Back in February, I had the pleasure of reviewing the Tabac Trading Co. Trifecta Pennsylvania /Connecticut. It was an interesting cigar and one of three blends in the company’s Trifecta series which are crafted using a patent pending process in a double footed perfecto figuardo. The design of the figuardo allows you to smoke it from either end thereby giving you the chance to get a different experience the next time you light it up.
Today we will continue the Trifecta journey with a double review of the Tabac Trading Company Trifecta Double Claro/Habano. For this review, I sampled two of the same cigars but smoked each one from a different side to see how it burned and tasted. The results are as interesting as the cigar itself. I want to thank Patrick Potter, founder of Tabac Trading Co., for sending me some samples for this experience.
To start this review off, lets discuss the blend that Patrick came up with for the cigar.
- Wrapper – Nicaraguan Double Claro Habano (Candela)/Ecuadorian Habano 2000
- Binder – San Andres Broadleaf
- Filler – Condega Seco, Esteli Viso and Jalapa Ligero
The MUESTRA de TABAC Trifecta is expressed in a single 5.5 x 64 perfecto and comes packaged in a 45-count display box that holds 15 of each blend. Retailers can also purchase refill bundles of a blend. MSRP is set at $13.00/cigar plus state taxes. In Patrick’s state of California, they retail for $16.50.
Pre-Light Experience
The Tabac Trading Company Trifecta Double Claro/Habano has a green candela wrapper on one half and a shiny dark tan habano wrapper on the other half. The candela side has more noticeable veins than the habano. The cigar feels solid to the touch. Both sides are open which allow you the option of which side to ignite. The candela side has a bit more of a taper at the end.
A single band adorns the cigar and placed in the center of the figuardo, splitting the habano from the candela. The band uses a gold and blue motif with the the gold name “TRIFECTA” printed on a blue background on both sides of the band. The company’s logo is embossed, sideways, around the center of the band.
Running the barrel along the nose I picked up a mild pungent note on the habano side and grassy sweetness off the candela end.
When is came to the cold draw, each sample had a nice draw. Cold drawing off the candela offered a pleasant cocoa and pepper set of notes while cold puffing the habano side offered a cinnamon note.
Since there was no cutting involved, I moved right to firing it up and used my double flame torch on each sample to get the journey started. I will say the candella side took to the flame quicker than the habano side.
Follow along as I turn these to ash and break them down for you.
Cigar Review Notes – Lighting Candela Side
- Touch of sweetness and herbal notes off first light
- Slowly increases smoke volume
- Full volume of smoke once it gets past the tip
- Sweetness continues through the first inch
- Candela wrapper peeled off a bit at the bottom
- Slight off burn develops near the end of the candela side
- Oak nuance joins the profile
- Ash held tight to midway and fell revealing a well formed burn cone
- Burn fixed with out a touch up
- Flavor shifts entering the habano side with note of butter and spice
- Barrel is getting squishy
- Second off burn develops
- Cinnamon notes join the mix deep in the second half
- Sweetness and cream notes in the final
- Medium to full Strength
Point Deductions: (-2) Multiple Off Burns; (-1) Squishy Barrel in Second Half; (-1) Candela Wrapper peels off near the end of the segment
Cigar Review Notes – Lighting Habano Side
- Pepper shot to the nose right off the first puff
- Herbal notes enter the mix
- Slight sweetness evolves
- Cinnamon begins to build blending well with the sweetness
- White ash has formed on a wavy and thick char line
- Smoke Volume is full
- Ash fell early with a slightly off centered cone
- Savory notes enter the mix
- Candela wrapper begins to crack
- Still has a mild natural sweetness
- As it moves into the candela side a grassy note forms
- Medium to full strength
- Mild spice finds its way in
- Starts to burn hot to touch in the second half
- Spice increases with a mild cocoa note
- Strength is full
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Off Centered Burn Cone; (-1) Burned hot to touch in second half; (-3) Major Wrapper Crack
Summary
Overall, the Tabac Trading Company Trifecta Double Claro/Habano was an interesting smoking experience. I found no matter which side you ignited, the smoke was full and flavorful, though the profile was quite different. As far as flavor, I give the edge to lighting the habano side first as you tend to get more sweetness off the candela wrapper while puffing it. The cigar also developed a more full strength early on lighting the Habano end. The burn was better when lighting the candela side and it held a longer ash. When lighting the habano side the candela wrapper split and frayed as you smoked it. I still think these are worthy of picking up a 5 pack of and checking them out. Tell us what you think.