This morning I reached for one of my go to cigars and was shocked to see I never reviewed it here at The Cigar Authority. Those who know me, know I am a Tatuaje geek. I don’t take it to the extreme as I won’t hunt down dress boxes and I’m not a member of Saints & Sinners though I wouldn’t mind being one. I won’t travel hundreds of miles to hang out with Pete Johnson although in the past I have. I’m just a fan of the cigars, especially what I refer to as the brown label line.
Cigar Review: Tatuaje Selección de Cazador
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5 1/8″
Ring Gauge: 42
Size: Noellas (Corona)
The Look: Packaged in cabinet boxes, the Tatuaje Selection de Cazador comes sans cello. The cigars feature a near mahogany color wrapper that is loaded with oils and a few thin veins. The band is simple with the word Tatuaje in white over a brown background with a couple of fleur-de-lis of to the sides of the brand name. Looking at the foot of the cigar, it is well packed and you can see some veins from the tobacco leaf as well. I bring this up because I’ve heard to often this being called stems which is wrong. The veins are an important part of the blend bring strength to the cigar, they aren’t a bad thing unless poorly placed by the roller causing a plugged cigar.
The Notes: Once the cap is clipped a subtle fennel like component is the first taste I picked up on the cold draw along with some spice and cedar. The aroma off the foot and wrapper has a mocha like sweetness with a touch of cedar. Once the cigar is lit some pepper coats the palate before giving way to a subtle cocoa. As we smoke the first third of the Noellas, the cocoa note becomes dominant with a touch of earth and red pepper. The retrohale introduces elements of earth that linger on the aroma.
The second third sees the cocoa begin to tone down a notch as the earth begins to become dominant especially with the retrohale. There are also hints of pepper, cedar and nuts to round things out.
In the last third the cocoa notes make a comeback becoming dominant with a nutter finish. The pepper notes becomes dominant on the retrohale a moderate cedar finish.
The Finish: If you ever wanted to know what flavors are in my wheelhouse and the strength I prefer in cigars look no further than this cigar from Tatuaje. It’s not the best cigar I ever smoked, but it’s my comfort cigar and something I enjoy by itself or with a Glenfiddich 15.
Score: 93
Price: $9.00 / $202.99
Tatuaje Noellas
Tatuaje Noellas Foot
Tatuaje Noellas Burn
