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I'd like to kick off the new and improved "Cigar Certified" section of the blog with a review of one of my favorite cigars, which happens to be a new release to the market for 2014. The 2014 release of the Tatuaje Tattoo.
(Also, a fun little fact: "Tatuaje" is Spanish for Tattoo, so this cigar line is literally the "Tattoo Tattoo." Pete Johnson may have an unnatural obsession with tattoos and tribal designs.)
Available in four different vitolas, this cigar comes packaged in a 50-count box adorned with unique artwork that, according to some of my fellow cigar bloggers, draws from Johnson's own tattoos. The cigars are produced in the TACUBA factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, which is also the first factory that Don Pepin used before opening his own. The four different vitolas, or sizes, are the standard Robusto, Toro, Torpedo, and Gordo. Being the traditionalist that I am, whenever I sample a new cigar, I always try the Robusto first.
This cigar is made with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and a Nicaraguan binder and filler. The Habano wrapper is very smooth, with a slight sandy texture. However, I did notice some rather obtrusive protruding veins, which shows that the wrapper leaf was very nutrient heavy upon growth. The veins were noticeable but did not hinder the smoking experience. The cigar itself had the perfect amount of rigidity, with no visible air pockets to be found. This cigar was definitely rolled correctly: not too loose and not too tight. Judging from the foot of the cigar and my own personal experience rolling cigars, it looks like this cigar was rolled in the traditional Cuban style; accordion bunching the filler before rolling on the binder.
On the initial pre-light draw, I noticed a hint of nut and cocoa, as one would expect from a Tatuaje. As I clipped off the triple cap with my trusty Xikar cutter, I checked for cracking and any visible stems in the tip of the cigar. I am of the opinion that a stem can ruin a perfectly good smoke. I was pleasantly surprised to find none of either, meaning this cigar was stored properly during its (relatively) short shelf life in our humidor at Low Country Pipe and Cigar.
The initial post light draw, after toasting the foot of the cigar, provided my taste buds with rich notes of smooth nut and roasted cocoa (actually leaning more towards the coffee side), with just a hint of spice and slight leather. The smoke was cool on the tongue, and the ash was a soft white color, with a good amount of firmness to the body. This cigar is definitely a smoke machine, producing a great amount of "humo" per draw for its size.
At the halfway point, this cigar changed in flavor slightly. A slight increase in spice and a definite increase in the cocoa notes were present, along with the leather and nut tones fading into the background. I tend to prefer a spicier smoke, so the fact that the spice in this cigar increased as I hit the halfway point really pleased my palate. Also, I did notice the slightest hint of sweetness on the periphery of the taste profile. The ash was easy to roll off the cigar, with little to no effort required (and no accidental shirt spillage either!).
As my smoke progressed, the flavor was consistent all the way down. A fairly even, smooth draw was present throughout my hour and fifteen minute smoke, and the band came off without any wrapper damage at all. The burn was even as well, with little to no "touching up" required.
Overall, the Tatuaje Tattoo is a cigar that I would most definitely recommend to my friends, customers, and co-workers here at SPC. I try to stay away from using a "rating scale" per se, but if I were to use one, I would definitely give this cigar a solid 4/5 in the medium category. The price point is fantastic for a great tasting, medium-bodied smoke full of spice and cocoa notes. This surely fits into my "must smoke" category.
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