Monthly Archives: November 2014

Tatuaje Tattoo

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Tatuaje Tattoo

-Country – Nicaragua
-Wrapper – Ecuadorian Habano
-Binder – ?
-Filler – Nicaraguan
-Size – 5 x 50 Robusto
-Price – $5ish, $7.50 local

Appearance, Pre-light
The Tatuaje Tattoo sports a dark brown, even colored wrapper. Oils are noticeable, as are the small veins and seams. The foot smells of sweet tobacco and the wrapper smells the same, only stronger. The cold draw offers no sweetness, but is very woodsy. This may be a “perfect” draw in my book; open but not loose, and giving the slightest tug of resistance.

First 3rd
Upon lighting, the first puffs are smooth, sweet, and spicy. The sweeter baking spices coat the soft palate, while the more peppery spice come through on the retro-hale. Smoke billows forth from the foot after taking a pull but slows down when the cigar is resting, making it fun to smoke and not at all annoying when it’s sitting in my hand. The finish fades away nicely, reminding me that I’m smoking something tasty without making me reach for a drink. A plum-like darkness appears about 3/4 of an inch in and the sweetness from that flavor lingers on the palate for over a minute. The burn line wavers quite a bit so far, but the single touch-up has had no adverse effect on the flavors. The pepper in the retro-hale has been replaced by a sweet, cedar-like woodiness coming into the second third.

Tatuaje Tattoo

Tatuaje Tattoo

Second 3rd
Into the second third I notice a big drop off of the sweetness. Instead I’m finding notes of charred oak and some leather, but not an earthy leather. The smoke is still extremely smooth, and unfortunately the burn line continues to wander. Some cinnamon flavors pop in now and then, along with the original sweet baking spice. Well into this third a definite earthiness is showing up. While not my favorite flavor in cigars, in this blend it is balancing well with everything else that is going on. Two inches in and the ash has yet to drop, proving that made by the right people, inexpensive cigars can still be premium works of art.

Last 3rd
The final third of the Tatuaje Tattoo is bringing something to the mix I can’t quite place. It’s something I occasionally find in Nicaraguan cigars, and I default to calling it a “smokey-whiskey” flavor because I find alcohol-like tannins mixed with smoked tobacco notes, all wrapped in this one flavor. It is a very savory flavor, and in this cigar it’s like eating a smokey steak after a sweet pie. The strength is becoming noticeable now, but far from overwhelming.

Takeaway
At this price, there is no reason not to stock up on these delicious, dark cigars. A novice might find the strength a bit overwhelming, but anyone else with a penchant for full-flavored cigars will love this.

Flavor – Full
Strength – Medium-Full
Body – Medium-plus
Construction – OK

Rating
I can’t recommend these enough. If you want a bold, tasty cigar that won’t break the bank, then the Tatuaje Tattoo is for you.

3.5 out of 5

Short Smokes for Winter Part 4

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Part 4 – Oliva Serie G Special G Maduro

“Winter is coming…”

…and with winter comes a time to enjoy all the smaller cigars in your humidor! If you live in the northern part of the USA and find yourself without an indoor lounge, it’s almost time to put those churchills and 6 x 60s away. Winter is a great time to get to know some petit coronas, small perfectos, and other cigars that don’t take quite so long to smoke. For the next few weeks I’ll be featuring some of my favorite short smokes for winter because, let’s face it, nobody wants to freeze their fingers off for two hours just to enjoy a good cigar.

Next up is a Full Review of the Oliva Serie G Special G Maduro. This is a small figurado, and a great example of the type of value Oliva brings to the table. The original posting of this review can be found here.

photo 1-8

-Country – Nicaragua
-Wrapper – Connecticut Broadleaf
-Binder – Cuban-seed Habano
-Filler – Nicaraguan Habano
-Size – 3 3/4 x 48 figurado
-Price – $4.30, $5.50 local

Appearance, Pre-light
The Oliva Serie G – Special G has a dark brown Maduro wrapper that is smooth and slightly oily. The wrapper itself smells, and even tastes, of semi-sweet chocolate chips. The cold draw tastes of straw, but is really pleasant with the sweetness from the wrapper. A typical Oliva Serie G band sits right in the middle of this cigar, and it slides off without effort when the time comes. I’ve smoked a lot of these and sometimes the draw can be on the tight side, and this one is no different. It is still perfectly smokable, just a little tight for my preference.
photo 2-8

First 3rd
I normally use a jet flame lighter, but for Special Gs I like to use my soft-flame Dunhill to light the small foot. The flavors are a little muted for the first half inch, but I get a nice bit of cocoa sweetness and straw. Once the burn line gets into the bulge, it really opens up and morphs into a beautiful leather flavor. The draw also opens up but is still a little tight. The finish is mostly leather and is not too short and not too long. The room aroma is still sweet, but the smoke now is all leather. A bit of spice comes out on the retro-hale.

Second 3rd
Once past the bulge, the body of the smoke picks up significantly. The leather has started to fade into the background, and chocolate and spice are becoming the primary flavors. This is a nice cigar to “sip” on, as opposed to taking big drags, and I really recommend it as the flavors come alive with smaller puffs. The chocolate at this point is taking on a dusty cocoa feel through my nose, and a sugary sweetness sits low in my mouth, almost under my tongue. I can also pick up cinnamon now and then, but only as a secondary flavor. I get a pure chocolate taste every so often that is like eating a nice piece of Cadbury’s. Again, this is fleeting when it happens, but oh, so enjoyable.
photo 5-2

Last 3rd
The end of the Special G continues with a dark chocolate flavor. If the cigar gets hot it loses a lot of its taste, so I really need to watch my cadence to keep the temperature down. I had one minor touch up towards the end, but mostly for cosmetic reasons. The cinnamon comes back with some Christmas spices, almost like nutmeg, and continues with the chocolate all the way to the nub.
photo 1-9

Takeaway
I find these to be excellent cigars after breakfast, after work, or after I put my kids to bed. For some reason they just add that little something “special” to top off any minor event. These can be smoked any time of day, but after a heavy meal I would choose something with a little more “oomph.” The flavors are excellent, the price is great, and the construction is hassle-free.

Flavor – Medium
Strength – Mild-plus
Body – Medium
Construction – Very Good

Rating
There’s nothing remarkable about the Oliva Serie G – Special G, but overall it’s a tasty little smoke that scores a solid…
3 out of 5

Short Smokes for Winter Part 3

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Part 3 – Debonaire First Degree

“Winter is coming…”

…and with winter comes a time to enjoy all the smaller cigars in your humidor! If you live in the northern part of the USA and find yourself without an indoor lounge, it’s almost time to put those churchills and 6 x 60s away. Winter is a great time to get to know some petit coronas, small perfectos, and other cigars that don’t take quite so long to smoke. For the next few weeks I’ll be featuring some of my favorite short smokes for winter because, let’s face it, nobody wants to freeze their fingers off for two hours just to enjoy a good cigar.

Next up is a Quickie Review of the Debonaire First Degree. This is a “mini Salamone” measuring 4 x 44. The small size serves as an introduction to the Debonaire line, an ultra premium line of cigars.

Debonaire First Degree

-Wrapper – Nicaraguan Habano
-Binder – Dominican
-Filler – Dominican, Nicaraguan
-Size – 4 x 44 Petite Salamone
-Price – $6-$7

Takeaway

The Debonaire First Degree has a very classic profile. I get sweet tobacco, hay, and some slight spice on the retro-hale. Because of the shape, there is quite a bit of complexity from front to back. The flavors really open up once the burn gets past the small Salamone-shaped foot, and a little savoriness comes through for the rest of the smoke. This would make a great morning cigar or an accompaniment to drinks before a fine dinner. If you like the flavors this cigars offers, I would highly recommend the rest of the Debonaire line, just be prepared to pay premium prices for a premium experience.

Flavor – Medium
Strength – Medium-minus
Body – Medium
Construction – Excellent

Rating

A very tasty cigar that delivers a complex experience in a small package.

3 out of 5