CW Member Review: Tatuaje Classic Especiale
by Jason Bolt (jb)
July 28, 2010
Cigar Weekly member Jason Bolt (jb) submits another of his fine member reviews in the Cigar Review forum of the Community Forums and Discussion Groups, worthy of publication on the magazine itself This time it is from Pete Johnson's Tatuaje line, the Classic Especiale
I had time and weather working in unison yesterday, allowing me the two hours I needed to slow down and really enjoy smoking a cigar. I chose the Tatuaje Classic Especiale. The lancero is undoubtedly my favorite size, and this particular cigar has been decent in the past. This particular specimen came from Just For Him, a brick-and-mortar store in Springfield, Missouri. The empty light had come on for this box, as only two were left. I grabbed them and some traveling companions and hit the road.
Usually, I wouldn't review a cigar while driving. However, I knew I had quite a drive back home and decided to fire up this lancero. On this particular trip there was virtually no traffic and I was in no hurry, cruising at a speed that no one behind me really cared for, judging by the honks and stares.
Pete Johnson's Tatuaje line gets an "A" for appearance, in general. This cigar was no exception; it's not unlike a hot babe in a faded pair of jeans, this cigar possessed a casual elegance. Its simple brown band is rather understated compared to the cigar it encircles. A hefty, solid cigar; this one sported a dark and oily wrapper. It could pass for a true maduro. This 7 1/2 x 38 "dark natural" cigar just had a blue ribbon look to it.
It was cut easily and cleanly with a firm but doable prelight draw. Initial lighting was quick and even, another thing I like about lanceros. From the first puff a nutty, creaminess filled the air. I'm not usually big on words and strange flavors but my wife gave me a strange look when I told her I smelled Hershey's syrup. It was smooth, complex, yet not overpowering. Through the first third of the cigar a solid, white ash hung on. I'm not an engineer, so construction doesn't usually weigh heavily in my rating process. Still, I could tell this was a very well made cigar. The draw was consistent, volumes of bluish gray smoke billowed from the tip, and the ash hang on for dear life.
Into the middle third of the cigar, the smoke was staying that perfect, not cool, not too hot. A leathery, smooth flavor overtook the original nuts and cocoa. I finally flicked the ash toward the windshield of a tailgater. The burn stayed even and the flavors stayed intriguing. Never once did this cigar require a relight or touch up.
Into the home stretch for my drive and the cigar, the last third didn't heat up or turn bitter. Hints of hickory, and leather hung on to keep this cigar complex and exciting until it's end. I managed to keep the truck on the road while taking the band off so I could smoke this one to the nub. I've smoked some of these that have been good, a few very good, but honestly this is one of the top five cigars I've smoked in 2010, all countries of origin included.
92/100
Usually, I wouldn't review a cigar while driving. However, I knew I had quite a drive back home and decided to fire up this lancero. On this particular trip there was virtually no traffic and I was in no hurry, cruising at a speed that no one behind me really cared for, judging by the honks and stares.
Pete Johnson's Tatuaje line gets an "A" for appearance, in general. This cigar was no exception; it's not unlike a hot babe in a faded pair of jeans, this cigar possessed a casual elegance. Its simple brown band is rather understated compared to the cigar it encircles. A hefty, solid cigar; this one sported a dark and oily wrapper. It could pass for a true maduro. This 7 1/2 x 38 "dark natural" cigar just had a blue ribbon look to it.
It was cut easily and cleanly with a firm but doable prelight draw. Initial lighting was quick and even, another thing I like about lanceros. From the first puff a nutty, creaminess filled the air. I'm not usually big on words and strange flavors but my wife gave me a strange look when I told her I smelled Hershey's syrup. It was smooth, complex, yet not overpowering. Through the first third of the cigar a solid, white ash hung on. I'm not an engineer, so construction doesn't usually weigh heavily in my rating process. Still, I could tell this was a very well made cigar. The draw was consistent, volumes of bluish gray smoke billowed from the tip, and the ash hang on for dear life.
Into the middle third of the cigar, the smoke was staying that perfect, not cool, not too hot. A leathery, smooth flavor overtook the original nuts and cocoa. I finally flicked the ash toward the windshield of a tailgater. The burn stayed even and the flavors stayed intriguing. Never once did this cigar require a relight or touch up.
Into the home stretch for my drive and the cigar, the last third didn't heat up or turn bitter. Hints of hickory, and leather hung on to keep this cigar complex and exciting until it's end. I managed to keep the truck on the road while taking the band off so I could smoke this one to the nub. I've smoked some of these that have been good, a few very good, but honestly this is one of the top five cigars I've smoked in 2010, all countries of origin included.
92/100
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Cigar Weekly member Jason Bolt (jb) hails from Kansas and has been a member of the CW Community Forums and Discussion Groups since October of 2003.