The Rafael Nodal era at Altadis U.S.A. has begun. Nodal’s first project within the Altadis portfolio is a resurrection of the Trinidad brand with the release of the Trinidad Santiago. While word of this project surfaced during this year’s IPCPR, details have recently now been released. The Trinidad Santiago is slated to hit retail shelves by month’s end.

The name “Santiago” is key.  This is because most of Altadis’ production occurs in Santo Domingo at the Tabacalera de Garcia factory, located in the southern part of the Dominican Republic. The Trinidad Santiago is produced in Santiago at Jochy Blanco’s Tabacalera Palma, located in the northern part of the country. Tabacalera Palma is a factory Nodal is quite familiar with as many of his Boutique Blends lines come out of that factory.

According to Cigar Aficionado, the Trinidad Santiago contains 100% Dominican tobaccos grown by Blanco in the Cibao Valley of the Dominican Republic. It will be available in three sizes: Corona, Toro, and Belicoso – each packaged in 20-count boxes. Production will be limited, but on-going.

While this is the first cigar Nodal has done with Altadis, it is not the first time Nodal has collaborated with Altadis and Tabacalera Palma on a release. Back in 2015, the three parties collaborated with the Romeo by Romeo y Julieta Aging Room Small Batch F25, a limited release project. Earlier this year, Nodal turned over distribution of Boutique Blends to Altadis U.S.A. and concurrently took on a product innovation role with Altadis U.S.A. The F25 and the Trinidad Santiago are both Dominican puros released in the same size.

Meanwhile, the Trinidad Santiago is the first regular production release since 2012’s Trinidad Paradox. Since then there was a limited edition cigar under Trinidad called Trinidad Lost Blends that was released in 2015, but the brand has pretty much been quiet.

At a glance, here is a look at the Trinidad Santiago:

Blend Profile

Wrapper: Dominican
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (Tabacalera USA)

Vitolas Available

Corona: 5 x 48
Toro: 6 x 54
Belicoso: 6 x 52

Photo Credits: Altadis U.S.A.