In the uppermost tier of cigar culture, time is the ultimate luxury. Scarcity follows closely behind. With the Trinidad Fundadores 55th Anniversary, both converge in dramatic fashion. Aged fully rolled for a decade and presented in a bespoke S.T. Dupont humidor, it stands as the most expensive new-release cigar ever offered.
Each cigar carries a price of approximately $1,150. A complete box of 55 commands costs $62,407. While rare cigars have crossed the four-figure mark at auction before, no modern release has entered the market at this level. Introduced by Habanos S.A., the custodian of Cuba’s most revered cigar houses, the Fundadores 55 signals a deliberate recalibration of luxury rather than a simple escalation of price.
The cigar is rolled at El Laguito, the storied Havana factory responsible for many of Cuba’s most iconic blends. Trinidad itself entered public sale in 1998, though its origins date to 1969, when the brand served as a diplomatic gift for foreign dignitaries. The Fundadores vitola was the first Trinidad released commercially and remains its most emblematic expression. It has long appealed to collectors who favor discretion over display.
At 7.5 inches with a 40 ring gauge, the cigar’s slender profile encourages a slow, measured smoke of roughly fifty minutes. The blend relies entirely on long-filler tobaccos from Cuba’s Vuelta Abajo region. Master blenders age the leaves for a minimum of two years before rolling, then allow the cigars to rest for at least a decade. This extended process yields a smoke that unfolds with restraint. Notes of cedar and coffee lead, followed by toasted nuts, honey, and soft floral accents. A grounded Cuban earthiness anchors the experience throughout.
The presentation mirrors the cigar’s discipline. S.T. Dupont crafted the lacquered humidor with the same precision it applies to its finest writing instruments. An embossed anniversary emblem marks the exterior, while the band’s deep burgundy and gold detailing nods quietly to tradition without excess.
For collectors seeking something rarer still, a second expression exists. French fashion designer Charaf Tajer reimagined the humidor as a refined travel object inspired by early twentieth-century luxury trunks. Finished in Casablanca leather, the design is limited to 55 examples worldwide. Each is priced at £128,920, or roughly $175,000, bringing the cost to $3,174 per cigar and placing it among the most expensive smoking objects ever produced.
The release also introduces the Habanos Vintage Program, a new designation that confirms a minimum age of ten years through special banding. It marks a shift toward provenance and transparency at the highest level of cigar collecting, where age defines value more clearly than novelty.
Every year, it is a true honor to partner with Habanos on extraordinary collaborations, said Alain Crevet, CEO of S.T. Dupont. Working with Charaf Tajer on this ultra-exclusive series of humidors has been an exceptional experience. His vision adds a new layer of refinement to an already rare creation.
Named for the sixteenth-century Cuban city of Santísima Trinidad, the cigar carries more than prestige. It carries lineage. For those who secure one, the Fundadores 55 represents stewardship as much as pleasure. For those who do not, the secondary market will almost certainly provide another opportunity, at a price that reflects its place in the canon.
