Trinidad Vigia RAG MAR 19 (TVQVRW)
Intro: These are still a fairly new HQ/PSP box, so I had planned on letting them sit for a couple years before digging in. They are the only cigar I have to review this weekend though and i am interested in seeing how they compare now vs in a year. With the 24:24 description tasting notes of "Strong milk coffee, doughnuts, nutmeg, almonds and a hint of buttered popcorn." I have high hopes for this one.
1st Third: The draw and construction are perfect on this cigar with a nice oily sheen which i hope means the remaining cigars will age well. Right off the bat I got some nice full flavors coffee and nutmeg with some leather and a little pepper. Going into the 2nd the burn has been good and the flavors started to mellow out a little and become a creamy coffee with a hint of nutmeg and pepper.
2nd Third: The coffee has faded to the background with leather and spice come to the forefront. I am also getting a hint of dark chocolate I think as well but hard to tell through the leather and spice. Burn and draw have remained perfect with no need for touch ups.
Final Third: The leather has morphed back into mocha coffee with some pepper and a hint of what I think is that doughnut flavor mentioned. In the very end I got a blast of pure creamy mocha and nutmeg, best part of the cigar.
Conclusion: I would rate this cigar 88/100 despite this cigar being young and being overpowered by the pepper and leather at times I really enjoyed it while watching the Pats beat up on the Dolphins?. It had good draw, construction, complexity and decent transition throughout but I was a little disappointed with the 2nd third. I'm interested in seeing what these will taste like with a couple years of age. I'm hoping the creamy mocha coffee, nutmeg and doughnut flavors of the last third shine through more.