La Riqueza | Cigar Review

By Cigar Reviews by the Katman on November 7, 2013

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Size: 5 x 48 “Robusto”
Body: Medium/Full
Price: $7.00 ($5.25 each by the box at Atlantic Cigars)

You won’t find this box pressed 2008 cigar around much. Pete Johnson has reduced the amount of cigars produced to 250,000 per year. Now that may sound like a lot, but it is not nearly enough to stock the big online stores.

I found mine at Atlantic Cigars and for a much better than average price point. Most robustos go for around $9-$10.

For a while, Johnson was so disheartened by the lack of sales of this stick, he considered discontinuing the line; but cooler heads prevailed and they re-tooled the packaging to 10 count boxes.

That was a few years ago. Now they are back, and in 25 and 50 count boxes.

As for me…well, shame on me for not reviewing this cigar sooner. Generally, I end up smoking all of the sticks and then uh-oh…no more left to review. It is a very good cigar and belongs in the Tatuaje line. Not every Tatuaje has to be priced at $16 and use only the finest exotic ingredients. So Johnson may think the public doesn’t appreciate what he has blended here, but he is wrong. Sales trends mean nothing. And he should know that better than anyone.

Johnson’s blending partner on this cigar is the perennial Pepin Garcia. These two make magic together. The point of the La Riqueza was to give the public a Tatujae that wasn’t full bodied to the bone. But like you, you don’t need full bodied to enjoy a full flavored cigar. Plus, I believe that the phase of stunningly powerful cigars is fading a bit.

Knowledgeable smokers look for a fine cigar with character, balance and richness. Which is why I think the medium body cigar is making a nice comeback.

I recently got a 5 pack of these cigars from Atlantic Cigar. And by using my discount provided by the VIP Club, I did alright. Unfortunately, if they find out how much I saved, it would be curtains for me.

The cigar is very rustic. Big veins. Little veins. Visible seams. Invisible seams. Wrinkles. And squiggly lines like Frankenstein’s monster. Yet it is packed solid. The Broadleaf wrapper has a deep brown color with a slight bit of oil showing. The wrapper has a sandpaper feel to it. And the triple cap is done nicely.

There is a gentle box press shape. The corners are rounded and the cigars gave in to the pressure of being jammed up against each other with most rectangles actually being rhomboids.

I clip the cap and find aromas of dark cocoa, spice, coffee, a floral sweetness, leather, and butter.
Time to light up.

The first puffs are sweet. The draw is impeccable and the char line is spot on. I am waiting for the Garcia blast of power. The red pepper begins to build slowly. There is a gentle coffee element. Along with a hint of chocolate. I believe that Johnson felt his customers were so used to that powerful beginning from most of his cigars that they had somehow rejected this cigar. Again, I’m spit balling.

And then, like a pie to Soupy Sales’ face, the pepper explodes. The explosion brings along with it bolder flavors of cocoa, sweetness and coffee.

We have some giant trees in our back yard that during Spring and Summer put a pox on my photos. There are so many leaves that the sun barely gets through. Well, Fall is here and in the weather of late, most of the leaves are gone now allowing my buddy, the sun to shine through and bless the little Katman with nicer photos.
Typically, Tat cigars only need a few weeks and they are ready to smoke. And that’s all the discipline I have shown here with this review sample. So the flavors are somewhat muted in the first third. Being a fan of this cigar, I know that normally the stick has already become a flavor bomb. Impatience. My own pet peeve about myself.

The ash is hanging tough.
And as those words are hanging in the air, the ash falls into my lap. Du-oh.

I near the end of the first third and the cigar is salient with wonderful full flavors of cocoa, sweetness, pepper, coffee, and leather. And the body is classic medium.

I begin the second third and the spiciness gets stronger. But the body does not. I think this is a must try for Wally Guse. It is a good cigar to train your palate in order to move on to the next evolutionary step. Walking upright with a cigar in your mouth.

Caramel enters the picture as I move towards the halfway point. Actually, it reminds me of Butter Rum Life Savers. Growing up, my grandfather always carried them in his pocket and it was a thrill when he pulled out a fresh pack and handed me a candy. He would lavish me with presents when he visited California but I remember most those Butter Rum candies. And the caramel here has that liquor accompaniment to the caramel.

The sweet spot hits at the halfway mark. Creaminess folds over itself like salt water taffy being made. It enhances the cocoa, coffee and the sweetness.

It is a cold, but sunny day…and my beloved sunshine is blaring through the window nearly blinding me while I write.

The draw has been perfect and the char line has been razor sharp. That’s what I’m talkin about.

The leather moves forward in the line of flavors as the last third begins.

The expansive flavors are swimming to my palate like salmon; minus the onion, tomato, and bagel.

The last third is going nuts. Flavors are so upfront that they are nearly astonishing. It is hard to believe that at one point, several years ago, this was not a big seller. But palate requirements change in phases.

The great blenders are more concerned about the blend rather than the power. I have reviewed many Tats right here on this blog. Take a look if you are interested.

I should note that I am smoking the regular La Riqueza, not the La Riqueza Cabinet. At Atlantic Cigars, the prices are exactly the same.

The pepper is clearing out my sinuses and Kleenex is not far away. The sweetness takes over as first in line.
This cigar is very complex, but not at the 2-3 week humidor time that I chose to review it. Give it a few months, and the cigar drips complexity.

The cigar finishes out with wonderful character, balance, and richness. The retro hale adds a lot to the flavor profile. Leaving a long finish on my palate.

Do yourself a favor and join the VIP Club at Atlantic. I have saved a fortune on my cigars. I would love to tell you what I paid instead of the $7, but I can’t. The membership is only $60 a year and I saved that on my first purchase of two boxes of cigars. After that, it was all gravy.

With only a small bit left, smoke is pumping out of the foot, the flavors are extremely bold, and the cigar hits that complexity point. And there is no nicotine kick at the end.

I am very happy that Pete Johnson chose not to get rid of this blend. It is a fine addition to the Tatuaje family.