Trinidad Coloniales Hand Rolled Cuban Cigars (Box of 5 Cigars)

• Length: 132mm
• Gauge: 44
• Flavour: Medium
• Wrapper: Cuban
• Binder: Cuban
• Filler: Cuban
• Single Loose Cuban Cigar

Trinidad Coloniales – Hand-Rolled Cuban Cigars (Box of 5)

For much of its early existence, Trinidad was a cigar brand that ordinary customers could only hear about. You couldn't simply walk into a tobacconist, ask for a box and expect to leave with one. The cigars were associated with official Cuban diplomatic presentations, and their reputation developed in rather exclusive circles.

That changed in 1998, when Trinidad finally entered the commercial market. By 2004, the range had expanded to include the Coloniales, a beautifully proportioned cigar that remains one of the more traditional sizes in the Cuban portfolio.

The Coloniales measures 132mm in length with a 44 ring gauge. That's a comparatively slender cigar by modern standards, particularly when set beside some of the enormous ring gauges that have become fashionable in recent years. There's nothing inherently wrong with a large cigar, of course, but occasionally I wonder whether the industry has forgotten that most people possess an ordinary-sized mouth.

Trinidad has always seemed particularly well suited to these more elegant proportions.

The Coloniales is a medium-strength Cuban puro, made entirely from Cuban tobacco using traditional long-filler construction. Its flavour is associated with cedar, roasted nuts, coffee and gentle spice, often accompanied by a creamy quality that has become something of a Trinidad hallmark.

The blend has a refined, aromatic character, with the different flavours developing as the cigar progresses. The 44 ring gauge gives it a distinctive balance between wrapper and filler, while the relatively modest length makes it an appealing choice when a larger format isn't called for.

There's also the matter of Trinidad's pigtail cap. It's a small detail, but one I particularly admire. The roller finishes the head with a little twist of tobacco, creating the distinctive appearance associated with the brand. It serves as a reminder that cigar making remains a highly skilled manual trade, even when the finished article looks deceptively simple.

The name Trinidad itself has a longer history than the commercial cigar brand. It refers to the Cuban city of Trinidad, founded in 1514 and celebrated for its colonial architecture and historic streets. The city became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, and its name carries a considerable amount of Cuban heritage.

The five-cigar presentation is especially attractive. The cigars are supplied in Trinidad's distinctive gold packaging, decorated with the familiar monogram and repeating geometric pattern. It's a recognisable design that has become closely associated with the brand.

A pack of five offers a useful middle ground between buying individual cigars and committing to a larger box. It also provides an opportunity to keep several Coloniales together under consistent humidor conditions.

I've always admired the Coloniales for retaining the character of a traditional Cuban cigar. Its dimensions, careful construction and distinctive finishing details give it an identity that has survived changing fashions.

And considering Trinidad's early association with diplomatic gifts, it's rather satisfying that these days a customer can simply purchase a box of five. Much easier than having to arrange a meeting with an ambassador, particularly on a Saturday afternoon.