My Article: Cigar of the Year

(LONDON, JAN. 1, 2011) I had been thinking for a while about what my Cigar of the Year should be for 2010, and I finally decided on Cuba’s Trinidad Robusto T. This became one of my go-to cigars ever since I first smoked it in Havana in 2009. It is a cigar that delivers so much character, flavor, and finesse. It burns beautifully. The 4 7/8 inches long by 50-ring gauge cigar is so well made that it almost smokes itself. I love the flower, cedar, spice, green coffee bean, and tobacco character. It’s fresh and super clean to smoke.

In the beginning, Trinidad was made at the El Laguito factory, which since the early 1960s has been the mother factory for Cohiba. In the 1970s, El Laguito also began making cigars for Davidoff, but ended in the early 1990s because of a trademark dispute between Cuba and the Swiss-based company. Trinidad was first made in 1969, according to Habanos SA, the global marketing and distribution company for Cuban cigars in Havana.

Trindad began its life as a special cigar that Fidel Castro gave as a diplomatic gift. It was more exclusive than Cohiba Lancero in paper boxes, which were also used for diplomatic purposes. The first commercially available Trinidad was the Fundadores, a slightly thicker rendition of Cohiba’s Lancero. It was launched in 1998.

The Robusto T was a natural line extension for the brand following the introduction of three sizes of Trinidad in 2003, including Reyes, Coloniales, and Robusto Extra. In the last year, the production of all Trinidads has been moved to the tobacco-growing region of Pinar del Rio.

I score the Trindad Robusto T 96 points. It is a superb quality cigar. It comes in lacquered cedar boxes of 12 and 24. It sells for £235 and  £470, respectively, in London. Single cigars are £21.30. The cigar is also available in aluminum tubes.

Check out the video with all the above and more on my Cigar of the Year.