-Country -Nicaragua
-Wrapper -Mexican San Andreas
-Binder -Nicaragua
-Filler -Nicaragua
-Size -Sublimes Extra 6 3/8 x 56
-Price -$13 to $18 when released, hard to find now.
Appearance, Pre-light
The first thing you notice when looking at “The Face” is the tobacco leaf band. After that you see a unique nipple and a closed foot that, when added to the band, make this cigar scream, “I’m special!”
First 3rd
“The Face” brings a huge amount of sweetness off the closed foot. Once into the body of the cigar there is the typical Tatuaje baking spice, and also notes of red pepper. A sharp black pepper lingers on the finish, and the draw and burn are fairly tidy. The flavors are medium-plus, bringing smoothness and spiciness at the same time. Well into first 3rd “The Face” develops a nice, dark sweetness on the finish. It’s not putting out lots of smoke, but that’s fine with me as the flavors are so good. I am really enjoying the baking spice. It comes across incredibly full in the mouth, when usually I pick that flavor up in the retro-hale. The black pepper subsides quite a bit as the cigar reaches the second 3rd, and the finish remains for four or five minutes.
Second 3rd
Into the second 3rd some dark and dusty chocolate or cocoa comes into the mix, a bit like that spicy Mexican chocolate. The flavors are all coming together now, not so much developing as deepening, and I would call them full. The burn gets wonky now and then but self corrects. (Although I did touch it up a few times, this didn’t affect the flavor.) That dusty cocoa is coming through nicely in the retro-hale, and a sugary sweetness on finish is making me smack my lips after exhaling. It seems every 2 or 3 puffs “The Face” shows something different; chocolate, dusty cocoa, sugary finish, baking spice, and a subtle smokiness. The draw is making me work a bit, but this cigar is worth it.
Last 3rd
Some earthiness is coming through in the last 3rd with a tea-like finish. Smoke and earth are dominating right now, but if I let the finish go for about a minute I still get a sweetness that pops through. A grilled meat flavor is showing now, and the baking spice comes in now and then, albeit “darker” than before.
Takeaway
The first 3rd of “The Face” was definitely my favorite. All the different flavors and transitions were as exciting as any movie or fireworks display. The second 3rd was extremely complex and deep. I appreciated the evolution of the flavors even though I preferred the lighter, sweeter side of things at the beginning. The last 3rd was good, but a bit static compared to the first two. At just shy of two hours, this is probably one of the most entertaining and delicious cigars I’ve ever smoked.
Flavor Full
Strength Medium-Full
Body Full
Rating
If you find one of these, buy it and savor it. “The Face” is a cigar that
needs no accompaniment, it is entertainment all by itself. Worthy of a rating like…
4.5 out of 5
