Pre-light Experience

On the pre-light for the Trinidad Fundadores, the wrapper is light brown, and wrinkly with a well made pigtail cap. The aromas on the wrapper are spices, with an intense cedar, and sweet cedar present in the foot. The Trinidad band is a light gold, highlighted with reflective gold all placed onto a brown and gold background.

First Third

Initial flavors on the Trinidad Fundadores are sweet graham cracker with spices that linger on the lips. On the retrohale, I’m tasting mild creaminess with each draw finishing with some grassiness. As the cigar settles in, the post draw brings some light lingering cedar into the profile.

Second Third

There are no notable flavor transitions going into the middle third. The graham cracker is still present on the regular draw and the retrohale, but quite subdued compared to the first third. The overall profile remains consistent throughout the second third.

Final Third

The graham cracker and spices pick up suddenly in intensity in the final third. The overall profile settles into hay, graham cracker, spices, with some underlying light sweetness.

Burn

The burn is fairly straight with ash neatly falling off in quarter to half inch increments initially. Once the cigar gets settled, the ash holds on solidly in half inch to 3/4 inch increments.

Draw

The initial draws on the Fundadores are quite tight, as I struggle to draw on the cigar. It opens up slightly by the end of the first third, but far too much resistance overall.

Overall

The Trinidad Fundadores 2017 release is a perfect example of a Cuban cigar that is too young to enjoy, but should be very good with a few years of aging. All the Fundadores I’ve smoked with 3+ years of age on them are excellent cigars with great complexity. This box will go to the back of my humidor and I will go back to check on their evolution in 6 – 8 month periods.

John McTavish

SCORE

5.15

Cost/Point

N/A

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Trinidad Fundadores