Up for review today is the Trinidad Vigía from Cuba. Originally a brand reserved for diplomats and power brokers, Trinidad is a brand now available to the wider cigar market. Although not the original Trindad blend (that honor goes to Fundadores), the Vigia is a well-respected blend from the company, so I am excited to put what many consider a classic to the test.
Here’s some additional background info courtesy of Cigar Aficionado:
Trinidad is one of the anomalies within Cuba’s collection of cigar brands. It started as a commercially unavailable cigar reserved for diplomats and dignitaries. Once the brand was released to the public in 1998, it came in one long, thin size called Fundadores. Then the brand expanded by adding a few more vitolas, only to contract afterward by deleting sizes in 2012. Trinidad’s newest addition, the Vigía is the exact opposite of the Fundadores. Rather than being long and slender, this cigar is short and squat… Vigía is named for the watchtowers in the Cuban city of Trinidad erected to observe the sugarcane fields.
Blend Specifics
- Cigar Reviewed: Trinidad Vigía
- Wrapper: Cuba
- Binder: Cuba
- Filler: Cuba
- Size: 4 3/8″ x 54
- Year: 2014
Appearance & Construction
The Trinidad Vigía is a wonderfully constructed cigar, with a gorgeous outer wrapper leaf that has a light layer of oil and has just a few minor veins. The cigar is packed moderately, with a bit of springiness when squeezed and what feels like a soft spot right near the foot. Side note: I also like the pigtail-esque twisted cap.
Taking a whiff off of the foot of the cigar, I pick up aromas of light earth and spices, herbs, almonds and light bread. The draw is just right, a 7/10 in terms of amount of restrictiveness, and the cold draw produces very light spices, sugar-toasted bread and some slight almond bitterness.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
The Trinidad Vigía opens with mild-medium body smoke and excellent smoke production. The cigar strikes an impressive balance between bitter (oak, bread, almonds), spicy (white pepper, cayenne), savory (earth, truffle) and sweet (cinnamon, cream). Most impressive is the perfectly apportioned spice on the palate and on the retrohale. It isn’t often that the retrohale offers so much additional depth to the profile, but it does with the Vigía.
In the initial minutes of the smoke, the balance of flavors shifts constantly, sometimes dishing out strong earth and spice notes, other times emphasizing cream and cinnamon, and still other times narrowing in on oak and almonds. All of this makes for a deep and entertaining experience. Strength and body rise also begin to steadily rise until reaching medium.
No sooner do I notice how attractive the inch and a half long white ash is than it falls on my lap. The profile remains mostly the same, though the spiciness begins to sizzle a bit on the tongue. Otherwise, the flavors continue to shift in balance, and the cigar continues to produce plume after plume of lush smoke.
At about the halfway mark the profile changes substantially, with sour mustard and a very strong perfume flavor barging in on the party. The initial impression is not very good, but after a few puffs my palate acclimates and it’s a bit more enjoyable (still a detractor overall). The retrohale drops its spice and takes on the complexion of bread with a noticeable perfume flavor. Lots of complexity here but the harmony of the notes is questionable. Construction remains basically perfect.
Near the end of the final third, the Vigía brings forward a core of cedar that is unfortunately dwarfed by sour mustard and a strong almond, neither of which are well balanced. At the same time, the temperature of the smoke increases rapidly. A good time to set the cigar down.
Conclusion
When the Trinidad Vigía is on point, it is spectacular. In its worst moments, it’s overly bitter and sour. Thankfully, the Vigía smokes mostly in the former camp, with delicious richness and well balanced notes of almond, earth, spices, and cream. And that’s why it’s a cigar absolutely worth pursuing.
You can find the Trinidad Vigía online in a number of cigar stores including on
Swiss Cuban Cigars.
Final Score: 91