Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 5 x 50 Robusto
Strength: Medium
Price: $8.00
My cigars have had 2-1/2 months of naked humidor time.
The Surrogates line from Tatuaje has been in production since 2012 under the L’Atelier name. They are a regular production cigar.
The cigars are manufactured by the My Father Cigar Factory in Nicaragua.
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
This is a no brainer. Everyone reading this has smoked one of the many blends under the Surrogates label. They’ve been around a long time. So why am I reviewing the Animal Crackers blend today? To fill out my database, of course. I’ve already reviewed 7 of the ‘Surrogates.’ And maybe some of you will need a gentle nudge to remind you of their existence. Or remind you that you could care less. Either way works for me.
Pete Johnson is an avid conservator and overseer of the blends he releases. He is, by far, one of the most consistent manufacturers of cigars in the business. Occasionally there is a clunker, but very rarely.
With that said, here goes nuttin’ honey…
Lately, my nose has been particularly prone to smelling baking spices. A brain is a funny thing to waste. Remember children, just say no to drugs…unless they are free. And yes, I smell potent baking spices. On top of that, there are aromas of strong barnyard, black pepper, toffee, milk chocolate, freshly made black coffee, vanilla ice cream, cedar, and poached ferret foie gras.
The draw feels jam up and jelly tight. No need for my surgical PerfecDraw draw adjustment tool. The cigar is light and airy. Like me 50 years ago.
Excellent start. Wham bam thank you ma’am with some nice depth and serious hints of complexity. I got my sticks in a sampler from Cigar Page and the box they came in said 2019. Slicker than katman snot. CP sells the entire line and now me wonders, matey, if they are aged or not…the only way to find out is roll the dice and buy a box and see what it says. Which I’m not going to do this month…but maybe next month. Aarghh. (Get off me you damn parrot!).
Strength begins at medium.
The char line kicks off at Gorgeous George.
Nice flavors that I’d expect from a cigar with these leaf stats. Not extraordinary but super pleasing to my decaying palate.
This is an aged cigar fur shore. Richness behaves like a given along the Andes Mountains looking for scraps that maybe that soccer team left behind. I had a friend from Chile back in my beach volleyball days in my late 20’s and 30’s. A little guy that could jump like a superhero and spike the ball into your face and rearrange your nose placement. I could always make him laugh by asking him questions about his relationship with Augusto Pinochet. Little things make good times.
OK. Flavors: Aged tobacco is the winner by a country mile. Also, black pepper, lovely sheep heads of creaminess, smoked oak, milk chocolate, crème brûlée, toffee, and a meaty brisket sprinkled with dry rub spices. Very nice.
The creaminess soars using the black pepper as a lift program. Not too spicy. Just enough for that oomph we love. Citrus pops up in the background. That scoche of tartness is an adorable counterpoint to the natural sweetness of the leaves.
Listening to contemporary blues this morning. Like to boogie swing during a review.
Ever get your weeny caught in a place it shouldn’t belong? Think. I’ll wait.
Industry reviewers dislike me with a white-hot passion. I’m unprofessional. I sling dirt. I talk dirty. I can be somewhat entertaining at times…which they are not. But my palate works nicely, thank you. I’ve been smoking premium cigars longer than professional reviewers have been alive. When they are old enough to gain a little wisdom, they too may tend to not give a shit what others think and just do their own thing. Works for me.
The cigar. On a journey from God. The medium strength is about to time jump. The flavors revolve around the choice of leaves. Rich like my Uncle Tony who had a 1966 Lincoln Continental with very cool suicide doors. Whenever he visited, he allowed me to sit in the driver’s seat and geek out.
My Aunt Rhoda was a mob moll. She only hung out with Jewish gangsters in L.A. Married 4 times to gangsters. One of them liked to torture me when no one was looking. Rhoda went on to be executive secretary to the owner (Jay Sarno) of Caesars Palace in Vegas.
2” burned. 25 minutes. Going to be nearly an hour smoke. Which makes it a tad under filled. But I don’t care. Wonderful taste profile.
Transitions are aplenty. The finish is a gas. You cats should dig this.
Another cigar blend in the category of ‘relaxing.’ I’m mellow yellow, my babies.
If you ever notice me going a week or longer without posting, I’m probably dead.
First sip of water and it feels like a Soupy Sales pie to the kisser. I’m dripping in lemon crème pie, smoked brisket, dark chocolate, caramel custard, and oak. No earth, wind, and leather has been exposed to me.
This is a great $8 stick. Even better if you can get it cheaper. Next month, I shall pounce on a box. Excellent go-to cigar. I am all out of my Atlantic Cigar Exclusive AJ Fernandez Small Batch Aniversario 25th LE Toro. For $6, another must have. It’s on my list. Go-to cigars are what turns the earth on its axis. Expensive cigars are great treats, but it is McGuffins that make our day.
I spend around 10 minutes trying to figure out how to undress the double cigar bands. An elderly person’s constant dilemma.
The cigar burn slows down. Just like when you hit 65. On one hand, everything slows down to a crawl; but also, time seems to speed up as you wonder when it will all end.
Animal Crackers rivals cigars at twice the price. The aging didn’t hurt one bit.
The burn has been dead nuts on the money. Despite the feeling that it is light in the loafers from not enough tobacco, the construction is proving to be solid.
In the late 90’s, I taught the Hell’s Angels of Arizona how to draw their pistolas correctly from a Miami shoulder holster. My blues trio was the official band of the outlaw biker club. I’m sure the undercover ATF agent(s) took notice.
I’m loving this cigar. Once again, Pete Johnson comes through into the light and shines brightly.
Halfway point. 45 minutes. Earlier, I guessed wrong about the cigar’s lifespan.
Strength is medium/full.
Cigar Page notified me a couple weeks ago that they are planning for an additional katman special. Still waiting.
Flavors stated previously in fine form. The blend begins to morph into a coagulation of the sum being greater than its parts. A handsome journey that gains the cigar some decent cred in my book. Nothing linear in this episodic trek.
Sips of water enrich the intensity. Bourbon would be a nice accompaniment.
The cigar finishes up at 85 minutes. A good time was had by all. (I have multi-personalities).
You can snag this cigar, and the rest of the group from Cigar Page (no promo code), Atlantic Cigar (no promo code), and Luxury Cigar Club (15% off with promo code ‘katman’).
RATING: 93
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
