Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan Criollo
Filler: Nicaraguan Corojo
Size: 5.5 x 52 Belicoso Fino
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $19.00
My sticks have had 3 months of naked humidor time…plus 5 years of box time.
BACKGROUND:
Cigars were released in 2018.
According to Pete Johnson:
“These cigars, sizes and blends were something I made for the Grand Havana Room originally in 2004,” said Johnson. “I decided to resurrect something from the history of Tatuaje and El Rey de los Habanos [the factory in Miami’s Little Havana where Tatuajes were first produced]. I was racking my brain trying to come up with something for the 15th anniversary, and when I smoked a few from the original production, I realized that these were the clear choice.”
“The filler and binders in Tatuaje 15 are a blend of Nicaraguan Criollo and Corojo tobaccos grown by the Garcia family, while the wrapper is Ecuador Habano. In a slight twist, Johnson has opted to offer both vitolas in two wrapper shades: rosado claro and rosado oscuro.
“Personally, I love how the slight variation of wrapper shades can change the smoking experience,” said Johnson. The wrappers are being color sorted and rolled at the Garcia family’s factory, El Rey de los Habanos, now relocated to the My Father headquarters in Doral, Florida.
“Additionally, like in the original 2004 cigars, the wrappers will slightly cover the foot on the Tatuaje 15 vitolas. “This is a style I’ve done since I started [Tatuaje], and it is a throwback to custom-rolled cigars,”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
These cigars weren’t received with standing ovations. Reviews of this blend ranged from the mediocre to solid standing. I found no information of how many cigars were released. Maybe no one knows. But the evidence seems to point in the direction that they had their debut at the 2018 PCA Convention and released shortly thereafter.
There are several advertisements online linked to the usual suspects of cigar sellers but when visiting those sites, the cigars are sold out…more evidence that this was a limited edition.
Hence, therefore, ergo, i.e., these cigars have 5 years of box time…a nice surprise. As reviews were written in 2018 and 2019.
Also worth mentioning is that the MSRP in 2018 ($19.00) is roughly the same as it is now from available sellers…some less, some more.
The extended box time of 5 years changes the landscape for reviewing this cigar compared to the reviews written in those early release years.
Aromas are very Nicaraguan and Oscuro…dark chocolate, creaminess, black pepper, malt, peppermint, cedar, espresso, and cinnamon.
Heavy stick. Construction seems to have been taken seriously. The draw is dead nuts perfect. I stare at my PerfecDraw draw adjustment tool and soothe its savage breast.
The extra 5 years of box aging has done this cigar a solid. The blend sails. Complexity wastes no time in impressing the shit out of me. Depth of richness excels immediately. Nice.
Strength begins at medium/full, so clearly, time did not mellow the initial power of the blend. That’s OK. I wrap my head in tin foil to ward off signals from above while protecting my brain from the incessant voices I hear.
Very smooth start. A Slim Jim with a Bud. A coffee enema without caffeine. Bungie jumping without a harness. Talking back to the wife without wearing a catcher’s mask. Finger painting with jalapeno poppers. And getting my winkie from my fly before I piss myself. I start a gig on Wednesday as an emotional support animal to a Samoan guy that is 89 years old and has a serious SPAM deficiency.
Dark chocolate, espresso, tart kiwi, black pepper, creamy peanut butter, cedar, and malt.
The flavor profile builds like Lincoln Logs, a Mr. Wizard radio set, and an Erector Set that confused the shit out of me at age 7.
There is an underlying flavor profile happening that is resplendent with aromatic spices and notes of Indian curry.
The blend is a lot more sophisticated than expected. Very subtle as the blend has had time to breathe and coagulate maybe even more than Johnson anticipated. Delicate edges that are rounded instead of sharp. I’m guessing those edges were like razor wire when the cigar came out…and hence, few reviews and even fewer thumbs up. Johnson designed a blend that he probably should have allowed to sit for those 5 years without cellos before going to market. It might have been hailed as one of his best. Woulda’, coulda’, shoulda’. Still, these cigars remain on the market, which gives curious smokers a chance to understand the intent of Mr. Johnson. Even if he didn’t.
The strength is potent but contained. I can see out of both orbs. And nicotine has not flattened my turkey neck.
I bought these cigars on a whim. Damn. I sometimes make really good decisions. Other times, I listen to my wife.
1-1/2” burned. 25 minutes. Seat belts, please. Red ball in mouth optional.
The cigar gets smoother with every puff. The bit of black pepper that was just a little too strong at the start retreats and finds a home on the roof of my mouth instead of my throat. It must have a compass.
Holy shit. This fucking cigar is turning into a masterpiece of design. It’s all due to smokers passing on it 5 years ago. The price? Probably. The reviews? Not so much. We don’t have as much influence as we think we have. Close to nil. It’s more an exercise in arrogance and ego. Includes me as well. For some of us, it’s a convergence of always loving writing and our passion for cigars meeting at the Crossroads. I offered my soul to the devil, he just laughed, and walked on by.
Sips of water bring John Denver back to life…so, I stop drinking.
Amazing how the strength hits full tilt at 2-1/2” burned and I haven’t soiled myself.
The rich aged tobacco fills my sinuses and other cavities you put things in.
Spectacular blend. Not for newbies. A death sentence if you’re not accustomed to power. For seasoned smokers, pure opium.
Not a flavor bomb. The cigar has lulled me into a sense of well-being such that any thought of identifying flavors is erased. The whole being is at play.
I love this cigar. I smoked three sticks from my fiver. I want more. These cigars being currently available is a fluke.
Remember, just because these cigars are aged, they still need some naked humi time to obtain my experience. 3 months should do it.
I wonder how bummed Johnson was that the depth of this blend wasn’t recognized at release. His fault for not pre-aging them.
Linda Ronstadt. Always loved her voice. In high school, there was a club that didn’t serve alcohol and whose continual main act was a hypnotist. But before he performed, a rock act would play on a stage the size of a Peppermint Patty. The place only held 50 people. One night, The Stone Poneys performed their first hit of “Different Drum” in 1966. We were all mesmerized. Only 3 readers know what I’m talking about.
Yesterday, my daughter was at some bar in Milwaukee and actor Jeremy Piven was there. She got a photo with him. She texted me. I told her to go talk to him and tell him to get on the phone with me. She was a scaredy cat and refused because he stepped outside to smoke one of his Jeremy Piven Collection PIV Robustos all by himself. No matter how much I urged her to show some balls, she would not approach him. She also said he was “high as a kite.” A missed opportunity. We could have recited our Bar Mitzvah speeches to each other.
I’m back.
What a rich and endearing cigar experience.
Sweet spots fall like rain. Intensity of depth reams a mile long core into my palate.
The cigar is worth every dime.
Due to its perfect construction, this will be a 2-hour smoke. I shall lay back and listen to music instead of typing.
Tomorrow, I welcome an old friend and new sponsor to my world.
The strength is going through my merkin collection and tossing them around the room. You gotta’ be Kohnan the Barbarian to smoke this baby.
With delirium and euphoria swirling around me, I decide to use my PerfecDraw tool to nub this snausage.
The cigar lasts 2-1/4 hours. What a trip.
Sponsors Small Batch Cigar (10% off with promo code ‘katman’) and Cigar Page (no promo code) still sell these wonderful cigars.
RATING: 96
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
