EAR: Let's talk Tatuaje

[El Presidente]

EAR =  Email assistance required. 

Many of you are better able to answer this question. However if popular, I may formalise it in order to focus on one to two NC brands per week. 

 

" Thanks for the recent poll. i am one of those unfortunates who has had to cut down on my cuban cigar buying and am looking for US alternatives. Thank you for the referral to Phil at Up Down cigars in Chicago. 

I am thinking about trying Tatuaje as many state that some are close to a CC profile. Rob, I have no idea where to start on Tatuaje. Can you please provide me with some of your favourite Tatuaje cigars? I love the N1 and N3 Nudies so I know that there will be other NC up my alley. Thank you in advance." 

 

So to help out a little. 

1. What do you think of Tatuaje?

2. Which are your favourite Tatuaje and what would you recommend? Combine your thoughts with a tasting note if you can. 

3. Stick to Tatuaje. We will explore other NC brands progressively. 

 

[Jackdani7401]

I have had 3 different vitols from Tatuaje recently, the Havana VI, Black Label and Cabaiguan. 
 

The Havana VI, intensity was on the fuller side of the spectrum. Very earthy and leathery to my unrefined palate. The one I had was the pyramid size. 
 

Black Label, med/full on the intensity. Very clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and baking spices forward. I had this in the Grand Toro, 56x6.5”ish

 

Cabaiguan, solid medium on the intensity. Cream and baked bread/biscuits, reminded me a lot of a HdM, just not as complex or rich in the flavors. 
 

FWIW, Tatuaje is a marca I will be exploring further as my CC stock ages. 
 

@mprach024 may be able to provide a deeper analysis into the flavors and intensities as his palate is much more refined then mine and he has had all the vitolas mentioned above as well. 

[Chas.Alpha]

Is that crabby Phil, Tommy's friend?... 🤔😀

[Cairo]

This is a brand with so many different types of cigars--just keeping track of all of them is a challenge all of its own.

I will let others comment on their favorites--I have been known to smoke the cheapie Tattoos as a yard gar from time to time--hard core strong Nic taste--nothing Cubanesque about those.

[bishop532]

I agree there’s not much cubanesque about most Tatuaje cigars - many of them are kind of pepper forward. I do think that two are close to Cuban profiles, though: Cabaiguan and Black Label, and these happen to be my favorites. 

Id also agree with the flavors JackDani7401 mentioned on all 3 cigars he mentioned. I’ll add a few others I’ve tried and Some notes, in order from most to least favorite:

For the cabaiguan, especially the bready flavors stick out to me. They are what draw me back to that cigar over and over. They are fantastic, especially the Guapo (which is a little bigger than a Robusto I think) and Guapo Juniors (a PC).

the Black Label is stronger in both flavor and nicotine. I particularly remember the cinnamon notes and some doughy or bready flavors there too, along with the baking spices JackD mentioned. I really like the skinnier sizes, like the petit lancero. 

The El Triunfador maduro lancero was very good but it’s probably probably hard to find now. I remember it being earthy and woody. La Riqueza no 4 (around 5x48) is similarly good but rare. They rereleased some bigger size recently but I haven’t tried it. 

The Miami and Nicaragua Reserva are both pretty good cigars too, though I don’t recall them having much in common with Cubans. Heavier tasting, with more pepper. I like their petites - like a big cigarillo. 

The Havana VI is good, IMO depending on the vitola. The Victoria (6x38) is great. It has some interesting cherry notes along with earth and a bit of pepper. I’d call it more medium, strength wise. I don’t particularly like bigger rg ones as much. 

The negotiant (sp?) is a Connecticut on the medium side. To me it was pretty boring, but nothing terrible. 

 

 

[PuroDiario]

I only have tried a couple. I think the cubanesque commentary is more because of the marketing of the brand and the branding on the cigars themselves (based on my very limited experience with them). It does have a lot of fans out there. The cigars look beautiful when i see them at the B&M and the two i had where flawlessly constructed.

Tatuaje Reserva Broadleaf (i think it was a double robusto, did not take pics of it and was a long ago) - it was ok, interesting at first but nothing too special. Found it too one-dimensional and a bit rough on the edges as well as a bit too strong for the blend. Never thought of repeating.

El Triunfador Original (a maduro wrapper beautifully rolled lancero) - this one i thought it was an excellent cigar. While full and strong, still creamy, coffee and cocoa heavy. I would buy again probably.

 

[TMan1]

Unfortunately I really don’t think you can compare any nc to a cc. Different taste profiles to me. Not bad or good, just what you prefer. But to your point - I’ve had a Black Label before and was not impressed. Could have been a bad stick, but very harsh to my liking. Enough to know I haven’t spent money on one since. 

who knows? Maybe it’s time to revisit one.

[KCCubano]

My favorite would be the Escasos-A milder blend without all the typical nc pepper. As close as Tatuaje may come to cuban profile. Cabaiguan are close 2nd. 

[BoliDan]

Looking for Cuban like in NCs is a fools errand. You just gotta find what you like. I've never had a tat that reminded me of any marca. Pete makes some ok cigars though. I like the monster series stuff because a skinnys and they are an odd variety every year..did that help? No, that didn't help.

[bmac]

big portfolio and the limited stuff is where it’s at..do some research and keep up with le releases.Tatuaje celebrates 20 years in 2023  so will have plenty of opportunities 

[BrightonCorgi]

NC's have their own virtues and strengths; look for those in the cigar.  Not a Cuban wannabe.  Cameroon wrappers, Nicaraguan filler...  Sumatra.   The list goes on and on with possibilities in a cigar that better rolled.

[Lomey]

I've had so may over the years I can't remember them all, but not many in the last 3 or 4 years. I definitely don't get any thing that compares to a Cuban.  The only one I still buy and smoke is the Havana VI Verocu  #5 that comes in a 50 count.  It is a really nice med-full 4x40 to end the night on.  I get chocolate, spice and a little sweetness from it.  I do enjoy other sizes too.  They are releasing a Blue line with a Colorado rosado wrapper that I will probably try.  

 

I also liked the Monster series, but only would smoke a couple of each release a year.  I probably just got caught up in the hype.  They were all smooth though.

 

I really liked the Reserva Nicaragua Cojou 2012 Habano.  Another with chocolate, pepper with a little sweetness.  I need to pick up a few more a these.

 

I used to buy a box of the TAA every year, but they got a little too strong for my taste.  Very dark chocolate and pepper.  I have 10 left of each from years 2016-2017.  At one time I was going to sell them, but I think I'll keep them and hopefully they have mellowed out.

 

The only other one I can really remember liking is the 10 year anniversary one and I don't really remember why.  I didn't like the Black label.  It was too one dimensional tobacco to me.  

 

I've had other limited releases and regular lines, but these are the ones I have had the most of.  I hoped this helped.  I wish I was better at picking out flavors.

 

 

 

[Lamboinee]

4 hours ago, bishop532 said:

I agree there’s not much cubanesque about most Tatuaje cigars - many of them are kind of pepper forward.

Second this. Pepper forward (not really my cigar wheel house generally). I've heard that Tats have had the same construction inconsistencies as the rest of NC's during the Covid-era. Generally, I've found construction to be good, but it will always be the loose goose when compared to the CC gaggle.  

I believe most/all of Tats are from the Don Pepin/My Father lineage.  If you find a Tat that you like it might be a segway into something from My Father.

4 hours ago, bishop532 said:

For the cabaiguan, especially the bready flavors stick out to me. They are what draw me back to that cigar over and over. They are fantastic, especially the Guapo (which is a little bigger than a Robusto I think) and Guapo Juniors (a PC).

Concur, Ha-rumph. Cabi Tats are what I would naturally gravitate towards and what I have enjoyed the most from Tat.  The gaupo vitola is solid, but there are two or three new vitolasthat dropped recently or will drop before the end of the year....The Britannicas Extra and the Double Robusto.  Any cigar that is named after encyclopedia britanica and Great Britain has to be good. Plus, none of them have ring gauges with howitzer-girth.

Factoid - The first thing I thought when I saw a QDorsay for the first time was...."I don't know how to pronounce that name, but I think those QD's have copied the Tat Cabiguan's style and font."  The Cabiguan's band and styling is reminecent of the QD's IMO. Obviously, any copying was done by Tat.

3 hours ago, BoliDan said:

I like the monster series

Ditto! Outside of the Cabi, I would look for anything from the Monster series. Pair them with a Monster Energy drink sans the monster energy drink. The skinny's are a good size and I even like last years large B. Karloff (smoked one this week in fact).  Don't let the marketing theme throw you....it was a solid campaign that was well done and the cigars were pretty tasty. 

I will also re-iterate what several have said - "cubanesque" is more marketing lingo than a qualitative statement.  The most notable comparisons to anything cuban are: 1) there are so many Tat brands/lines that it's hard to know for sure what the heck you are smoking  and what its flavor profile is supposed to be - very cubanesque IMO. Somewhere, in the NC/CC bizzarro-verse, there is a Tat fan that can nerd out on every single Tat line and limited release just like the experts on FOH nerd out on all the special cuban stuff; 2) the aforementioned subjective similarity in Cabiguan and QD styling/banding; and, 3) both brands' cigars are made of tobacco by underpaid people in an impoverished country. 

I have spent the majority of my cigar life smoking NC's.  I was often searching for NC's that I imagined to be the "most cubanesque". Then, I smoked some cubans.  I've learned that most/all NC's are pretty much not cubanesque.  If you're looking for a CC copy cat hiding in NC clothing, you'll be disappointed.  You'd be better off smoking fake cubans that you don't know are fake.  Let this journey take it's own direction. Accept that the journey will be full of "failures" and sticks that taste like they were rolled in Aunt B's bloomers. Wait with bated breathe for the day you find an NC that you can tolerate, or even enjoy. Then, come back and tell us all about the best NC you just found so we can all try it!

[Doctorossi]

There's only one I really care about and it's in my top 10:

Reserva J-21

[mbflash80]

These are not substitutes for CC but if you want an experience that incorporates smooth yet flavorful tobacco...maybe a little on the sweet/honey side I would recommend the Escasos line and the Verocu Blue line.  Both use a corojo wrapper that I really enjoy.  very good cigars IMO

[tjkoala]

We were talking skinnies on last nights Zoom and the Tatuaje Black Label Petit Lancero is one of those few NC skinnies that is REALLY nice 👌

[asudevil08]

The T110's and ME's are great sticks that have a great robust flavor.  Definitely full of coffee, cocoa powder, leather, some unique savory spice.  

Its a great cigar on its own - no reason to try and make a CC comparison.  

[Cayman17]

I started smoking with Tatuaje and have many, many boxes in storage. They are excellent cigars if you like spicy, leathery, bold smokes in general.  The construction is always perfect, no QC issues and they should be, considering the price. 

My favorite is the Havana VI (aka red label) line or the Havana VI “Verocu” which is a “tweaked” blend of the line.  If you can age them to the point where the cellophane turns golden brown, they are incredible to me. Lots of earthy spice all the way through but smooth (unlike a Padron 1964 which I often find a bit overpowering). Not a lot of flavor progression with these cigars, but that’s fine because I love them.
 

For less “spicy” tatauaje cigars, the “7th Natural” line with Habano wrapper, black label petit lancero, and Cabaiguan Guapos RX are excellent.  The guapos are the closest thing to Cuban cigars in my opinion. The black label petit lanceros have a very unique taste that I love, and if you can age them for a while, they just get better and better.  I keep a large supply of the black label lanceros and Havana VI cigars in my NC storage coolers. 
 

 

[benfica_77]

The tatuaje black label in petite lancero format was the closest thing to a CC i ever got. Great smoke but I haven't has one in 5+ years. 

[JoshD]

A box of Havana VI Victorias just showed up in the mailbox today.  Hard to beat for the price.

[Reverb]

I’ve always enjoyed the Brown label. Especially the Noella. The Black label is just too peppery for me. The Escasos are my fave and the Cabaiguan probably closer to a CC than most of the brand. Will have to try the Havana VI. The TAA broadleaf is something very special, but after a big meal. And what Pete can do with Sumatra is over the top but never Cubanesque.


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[MossybackR]

I concur with the usual pepper forward profile of the Tats that I’ve tried. My fave is the Havana VI. I’ll have to search out the lancero to add to my recent dive into NC long skinnies.

[Lamboinee]

Speaking of Tat.... https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/pete-johnson-s-four-year-cigar-tatuaje-havana-vi-verocu-blue

 

Saw this today. If I were looking to try a Tat this is as good as any. Plus, this is probably one of P. Johnson's biggest/important releases in while. Imo. And it's literally got Havana right in the name. It's like a Disney movie or something. It's probably a rebranded Hup from MONday FORmundacheese

[trader1974]

I've always smoked a mix of NC/CC, but most NC's have never quite hit the mark for me.  I'm a CC guy through and through.  However, I have always managed to find NC's that I like quite a bit.  So with the increased pricing recently I have explored and experimented a great deal in the NC world.  The one brand that I keep coming back to is Tatuaje.  

Most of this has been covered already, but here is my contribution.  Tatuaje has so many lines to choose from that it is difficult to know where to start.  I haven't tried them all but I've tried a lot of them.  Some I love(brown label) and some I don't like at all(Fausto).  What it comes down to for me is the wrapper and the size of the cigar.  I had the Tatuaje Noella (original brown label-Ecuadorian Habano) and loved it-not too spicy but flavorful, maybe kinda sort cubanesque but not really.  I tried the same blend in the Regios(robusto) size and it was good but not nearly as good as the smaller version.

If you like some extra spice, then go with the broadleaf wrappers(Reserva Broadleaf).  If you like something more smooth, creamy, etc. then look at the Ecuadorian Connecticut wrappers(Tatuaje Negociant).

 

Hope that all made sense!

Edited October 28, 2022 by trader1974
added info

[garbandz]

"trying Tatuaje as many state that some are close to a CC profile  "

many are mistaken,as is usual.