Review Series: El Triunfador #5

Today's review brings Part Three of my series review of the new El Triunfador from Pete Johnson. The El Triunfador #5 is such a small vitola that I decided it would be better to do this review in a first and second half break down, rather than my standard thirds. If after the review you're interested in purchasing this cigar, please visit Crooked Burn sponsor New Havana Cigars and tell them I sent you. It won't get you any discount at this time, but it will let them know you're a fan and that helps me out. Thanks and enjoy.

Specifics
Vitola: Minutos
Length: 4 3/8
Ring Gauge: 42
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $5.62 (when bought in boxes of 25)
Smoking Location: House of Cigar, Columbus, Ohio
Beverage: Coke

Pre-Light

The wrapper on the El Triunfador #5 was the oiliest I have come across within this line. The color was similar to the #1 with a marbling of lighter and darker chocolaty brown. It had a few small veins ( nothing to be concerned about) and seemed to be very tightly-packed. When pinched, it had almost no give. The pre-lit aroma and draw were both sweet tobacco. It was surprising how free the pre-lit draw was with how stiff the cigar felt when pinched. The construction on all of the El Triunfadors I have smoked have been top notch.
 
First Half

Once evenly lit, the El Triunfador #5 started off with the familiar white pepper spice, but this time it was not as strong as the others thus far. Matched in strength from the get-go was a really nice warm, woodsy flavor. The flavor was not cedar, but more earthy. I was expecting that powerful white pepper that I've had from all the other El Triunfadors, but maybe the small stick size prevented such a strong punch? Another difference in the El Triunfador #5 is the ash. This vitola has the strongest ash I have seen within the line up to this point. As you can see in the picture, the ash held on for pretty much the entire first half of the cigar. The burn was perfect and razor straight. The smoke volume was big, as it has been with all the other El Triunfador cigars, and very smooth on the palate. Towards the middle of the stick I started to pick up some peppermint notes. The body was a solid medium.

Second Half 

The second half of my El Triunfador #5 was completely dominated by that warm woodsy flavor. The peppery spice had faded away, and the shortly lived peppermint notes also diminished. The smoke volume was still very large, and the burn, still top notch.  I never had to re-lite this cigar. The body was a very relaxing medium. Towards the very nub of the cigar the pepper did creep back in, but only for a puff or two before I could no longer smoke the stick for fear of burning my fingers.


Final Thoughts:  

El Triunfador #5 is not as complex in flavor as some of the larger vitolas within the line. The cigar started pretty much on par with the other sticks, but turned more one dimensional the further I burned it down. That is not to say this is not another great cigar, as I would say it is; it is just not as exciting in flavors. The stick is so small that I have to give it props on it's strong ash and ability to produce such a large amount of smoke. I could see this stick as a great choice if you're short on time, and want a cigar that you can lite, smoke, and not have to worry about keeping it going.

Dan