clean, dry wood-smoke. As this decays, it gives way to a distinct taste of coffee, rather like 'Tia Maria' in fact; at the same time the aroma becomes softer and honeyed with a touch of spice.
There are many other flavours at work here too: hints of dark chocolate, honey and toasting nuts, some bitterness - like wormwood, and some black pepper later, but these flavour-labels really don't give the whole picture, which is smooth, complex and interesting.
A little fu
Date Added: Tuesday 07 June, 2016
Reviewed by Jack Schonhaut (June 2001)
I didn't know I was going to be a taste tester until these beauties arrived with my order from MO. I have smoked this vitola before and found them to be pleasant with a mild to medium flavor. These looked darker than any Sancho Panza I have previously seen with almost a maduro hue. There was also a beautiful oily sheen that made them look like they were going to try out for the Mr./Ms Universe pageant. I grudgingly put them in the humidor to rest for a week before I started my tasting.
The first candidate was smoked after lunch. It was a nice sunny day, perfect for a leisurely smoke on the deck. There cigar looked perfect. Smooth, no veins and firm to the touch. The cut was clean and the pre-light aroma was a smell of cedar.
Upon lighting there was an easy draw with a medium to full flavor that included tastes of cedar and coffee. I'm not talking about a latte, I mean fresh ground Columbian, in a big cup. This was not the taste of the Sancho Panza I've had before. This continued through the first third of the smoke as a firm dark gray a
Date Added: Tuesday 07 June, 2016
Reviewed by Steve Pulizzano (February 2001)
Named for the rustic squire to Don Quixote in Cervantes' novel of the same name. The Sancho Panza is generally admired for its two larger cigars, the Belicoso and Sancho which is a formidable 9¼ X 47. All are handmade and are mild to medium bodied. The Sancho Panza is one of Cubas oldest marques.
A very well made Habanos of the vitola: campanas. A smooth, finely veined capa that covered a well packed and slightly boxpressed figurado with no hard or soft spots to its length. Of the three samples sent only one was subpar in its taste with an acrid and dry finish especially for the first ¾ to 1". The following notes are for the other two: Prelight draw gave rich ripe fruity overtones that were mellow and refined without any harshness and that unmistakable Habanos tang to the tobacco. Postlight taste and aromas of subtle honey/floral, spice, a touch of roasted coffee and cedar that were subdued yet left sweet and aromatic tones on the palate. The torpedo shape tends to condense the smoke and leave a heavy prescence in the mouth but is m
Date Added: Tuesday 07 June, 2016
Reviewed by Chuck Vaughan-Lloyd (May 2004)
Length 5 1/2" x 52 ring gauge EAR October 2002 I had a unique opportunity last night to enjoy a totally new Cuban Cigar for my palate. A very good friend and True Lover of the Habanos Leaf sent me one of these to try with the simple request that I write a short review of my tasting notes.
Let me say that those of you that do not have a MRN Book, that this cigar is a relative new introduction onto the Habanos scene and thus no preconceived ideas could be made as to what to expect. This line was launched in Havana in 1999. This is a completely new brand, not one that has been resurrected.
The Belicoso had a smooth light chocolate brown wrapper, which I could not find any veins. It had a solid firm feel as I felt it and thought to myself that this cigar had been kept properly. I had not really let it rest much from its journey, but knew that my friend has always maintained his humidors extremely well. I cut the tip about ¼ down and tried a pre-draw and tasted a fine robust tobacco flavor. The foot toasted well and as I took the first
Date Added: Tuesday 07 June, 2016
Reviewed by Don Simpson - January 2002
Upon inspection the cigars were of fair construction, with sharp veins and a smooth satin finish. They were medium dark with a poorly applied cap.
The first cigar lasted approximately 40 minutes and I smoked it after dinner. The next two cigars were smoked at about the same time within the following 3 days. The time was about the same for all three cigars. The carbon ring was not consistent and varied in definition and color. It had a gray, firm ash, held tight by the sharp burned vein in the wrapper.
My first impression of the white smoke was sweet and light, but the blue smoke was warm and creamy, and tasted young and needed more time to enrich. The draw was easy but again the smoke was warm with hot spots and soft spots through out the shaft of the cigar. The wrapper already had begun to unravel and was starting to canoe. All three cigars had this same trait!
At first the taste of earth was very prevalent and turned 'dirt' like very quick. As the cigar continued to unravel, a prominent tobacco/burnt chocolate notes appeared. It wa
