There has been some real buzz in the cigar world around the Mi Querida Triqui Traca that Steve Saka and his Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust company showcased at this year PCA trade show. The Mi Querida Triqui Traca had a limited roll-out to shops due to tobacco constraints and the first shipments hit the shelves in the September time-frame.
Steve Saka, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Founder and Master Ligador notes:
“Mi Querida Triqui Traca, pronounced ‘me kay-ree-dah tree-kee trah-ka’, is arguably our boldest cigar released to date.
At its core, it remains our quintessential Mi Querida blend with its earthy, sweet broadleaf notes, but with the incorporation of a couple refinements.
The capa has been switched from the traditional Connecticut Broadleaf Mediums to the rarer No. 1 Dark corona leaves plus a unique, high octane ligero grown in the Dominican Republic has also been introduced into the liga. The resulting cigar retains its inherent sweet loam and chocolate characteristics, yet delivers a significantly heavier smoking experience.”
Saka further explained:
“’Triqui Traca’ is Nicaraguan slang for oversized firecrackers that are connected by fuses in a long serial string. These explosive ropes are then laid down in the center of a street and sometimes stretch multiple blocks. Ignited from one end, they explode in a cascading line of powerful concussions and blinding light down the entire length of the street.
Triqui Traca are often lit in celebration of important religious and national holidays. This cultural icon is an ideal moniker for the explosive nature of this cigar.”
The blend of Mi Querida Triqui Traca is described as:
- Wrapper: Rarer U.S.A. (Connecticut Broadleaf No. 1 Dark Corona)
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua and Dominican Republic
Mi Querida Triqui Traca is currently expressed in only two vitolas and comes packaged in 20-count SBN boxes.
- No. 552 – 5 x 52 MSRP $10.75
- No. 648 – 6 x 48 MSRP $11.75
For this review, I picked up both vitolas at my local brick and mortar shop, Executive Cigar Shop and Lounge, here in Melbourne, FL – a select Purveyor of Dundbarton Tobacco & Trust products. I decided to sample both vitolas on two different days and this review is based on those samplings.
Pre-Light Examination
The first thing you will note about the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Mi Querida Triqui Traca is the wrapper. It is has a heavy tooth throughout and is exudes a significant amount of oils that is a tad sticky to the touch. Steve Saka notes this is a rare capa and based on the looks and feel of this dark brown and toothy leaf I can’t disagree with him. Both vitolas have a solid feel to them and a decent weight in the hand. It is finished with a well applied cap.
Mi Querida Triqui Traca 648 
Mi Querida Triqui Traca 552
Mi Querida Triqui Traca 648 
Mi Querida Triqui Traca 552
A single band adorns the Mi Querida Triqui Traca. The band uses a red and gold motif and declares this as a “Mi Querida” using gold lettering on the red background. Other than the color of the band, there is nothing declaring this as the Triqui Traca except for the box.
Beyond the look and feel of the wrapper, I was further enticed by the pre-light aromas that included a mild curing barn note along the barrel and rich cocoa/chocolate notes off the foot. The 552 additionally offered a touch of nut aroma. If I did not know better, I would say it was infused or something, but my friends, let me say, great aged tobacco can offer these sensations and Steve certainly found some excellent leaf for this creation.
I sliced the cap with my double blade cutter and took in some enjoyable cold puffs. Both vitolas had a good draw and graced the palate with notes of
nut, chocolate, and a gentle peppery spice in the background. This is a cigar you can cold puff and just enjoy the pre-light flavors of the leaf for a long time prior to lighting it up.
I eventually got to hitting the foot with the heat of my double flame torch lighter and drew in the first puffs of flavorful and peppery smoke.
The rest of this review will break down each vitola separately.
Cigar Review Notes
Mi Querida Triqui Traca 648
- Cocoa powder notes off first light
- Mild pepper on the nose
- White ash rests a top of a thick and slightly wavy char line
- Nut enters after first inch
- Full and creamy smoke volume
- Ash fell revealing an off centered cone
- Syrupy sweetness enters the mix both in flavor and aroma
- Off burn
- Oils building on wrapper
- Earthy and pepper notes build in the second third
- Required a touch up end of second third
- Savory notes
- Finished with a cinnamon spice and syrupy sweetness down at the nub
- Medium to full in Strength
- Total Smoking time was 1 hour and 25 minutes
Mi Querida Triqui Traca 552
- Cocoa powder notes off first light
- Touch more pepper than the 648 on the nose
- White ash rests a top of a thick and slightly wavy char line
- Nut enters after first inch along with a floral aroma
- Full and creamy smoke volume
- Flaky ash fell after a decent burn revealing a flat off centered cone
- Syrupy sweetness enters the mix both in flavor and aroma
- Oils building on wrapper
- Earthy and pepper notes build in the second third
- Savory notes
- Finished with a cinnamon spice and syrupy sweetness down at the nub
- Medium to full in Strength
- Total Smoking time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Overall, I felt both the Mi Querida Triqui Traca 648 and 552 were flavorful cigars from the foot to the nub. The profile of each was quite similar with rich syrupy sweetness, cocoa, pepper, and finished with a cinnamon sensation. The 552 also offered a floral aroma early in the burn. Both were medium to full in strength and offered a full volume of smoke through the journey. Where things differed was in the burn. They both had a wavy burn, but the 648 demonstrated a larger set of burn issues as the wave eventually turned into an off burn that had to be touched up. The 552, maintained just a wavy burn and held a longer ash. I rate the Mi Querida Triqui Traca 648 a 92 and the Mi Querida Triqui Traca 552 a 94. I feel the 552 is box worthy while the 648 I would pick up a fiver of.
Mi Querida Triqui Traca 648 rated 92
648 Point Deductions: (-1) Wave in Burn; (-1) Off Burn; (-1) Requires Touch-up; (-1) Flat Burn Cone; (-1) Off Centered Burn Cone
Bonus Points: (+1) Large Oiling during Burn
Mi Querida Triqui Traca 552 rated 94
552 Point Deductions: (-1) Wave in burn; (-1) Flat Burn Cone; (-1) Off Centered Burn Cone; (-1) Flaky Ash
Bonus Points: (+1) Buy a Box; (+1) Large Oiling during Burn
Smoked the 552 today, i would have to agree that ” firecracker” sure does fit this fine stick, your assessment is spot on, burn was a little wabbley, paid it no attention and it took care of itself, after 1st 1″, i thought it actually mellowed, or i just got used to it, plumes of thick rich smoke, loved it.!!