Cigar: Mi Querida Triqui Traca No. 552
Size: 5 x 52
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf No. 1 Dark
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaraguan & Dominican Ligero
MSRP: $53.75 per five pack from Small Batch Cigar
While picking out the cigars for the winner of this season’s NFL Pick’em League, I figured that I would do a little bit of shopping for myself as well. After finding a suitable prize for the winner, I stumbled upon this week’s review. Triqui Traca, or oversized firecracker in Nicaraguan, is from Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust. A nod to Two Guys Smoke Shop’s Mi Querida Firecracker (good folks at 2 Guys Smoke Shop), the cigar was noted by Steve Saka himself to have notes of sweet loam and chocolate. I’m not sure about the flavor notes mentioned but anything made by Steve Saka, I am always interested in trying.
No construction issues found on the cigar chosen for review. While I would normally smoke one before reviewing, time has been limited so the first cigar smoked out of the five pack was the one being reviewed. The cold draw brought faint notes of wood while the pre-light aromas coming out of the plastic wrapper and emanating from the cigar gave me strong hits of a farm (tilled soil, earth, etc.). I opted for a V cut for the cigar and in the cold but pleasant atmosphere of my deck (no wind), I got an excellent light of the cigar with a balanced draw and starting notes of light wood, pepper and something I can only describe that reminded me of a wheat cracker. While the cigar is marketed is a fuller bodied cigar, I really felt the starting strength on the Triqui Traca was more medium. It however didn’t stay in that range; in fact, it only went up as time went on. 20 minutes into smoking, I noticed less overall pepper on the palette with more ‘wheat cracker’ and the addition of the earthy farm notes found pre-light. From there until the end of the cigar, the flavors stay as is while the strength of the cigar slowly crept up to a strong medium to full bodied by completion. The last inch gave lots of wood and earth and strong pepper aftertastes along the palette. The Mi Querida Triqui Traca No. 552 clocked in at a quick 0:56 minutes.
While the year is still relatively young, this is the first perfectly smoked cigar I have had this year. I lit it once and it stay true in all aspects until I put it down for good. Perfect burn, balanced draw and zero relighting. A lack of wind outside certainly helped things but all in all, it smoked like a champ and gave me no stress.
By-The-Numbers
Pre-light: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
To recap the Mi Querida Triqui Traca No. 552:
- An excellent cigar all around. Great flavor profile. I really enjoyed the strength build up over the cigar’s lifespan.
- The gradual push into medium to full territory might dissuade some cigars but it’s easy enough on the palette that it should be tried.
- A little bit over $10 per cigar is more than fair for this cigar.
- These will be bought again for sure. I can’t wait to smoke another one (as I write this – tomorrow evening).
Thank you so much for reading. I look forward to the next time I can share my thoughts with you.
