Cigar Weekly

Prof2B · 01-10-2002, 12:52 AM

Cigar: Trinidad Fundadores, cabinet selection
Vitola: Gran Panetela, 7.5x40
Tobacco: Cuban (puro)
Age: about two years
Review Date: 1/09/02
Street price: $20-$25

Appearance: Very good. Light brown wrapper, colorado-claro, with a few water spots. Finely veined.

Construction: Excellent. Perfect curly head cap, no soft spots. Tightly wrapped and straight as an arrow.

Burn: Excellent. Burned perfectly throughout.

Problems: None.

Draw: Very good. Just a little tight at first, but after the first inch it opened up a bit. Comfortable draw thereafter.

Ash: Dark grey to grey, very firm.

Smoked to: Just before the band. It got a little hot for my tastes at that point. About 80 minutes.

Strength: Medium to Medium/Full. I had a large meal beforehand, and I nonetheless got that classic Havana headiness at about the 2/3rds point. Not at all overpowering--quite pleasant, in fact.

Aroma: Exquisite. Pre-light aroma was enticing and unique, almost toasty. Once lit, the aromas of roasted almonds, cashews, and subtle spices filled the room, and from time to time I swear I could smell hints of licorice.

Taste: Very good. A smooth tang throughout, with flavor shifts every couple inches. It started off with soft spices, mostly nutmeg to my palate. Every now and then I'd get a hint of red pepper, and as the cigar developed the finish lingered longer, leaving just a bit of tingling. Various elements would move in and out of the flavor profile as the cigar progressed, keeping me guessing as to what would happen next.

Overall: Top of the line smoke!

General comments: This is probably one of the more complex cigars I've ever smoked. I'm still not quite sure how a 40 ring gauge gran panetela could deliver the array of flavors I normally expect from a churchill or double corona, but somehow it did. And the aroma--wow, for that reason alone I'll be smoking more of these when I can afford them. Construction is top notch: the cigar smoked like a dream. The Trinidad Fundadores is one of the best Cubans I've ever smoked, and offhand I can't think of any non-Cuban that can even come close.

The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.

01-10-2002, 12:52 AM	#1
Prof2B Starting Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Waltham, MA USA Posts: 78	Cigar: Trinidad Fundadores, cabinet selection Vitola: Gran Panetela, 7.5x40 Tobacco: Cuban (puro) Age: about two years Review Date: 1/09/02 Street price: $20-$25 Appearance: Very good. Light brown wrapper, colorado-claro, with a few water spots. Finely veined. Construction: Excellent. Perfect curly head cap, no soft spots. Tightly wrapped and straight as an arrow. Burn: Excellent. Burned perfectly throughout. Problems: None. Draw: Very good. Just a little tight at first, but after the first inch it opened up a bit. Comfortable draw thereafter. Ash: Dark grey to grey, very firm. Smoked to: Just before the band. It got a little hot for my tastes at that point. About 80 minutes. Strength: Medium to Medium/Full. I had a large meal beforehand, and I nonetheless got that classic Havana headiness at about the 2/3rds point. Not at all overpowering--quite pleasant, in fact. Aroma: Exquisite. Pre-light aroma was enticing and unique, almost toasty. Once lit, the aromas of roasted almonds, cashews, and subtle spices filled the room, and from time to time I swear I could smell hints of licorice. Taste: Very good. A smooth tang throughout, with flavor shifts every couple inches. It started off with soft spices, mostly nutmeg to my palate. Every now and then I'd get a hint of red pepper, and as the cigar developed the finish lingered longer, leaving just a bit of tingling. Various elements would move in and out of the flavor profile as the cigar progressed, keeping me guessing as to what would happen next. Overall: Top of the line smoke! General comments: This is probably one of the more complex cigars I've ever smoked. I'm still not quite sure how a 40 ring gauge gran panetela could deliver the array of flavors I normally expect from a churchill or double corona, but somehow it did. And the aroma--wow, for that reason alone I'll be smoking more of these when I can afford them. Construction is top notch: the cigar smoked like a dream. The Trinidad Fundadores is one of the best Cubans I've ever smoked, and offhand I can't think of any non-Cuban that can even come close. The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. __________________ Zeal for your house consumes me.