Don Lino Trojan Horse Staff Review
Today, I’m revisiting an old-school brand from the Cigar Boom days of the 1990s, Don Lino, and I’m embarking on the biggest smoke in the whole portfolio, the well-endowed 7-by-60 Trojan Horse Gladiator. These oversized behemoths come in juicy bundles of 10 cigars that normally retail for over $18 per cigar, but the price drops to $5.99 when you get them on sale. When you’re in search of a big cigar to fill your coolerdor, you’re getting the most bang for your buck with Don Lino Trojan Horse.
One of the biggest compliments we regularly receive from verified buyers of Trojan Horse cigars is how well they are made. Don Lino is handcrafted in the Dominican Republic by a team of elite artisans who take immeasurable pride in their work. An oily, brown Cuban-seed wrapper, grown in Ecuador, covers a substantial core of Dominican long-filler tobaccos matured for the smoothest possible flavor and aroma. The wrapper, technically classified as a Rosado, shows a slightly reddish sheen, and its complexion couldn’t be more tempting in conjunction with the cigar’s raw aroma of leather, earth, and cocoa, once I’ve unsheathed it from the cellophane.
Creamy and woody notes of cedar, cereal, and French roast coffee mingle with hints of gourmet chocolate in the cold draw after I slice the cap off with my big-ring Xikar cutter. The Trojan Horse lays out promising expectations before the cigar is lit. Each smoke is dressed in a thick red, white, and black band with gold accents at the top, while a secondary black and gold band on the foot features the image of a gladiator. Despite the meager price per cigar for such an imposing size, it’s necessary to stress that Trojan Horse is handmade from 100% long-filler tobaccos.
After slowly toasting the foot of the cigar with my Lotus Brawn Table Top Quad Torch, generous plumes of smoke drift up into the air over my desktop. The Gladiator commences with a cool and approachable draw, courtesy of its fat ring size, which neutralizes some of the spice and intensity you can normally get in the first few puffs.
Throughout the first ten minutes, a stellar profile of cedar, baker’s chocolate, oak, and pepper unfolds in a cohesive tapestry that lulls my taste buds into a state of bliss. Best of all, I haven’t exceeded my budget by a single cent when you factor in the ginormous dimensions of the Gladiator for the paltry price of less than six bucks per smoke. A steady ash exhibits excellent structure and stability as it conforms to the foot of the cigar with a razor-sharp burn. Every seven minutes, I gently tap the ash off into my Stinky ashtray.
Don Lino cigars have come a long way. I remember my fledgling days transitioning from a neophyte who only smoked cheap, machine-made brands to a bona fide connoisseur with a tenured career at Holt’s. Don Lino was one of those brands I could afford that was also considered a serious upgrade over the starter cigars I was experimenting with. Although demand for Don Lino waned as the Boom days fizzled out, the brand resurfaced as a leading value cigar for frugal fiends, like yours truly, who smoke a copious amount of premiums.
The Trojan Horse Gladiator is no exception. You’ll easily take an hour and a half or more off the clock powering through one of these colossal specimens. But I promise the experience is well worth your while. Layers of hickory, semisweet chocolate truffle, and baking spices mingle with traces of Adriatic fig throughout a balanced, medium-bodied finale.
Previously, I’ve reviewed Don Lino Dark Horse, Don Lino Fumas, and Don Lino Casa Verde, one of the best Candela cigars on the market. Don Lino Trojan Horse passes my benchmarks for taste, construction, and quality with flying colors, earning a splendid 92-point score. Make room in your coolerdor for a bundle of Gladiators today.
Until next time, long ashes to you!
