Back in 2014, the Tattoo from Tatuaje was part of the Contender Pack. This Saturday, January 6th, 2018 it will be the featured cigar from the Care Package on The Cigar Authority. Tomorrow’s show is an annual favorite where David Garofalo goes through the numbers and lets us know the State of the Cigar Industry. Are imports up?? Are they down?? Dave has all the information and he will share it with us live at 12 Noon.
As far as today’s cigar, it’s the English translation of the brand name Tatuaje, and the Tattoo is available in four sizes made at Tabacalera Cubana which is owned by My Father Cigars. It’s a smaller factory that served as the transition from their factory in Miami before the large My Father factory was opened.
Cigar: Tattoo by Tatuaje
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5.5
Ring Gauge: 58
Size: Adivino
The Look: Packaged in 50 count boxes, the Tattoo is a value cigar from Tatuaje and it looks like one. The brindle looking wrapper has a few significant veins and its a bit sandy looking. By that I mean it’s not as oily as many other Tatuaje cigars. The band reminds me of the Rocky belt, and it denotes Tattoo in white, over a black Pete Johnson logo and a red background with a gold border. In the hand the cigar feels lumpy with a few soft spots.
The Notes: Once the cap is clipped of the large ring gauge Tattoo Adivino there are notes that are syrupy in nature with hints of maple and caramel while the foot of the cigar has an aroma that reminds me of powdered cocoa and marshmallow fluff. Once the cigar is lit it lacks the spice that I’ve come to expect from Tatuaje. As we progress through the first third there is hints of cinnamon, mocha and sour apple. The retrohale offers some cedar notes to the mix.
In the second third cedar notes become the dominant profile with hints to cinnamon and mocha lingering in the background. The retrohale helps enhance the sweetness but it also offers up some subtle pepper notes on the finish.
In the last third of the Tatuaje Tattoo a floral note begins to take hold with some added spice through the nose. As we get past the cigar band the floral notes give way to an a mocha like finish and there is still some subtle pepper on the retrohale.
The Finish: I’ve felt like Tattoo is often overlooked when looking for a value cigar. It’s usually enjoyable, though this isn’t my favorite size in the line. While I’ve adjusted to smoking some large ring gauge cigars I just couldn’t find a level of comfort with this cigar. Despite that, the flavors were complex and easily identified just not as prevalent as the small sizes.
Score: 90
Price: $6.69 / $292.99
Tattoo Adivino
Tattoo Adivino Foot
Tattoo Adivino Burn
