A Rare Look at the 1994 Trinidad Diplomaticos Humidor with Ajay Patel

In this feature, we sit down with Ajay Patel of No. 6 Cavendish in London to explore a truly unique piece of cigar history—the Trinidad Diplomaticos Humidor from the 1994 Cigar Aficionado Dinner of the Century. This humidor isn’t just valuable for its cigars but for its historical importance, as it marked the first time Trinidad cigars were made available to the public.

Initially created in 1969 for the exclusive use as diplomatic gifts by the Cuban government, Trinidad cigars remained virtually unknown outside of this circle for over two decades. It wasn’t until Marvin Shanken, founder of Cigar Aficionado, stumbled upon them in 1992 while visiting El Laguito for an article about Cohiba that the existence of these cigars even became publicly known. And it wasn’t until a full two years later before cigar connoisseurs attending the at the 1994 Dinner of the Century had a chance to smoke them for the first time. 

Widely considered the most extravagant cigar dinner ever held (still), the Cigar Afficionado Dinner of the Century in Paris was one of the first charity dinners organized by collectors of Cuban. An absolutely epic collection of one-of-a-kind cigars, rolled especially for this auction, were auctioned off that evening to raise money for the Cuban Medical Relief Fund. These included special wooden cabinets of 50 Cohiba “A”’s, Cohiba Pyramids, and the Trinidads.

Unlike Cohiba, which had been commercially available for 12 years by this time, this was the first time this new, secretive brand Trinidad had ever seen by collectors, and they went wild. Each cabinet auctioned off that evening was signed by Fidel Castro, another first for Cuban cigar collectors.

In the end, the event raised a groundbreaking $324,000 for Cuba.

Ajay Patel is one of the most respected cigar collectors in the world. In addition to the 1994 Trinidad Humidor, Ajay’s personal collection contains almost every significant limited edition Trinidad release since the brand’s debut to collectors in 1994 and spanning the entire commercial history of the brand. From early releases to special editions, each piece tells a different chapter of the Trinidad story.

In addition to the Trinidad Dinner of the Century auction cabinet, Ajay’s collection includes both a cabinet of 24 and cabinet of 50Trinidad Fundadores from the brand’s official debut in 1998, the 2001 Trinidad “Farm House” Limited Edition Humidor, the 2006 Trinidad Coleccion Habanos Torre Iznaga Book, 2010 40^th Aniversario de Trinidad Humidor, the 2019 Coleccion Habanos Casilda Book.

Ajay’s expertise and passion for Cuban cigars have helped establish No. 6 Cavendish as a destination for collectors and enthusiasts. The lounge boasts an extensive selection of rare and vintage cigars, making it a favorite among connoisseurs.

For those who want to dive deeper into the history of Trinidad cigars, check out the two-part documentary series "The Legacy of Trinidad", produced by Kirby Allison and Hunters & Frankau. This series explores the brand’s journey from its secretive beginnings to its role as a global icon.

The 1994 Trinidad Diplomaticos Humidor represents a pivotal moment in cigar history, bringing an exclusive brand to a wider audience. Through the insights of Ajay Patel, we not only appreciate the rarity of these cigars but also the rich history they carry. For those passionate about cigars, stories like these deepen the connection to the craft.

The Secret Cigars of Fidel Castro | Redesigned for a Global Market | The Legacy of Trinidad | Part 2

Although Trinidad had been initially released publicly in 1998, there was still only one size available: the Fundadores. All this would change, however, in November 2003, when, in a truly pivotal moment for the brand, a spectacular re-launch took place at London's Hilton Park Lane Hotel, hosted by Hunters and Frankau, the UK's Exclusive Distributor of Habanos cigars.

Is This the Most Intrinsically Valuable Cigar Humidor in the World? | A Sit-Down with Ajay Patel

In today's video, we sit down with legendary cigar connoisseur Ajay Patel of No. 6 Cavendish in London for an exclusive viewing of what could be one of the most intrinsically valuable cigar humidors in the world: the Trinidad Diplomaticos from the 1994 Cigar Aficionado Dinner of the Century.