The Tatuaje 15th Anniversary Plus One Escasos is a 5 7/8 x 52 robusto extra made entirely of Nicaragua tobacco grown by the García family, capped off by a corojo 99 shade-grown wrapper. According to Pete Johnson, Tatuaje’s founder, these cigars were made by one roller at the El Rey de los Habanos factory in Doral, Fla. and have been aging since last year. Furthermore, Johnson said that he has no plans on when these cigars might be released outside of the sampler. – Halfwheel.com
Bought from – Small Batch Cigar (CRA Freedom Sampler)
Information:
Wrapper: Nicaragua Corojo 99 Shade Grown
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Origin: USA
Factory: El Rey de los Habanos Factory
Aging (if any): 1 year pre release
Single (MSRP): N/A
Box (MSRP): N/A
Availability: CRA Freedom Sampler Summer/Fall 2023 only
Size:
5 ⅞ x 52
Band/Packaging:
Elegant white band with gold lettering and trim. Gold and black secondary band labeled with the word “Escasos”
THE REVIEW
Wrapper:
Smooth and minimal veins, tight seems. Golden brown hue. Closed foot
Construction:
Firmly packed with no soft spots or cuts
Cold draw:
Wood, not much else
First third:
Red pepper, sweetness, graham cracker, cedar, caramel, black pepper
Retro:
Not much of a change in profile
Second third:
Graham cracker, milk chocolate, cedar, black pepper
Burn:
Great burn through out, no touch ups
Smoke:
Solid smoke output, wispy smoke texture
Final third:
Cracker, milk chocolate, black pepper, cedar, cracker
Retro:
Black pepper, milk chocolate, cedar
Duration:
1 hour 35 minutes
Conclusion:
First off, the construction and presentation is beautiful. Closed foot caps off this golden treat. At first light I get a blast of red pepper complimented by a sweetness undertone. Shortly after a graham cracker note enters and the red pepper fades. It’s now a sweet graham cracker as the first third burns. Mild – Medium in flavor and strength. The sweetness hits me at about ¾ of an inch… caramel. Delicious caramel, and a more pronounced cracker, with undertones of cedar and black pepper. So far this is an incredibly smooth cigar. As the second third begins a punch of milk chocolate compliments the graham cracker, with black pepper and cedar undertones. Strength has been boosted up to a Medium plus. On the retro more of that black pepper is prominent along with the milk chocolate and cedar. As the second third burns the graham cracker fades and the profile now consists of milk chocolate and cedar with a slight black pepper undertone. The black pepper leaves a lingering taste on the palate which is not something I am enjoying too much. Final third brings some cracker back along with a muted milk chocolate, cedar and black pepper still in the mix. Overall this was a well balanced cigar creating a smooth combination of flavors, but nothing stands out to me, and the mix of flavors were not my favorite.
