Tatuaje’s Monster Series was introduced in 2008 with a cigar called The Frank, which came packaged in boxes designed to look like coffins and with branding based on the Frankenstein character from Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel. The next year, Tatuaje released The Drac, inspired by Dracula. In total, the company released 13 full-sized Monster Series cigars, each inspired by a different monster character.
The Michael, named after the Michael Myers character from John Carpenter’s Halloween series. It sports a royal blue band while the dress boxes leave little to the imagination in terms of what inspired it.
– Halfwheel
Bought from –
Kings Cigar Club
Information:
Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
Aging (if any): 8 years since release
Single (MSRP): $13
Box (MSRP): $169 (Coffin of 13)
Availability: 666 Dress boxes, 4,500 plain boxes
Size:
6 ½ x 52
Band/Packaging:
The Coffin for The Michael is as menacing as the character himself. Across the face of the coffin is the silhouette of Michael’s face, with his signature knife in blood red. The band on the cigar continues to follow the Monster trend of a simple two color slim band with the text “Tatuaje”, “MONSTER”, and “Halloween” printed. The Michael sports a navy blue and white band.
Wrapper:
Milk chocolate in color, well wrapped with minimal veins
Construction:
Well packed, no apparent issues
THE REVIEW
Cold draw:
Cocoa, oak, leather, earth
First third:
Baking spices, leather, oak, cream, red pepper, cinnamon, espresso
Retro:
Sweet oak, baking spices, leather, slight cocoa, cinnamon
Second third:
Cream, leather, oak, cinnamon, espresso, cocoa, meatiness
Burn:
Excellent, no issues
Smoke:
Large clouds of thick smoke
Final third:
Spice, coffee, oak, cinnamon, meatiness, espresso, cocoa
Retro:
Espresso, baking spice, oak
Duration:
1 hour 31 minutes
Conclusion:
To me the Halloween cigar of all Halloween cigars. The Michael. And like the character, this thing packs a punch in both flavor and strength. The Michael starts off with a very nice creamy first third with a nice mix of spices, leather, and oak. As the first third smokes cinnamon and espresso mix in and transition into the second third, which retains much of the same flavor notes, however becomes a bit more bitter. At this point the strength has ramped up a bit. Michael is back! As the second third makes its way down a nice cocoa and meatiness make it’s way into the fold, and carries into the final third. The final third circles back to a mix of previous notes – with the espresso, cinnamon, and cocoa shining through. A bit of a step up from the second third. Overall, while Michael terrorizes Haddonfield year after year, here he presents a decent blend with a mix of highs and lows. I’ll certainly be back to revisit this blend each Halloween for as long as my box lasts me.
