Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 1 Toro 6″ x 54

The Trinidad Espiritu Series No. 1 is the non-Cuban Trinidad, an Altadis U.S.A. brand whose Cuban namesake began as a rare diplomatic gift cigar in the late 1960s. For the Espiritu, Altadis blender Rafael Nodal teamed with AJ Fernandez to build an all-Nicaraguan puro at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez in Estelí, using a natural Nicaraguan Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler, much of it grown on the Fernandez family farms.

This Toro is the 6 by 54 in the line and the size most people start with. It reads medium in body but carries a fuller flavor, opening on espresso, black pepper and cedar before settling into roasted nuts, earth and a toasty, faintly sweet tobacco core.

At 54 it gives up a little of the Magnum’s cool, rounded burn in exchange for a tighter, more focused smoke. If you want the blend rather than the format, this is the one to judge it on.

Pairs well with coffee, bourbon, or an amber ale.