Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sancti Spiritus
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan Pelo de oro
Size: 6 x 50 Toro
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $18.00
Date Released: July 2025
Quantity Released: 1500 boxes of 10
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
My cigars received one week of naked humidor time.
I reviewed this blend a year ago when it was called the L’Atelier Cote d’Or 2018 and found it to be a wonderful cigar. I rated it 95. This is essentially the same cigar blend so I dredged up that review to give you a leg up in case you are interested in spending your mortgage on a fiver.
These cigars need several months of home humidor time before they really shine as designed. If I wait several months to review this cigar, you won’t be able to find any, so hence the katman rekap review.
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
First, why would Tatuaje put out a cigar you can’t pronounce. Go ahead. I’ll wait.
Translated, the name is “Duck and Cover Samba..or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb.” Why couldn’t Pete Johnson have just said that?
Very delicate cigar. Yet it needs a little goose to flare the draw because I like it the way I like it. I reach for my PerfecDraw. It weaves and dodges. I get a text from Dr. Rod. “Beat the little bugger into submission. Stop. Do not use peace, love and understanding. Stop. If that doesn’t work, use a toothpick. Don’t stop.” The PD raises its skirt to flash leg. Sigh. If you do not mind dealing with another female in your life, boychik…do I have a tool for you.
So, RFK Jr likes eating bear cubs. That’s a punchline in search of a joke.
The wrapper smells heavenly. Notes of caramel, freshly picked flowers, hot cocoa with marshmallows, roasted coffee, peanuts, and over ripe strawberries.
First puffs reveal strong coffee grounds, red pepper, steamed peanuts, caramel, and dark chocolate. My impression is I’m smoking a beautifully aged cigar. Instant complexity. Swirling transitions that have wasted no time.
I remember seeing Linda Ronstadt in The Stone Poneys in 1967. They were billed second to the house hypnotist. Tiny club that maybe sat 75 people. If you could endure being hypnotized and making an ass of yourself, you got tickets to come back for free. Since I began my schmuckdom early in life, I got up and made an ass of myself. Once, I was asked to play an imaginary bass. I began playing air bass guitar. Linda thought it was funny and came out to sing while I made bass notes with my mouth to their hit ‘Different Drum.’ She danced in front of me. I got a kiss on the cheek. Sweet surrender.
The sweet notes urge my palate to accept subtlety. Graham cracker, sweet cream butter, toffee, vanilla bean soaking in rum, chunky JIF, and dried apple crisps.
It ain’t a flavor bomb, but rather, a nicely nuanced blend that is in search of its center. I’m only an inch in. But I can tell it’s revving up.
Strength is an easy-going morning medium. The burn complies with its master.
The blender’s intent is not a well-kept secret. You don’t need a sophisticated palate to enjoy this cigar. Odds are you will taste the exact same notes as me. It will do well with extended humidor time. I look forward to the second half as it looms in hyperbolic space.
Salted caramel is impossible to ignore. These leaf stats are popular. Some do it well, others not so much. This blend is the answer to that question I didn’t ask.
Hal Blaine wanted to impress me when we met in the studio. He pulled a chart from his stick bag. It was in Paul Simon’s handwriting. It was the drum chart for ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ that Hal used on the recording for that song. I couldn’t blink. I just stared. Yeah, it worked…I was impressed.
Have I mentioned creaminess? Nope. I forgot. Am I in my 70’s? Yep.
The second half arrives. I’m having a good time. It’s a shame these cigars are mostly sold out everywhere. But there is a happy ending as I will explain before I rate this blend.
Lemon citrus finds its way home. I thought I might have sensed it early on, but I wasn’t sure.
In grade school every year, I played my accordion to accompany the kids singing Christmas songs before the break. I was a hero according to my teachers. If I had done this in high school, I wouldn’t have gotten laid till I was 50.
The second half coagulates the complexity of this blend. Like gathering gold in a pan. An intensity begins. Everything is pulled together. Aging will bring this to the forefront sooner.
The cigar band slips off easily. It reminds me of prom night.
Now it’s a flavor bomb.
Sweet citrus rind, salted caramel, peanuts galore, milk chocolate, café au lait, red pepper, graham cracker, honeysuckle, and marzipan. I guarantee you will taste each and every note.
The strength remained at medium throughout. Not an easy task.
This stick requires nubbing. I comply.
The L’Atelier Côte d’Or La Tâche ’18 begins to take it home. A lovely morning. Ninety-seven minutes of jovial congeniality. When we spend money we don’t have. Money spent we can’t explain to the wife. It is imperative we are entertained. Buyer’s remorse is our bane. But when we are rewarded, our spiel to elucidate our spouse on why we spent the kids’ college tuition is easier.
You can purchase the L’Atelier Cote d’Or 2019 from sponsor Small Batch Cigar. Take 10% off with promo code KATMAN.
RATING: 95
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
