Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Mi Querida Triqui Traca No. 552
Posted on March 17 2021
Vitola: 5x52 | Smoking Time: 73 min | Cigars Smoked: 3 | Body: Full | MSRP: $10.75
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf | Binder: Nicaraguan | Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican
Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust was started in 2015 by Steve Saka, former CEO of Drew Estate and architect of Liga Privada. Bold blends, bold attitude — not for the faint of heart.
Visual Inspection: Off-brown leaning black, beautifully marbled Broadleaf with prominent zigzag veins and ample tooth. Seams nearly unnoticeable. Foot: barnyard, citrus, cocoa, nutmeg. Cold draw: jaw-dropping jalapeño, black pepper, and citrus up front.
First Third: Jalapeño and black pepper dominate, with allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon underneath. After exhaling, a lingering mint mouthfeel on the tongue. Already unbelievably complex. Jalapeño fades back and forth, met by cream when muted.
Second Third: Jalapeño mutes to cream, cinnamon, dry earth, toffee, and charred wood. Then charred wood takes the front with citrus, gingerbread, and toast. All the heat comes from the flavor — the jalapeño makes your mouth feel like you’re eating one.
Final Third: Jalapeño returns with a vengeance while retaining cream. Baking spices stay up front. Toast is a welcome change of pace. Finish: jalapeño, toast, baking spices, earth, and charred wood. Smoked to the nub with a PerfecDraw tool.
Final Thoughts: So different from the original Mi Querida — where Mi Querida has pine, Triqui Traca is jalapeño-focused. A testament to how altering a blend makes a whole new cigar. One of my favorites from Dunbarton. Extremely consistent and never has a dull moment.
-Sam
Frequently asked questions
How does the Triqui Traca differ from the original Mi Querida?
Where the original Mi Querida delivers pine and wood notes, the Triqui Traca is jalapeño-focused — a bold, spicy, uniquely savory full-body experience. They share a name but deliver completely different flavor profiles.
What does "Triqui Traca" mean?
Triqui Traca refers to a type of loud, crackling firework used in Spanish festivals — a fitting name for a bold, spicy blend that pops with jalapeño-driven intensity rather than subtlety.
Is the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper unusual for a spicy cigar?
Yes — Connecticut Broadleaf is typically associated with dark sweetness and chocolate. Steve Saka uses it here to frame the jalapeño-spiced filler with earthiness, resulting in an unusual but compelling contrast.