My Weekend Cigar Review: TRINIDAD ESPIRITU SERIES NO. 3
VIDEO CIGAR REVIEW: TRINIDAD ESPIRITU SERIES NO. 3 TORO
Mexico Meets Nicaragua; Smokes Like Team Espiritu
Calling it “the culmination of Trinidad Espiritu’s epic journey through years of diverse cigar cultures and pleasure,” the Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 3 celebrates “The Spirit of Mexico” with a full-flavored, two-nation blend. Released last year on October 31st, which is also Mexico’s annual Día de Los Muertos, this third release was developed by the uber-talented Rafael Nodal and AJ Fernandez. Like the original Espiritu, they used an all-Nicaraguan core for the No. 3, but this time around they combined select leaves with an extra-fermented San Andrés Maduro wrapper, then completed each vitola with a soft box press.
Presented in five popular sizes, Altadis U.S.A. senior brand manager, Olivia Saad says that the colorful packaging and cigar bands are “a visual celebration of Mexican heritage that draws a connection to Mexico’s culture, its festive spirit, and deep-rooted traditions.
Cigar Details:
Factory: AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua, S.A. – Estelí
Size: 6″x54 Toro (box pressed)
Body & Strength: Medium – Full
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
Binder & Filler: Nicaragua
Presented in boxes of 20
Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 3 Cigar Review
The Toro was firm and perfectly pressed. The San Andrés wrapper had an deep brown color and a shimmery oiliness that was even throughout and lightly toothy. After clipping the cap, a triple seamer, the cold draw offered a light leathery taste.
Once lit, red pepper and earth roared out of the gate, but settled down within a quarter of an inch. By the first half inch, the smoke was medium in body and velvety on the palate. The sweetness began to evolve. Farther along, an immoveable layer of earth and light spice emerged with a well-balanced complement of sweet tobacco and woodiness. The cigar also exhibited an impressively sharp burn and issued plenty of thick, ambient smoke.
… and that was just the appetizer.
As the burn crept toward the second cigar band, a curious nougat-like flavor emerged—mocha coffee, perhaps?—I couldn’t be certain. The table was now set for the main course. Earth and spice remained buoyant enough to keep the mix from getting too sweet. At the cigar’s peak it was as if the earthy-spice layer had curled around the nougat, almond, sweet tobacco, and squeezed.
In the final inches the body was at full bore. The cigar also became earthier, spicier, stronger, and offered no more than a shred of sweetness. Still impressively smooth, the Toro hung in to the last inch and a-half, and that’s all she wrote.
Was Trinidad Espiritu No. 3 Weekend Worthy?
You bet. Comparing the Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 3 Toro to the Espiritu our review panel smoked in 2020, and the Espiritu No. 2 I reviewed in 2021, I found the No. 3 to be a real standout, and not just because I love prime San Andrés Maduro wrapper. The fact that the San Andrés wrapper AJ and Rafael chose was “extra fermented” certainly contributed to its being so smooth and sweet. But that’s not all. The burn and ash were just about perfect, the strength was full but not over the top, and the flavors were well-balanced throughout. Smokers who can’t resist full-bodied Nicaraguan-forward blends and dark Mexican San Andrés wrappers will be impressed with how well all of the tobaccos united in this two-nation fiesta. As to the price, yeah, the Toro is a bit up there, but I feel that it pays-off in flavor and long smoking time.
Please Note: This review was based on two samples and that your experience may vary. If you’ve already had an experience with this cigar please share your thoughts with a comment.