Cigar Weekly

jdrabinski · 12-08-2003, 07:42 PM

Though this has been reviewed already...

http://forums.cigarweekly.com/viewto...+robusto+extra

...I thought I'd offer my thoughts.

I am a huge fan of the Trinidad Fundadores. I like the vitola and the character of the tobacco. So, when Trinidad's new sizes were put on the market, my meagre savings (read: room on the Visa) were quickly diminished.

Tonight it was time to break out the Trinidad Robusto Extra. My wife and baby are coming home tomorrow, so this is my last chance to smoke something in the house until spring, when the windows can be opened without inducing frostbite. And this cigar caps off a decadent weekend during which I put to flame some of my most anticipated cigars.

This one is from the cardboard 3-pack, a nice presentation with an internal box for each individual cigar. I also have a box of twelve, but they are in the no lo molestar shelf.

What a beautiful cigar. The wrapper is a gorgeous shade of brown, very silky and shiny without any marks, and cut perfectly to a luscious draw. Prelight aroma was sweet and sharp. Lighting the cigar was easy, though the burn needed regular, small touch-ups and the ash was a bit flaky. Youth, methinks. The burn was slow, lasting a solid hour and a half.

From the first draw forward, I found this cigar to be both familiar and surprising.

The familiarity lies in the toasty tobacco characteristic of the Fundadores. This Robusto Extra is no doubt a Trinidad. The tobacco in this cigar is first-rate, as in its freshness, it is already complicated and bold. There is a lightly earthy quality over which the toastiness is mixed with a distinct coffee flavor. The toastiness of the tobacco gives a nice character-companion to the dry and speckled coffee, rounding out the strongest part of the flavor profile. But, and this probably goes without saying, these flavors have yet to come into their own. The potency of this profile makes great promises for the future.

What was surprising about this cigar was its spiciness. I concur with Ronald's (doohnibor) description of a 'prickly' sensation on the palate. But the spiciness--again, as Ronald noted--was not simply a peppery or cedary flavor. There was a lot of complexity to this spicy bite, with a strong presence of ginger, cinnamon, and leafiness. The ginger and leafy flavors lingered long on the finish, where I found them slowly becoming more pleasant; on first taste, I found them to be a bit too much. The intensity of the ginger and leafy tended to obscure the light cinnamon hint. Alas, the spicy complexity lacked both balance and consistency. The sins of youth, without a doubt.

I will be putting these Trinidad Robusto Extras on the aging shelf for the year. Though expensive, I think these have as much promise as any cigar I've smoked. There is an intensity and uniqueness to this flavor profile that makes it a compelling new addition to the world of havanas. And, no, Mo did not pay me to say that...

John

12-08-2003, 07:42 PM	#1
jdrabinski Club Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Amherst, MA Posts: 1,545	Trinidad Robusto Extra Though this has been reviewed already... http://forums.cigarweekly.com/viewto...+robusto+extra ...I thought I'd offer my thoughts. I am a huge fan of the Trinidad Fundadores. I like the vitola and the character of the tobacco. So, when Trinidad's new sizes were put on the market, my meagre savings (read: room on the Visa) were quickly diminished. Tonight it was time to break out the Trinidad Robusto Extra. My wife and baby are coming home tomorrow, so this is my last chance to smoke something in the house until spring, when the windows can be opened without inducing frostbite. And this cigar caps off a decadent weekend during which I put to flame some of my most anticipated cigars. This one is from the cardboard 3-pack, a nice presentation with an internal box for each individual cigar. I also have a box of twelve, but they are in the no lo molestar shelf. What a beautiful cigar. The wrapper is a gorgeous shade of brown, very silky and shiny without any marks, and cut perfectly to a luscious draw. Prelight aroma was sweet and sharp. Lighting the cigar was easy, though the burn needed regular, small touch-ups and the ash was a bit flaky. Youth, methinks. The burn was slow, lasting a solid hour and a half. From the first draw forward, I found this cigar to be both familiar and surprising. The familiarity lies in the toasty tobacco characteristic of the Fundadores. This Robusto Extra is no doubt a Trinidad. The tobacco in this cigar is first-rate, as in its freshness, it is already complicated and bold. There is a lightly earthy quality over which the toastiness is mixed with a distinct coffee flavor. The toastiness of the tobacco gives a nice character-companion to the dry and speckled coffee, rounding out the strongest part of the flavor profile. But, and this probably goes without saying, these flavors have yet to come into their own. The potency of this profile makes great promises for the future. What was surprising about this cigar was its spiciness. I concur with Ronald's (doohnibor) description of a 'prickly' sensation on the palate. But the spiciness--again, as Ronald noted--was not simply a peppery or cedary flavor. There was a lot of complexity to this spicy bite, with a strong presence of ginger, cinnamon, and leafiness. The ginger and leafy flavors lingered long on the finish, where I found them slowly becoming more pleasant; on first taste, I found them to be a bit too much. The intensity of the ginger and leafy tended to obscure the light cinnamon hint. Alas, the spicy complexity lacked both balance and consistency. The sins of youth, without a doubt. I will be putting these Trinidad Robusto Extras on the aging shelf for the year. Though expensive, I think these have as much promise as any cigar I've smoked. There is an intensity and uniqueness to this flavor profile that makes it a compelling new addition to the world of havanas. And, no, Mo did not pay me to say that... John