The Good Stuff:

The Tatuaje 7th Corojo is one of this year’s new releases by the company. Adding itself to the Seleccion de Cazadores line, or the brown label line, the blend features the same makeup as the rest of the line with the exception of the new Corojo wrapper. Blended at the My Father factory in Nicaragua the 7th Corojo features a Corojo wrapper grown in Nicaragua at the My father farms, over a Nicaraguan binder and fillers. The blend is offered in a single 5 5/8 x 46 format, which comes packaged as boxes of 21 and runs $9.50 per cigar.

• Size: 5 5/8 x 46
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Body: Medium/Full
• Strength: Medium
• Price: $9.50

Prelight:

The Tatuaje 7th Corojo carries a very rustic, inconsistent wrapper scattered with areas of dark brown, light brown, and orange. The wrapper’s texture is a bit on the thin side as it carried a decent amount of toothy grit and a whole mess of oils coating it. The cigar feels pretty well packed with the exception of some softness around the foot area. There wrapper is laid over itself with care as it showcases some natural webbing in the wrapper’s leaf as well as some lighter veins running through the cigar’s body up to it’s round, double-wrapped cap. The cigar is then polished off with the standard brown band as the rest of the Seleccion De Cazadores line as well as an added maroon and gold band with “Corojo” embossed in the front.

The wrapper on the Tatuaje 7th Corojo gives off sweet spice and musk while the foot of the cigar is mostly natural tobacco and earthiness. The cap clipped off the Tatuaje 7th Corojo with ease. The cold draw produces notes of sweet spice, musk, and cedar.

First Third:

The Tatuaje 7th Corojo starts out with a very subtle, very light black pepper blast that only lasted the first puff or two before completely dropping out allowing the cigar to release some great musky, earthiness over some natural tobacco, dark chocolate, cedar and pecan flavors. The draw is fantastic. Each puff kicks out huge clouds of thick, white smoke which really sticks around for a long time before dissipating. The cigar also releases a ton of stationary smoke while it rests in my ashtray. The burn line is dead even and razor thin leaving behind a trail of tightly compacted white ash which held on for about an inch before giving way.

Second Third:

As I venture into the second third of the Tatuaje 7th Corojo the cigar really starts to shine. The musk and sweet spice melt together to give off notes of roasted caramel, dark chocolate and pecan with some sweet nutmeg and natural tobacco with a leathery finish. The retrohale brings out a lot of the sweetness and I do it quite often. I close out the second third with nothing in terms of nicotine kick.

Finish:

The final third of the Tatuaje 7th Corojo finished very similar to the second third. The musk and sweet spice lead the charged backed by the roasted caramel, dark chocolate and pecan. There was a little bit of a piney wood that poked in every now and then as well. It took me and hour and a half to smoke this cigar down to the nub. I experience no harshness, no sap, nor any extended heat. I didn’t have to touch up or relight the cigar at any point as it burned flawlessly from start to finish.

Overview:

I am a huge fan of both the Seleccion de Cazadores and Corojo so I was naturally pretty damn excited about this blend and it delivered. The profile isn’t as -rounded as some of the other offerings, but the Corojo made for a more complex, more thoughtful experience that I really enjoyed. I could easily find myself grabbing this version over some of the others in the brown line quite often. This is easily one of the better cigar I have had this year. This is box-worthy, and I plan on grabbing quite a few of these while I still can.

The post Tatuaje 7th Corojo appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The Good Stuff:

Originally released in 2015 the L’Atelier Côte d’Or immediately gained attention by featuring the rare Pelo de Oro tobacco which is grown exclusively on the Garcia family tobacco farms in Nicaragua. The tobacco is extremely difficult to grown, very easily gets damaged, and yields very little usable tobacco which makes it so scarce. The L’Atelier Côte d’Or ‘19. Is a new 6 x 50 format which was showcased at this year’s PCA convention. The blend features an Ecuadorian Sancti Spiritus wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua which feature the Pelo de Oro tobacco. Manufactured at the My Father factory in Nicaragua, this version comes packaged in boxes of 10 and runs $18 per cigar.

• Size: 6 x 50
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sancti Spiritus
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Body: Full
• Strength: Medium
• Price: $18

Prelight:

The L’Atelier Côte d’Or ‘19 Starts out with a very dark, inconsistent wrapper with areas of orangish-brown, dark brown, and lighter brown spots. The wrapper’s texture if very toothy and grittier with a whole mess of oils coating it. The wrapper is laid over itself properly with only mild separation. There are a few medium sized veins running through the cigar’s body leading up to the the cigar’s round, triple-wrapped cap. The cigar is finished with the gold and mantilla band we have come to expect with the L’Atelier Côte d’Or brand as well as an added white foot ribbon.

The wrapper on the L’Atelier Côte d’Or ‘19 gives off some nice chocolate aroma while the foot of the cigar is way more earthy with spice and barnyard. The cap cut clean and easily. The cold draw produces notes of cocoa, natural tobacco and strong woodsy flavors.

First Third:

The L’Atelier Côte d’Or ‘19 starts out with a whole ton of cayenne pepper that I wasn’t expecting which lasted for quite a few of the first few puffs before settling down and allowing the cigar to release some really strong cedar and dark chocolate flavors and mix in perfectly with some light vanilla, toffee, and soft spice on the finish. The draw is as perfect as it gets as it releases a ton of smoke with every dray which hangs out for quite some time before dissipating while the cigar releases a good amount of stationary smoke while it rests in my ashtray. The soft-box press is extremely comfortable both in mount and hand. The burn line is sharp, but slightly wavy as it leads behind a trail of flaky, white ash which held on for a little over three quarters an inch before falling into my ashtray.

Second Third:

This L’Atelier Côte d’Or ‘19 Is just kicking out all the flavor! There is a ton of dark chocolate and cedar leading the charge backed by notes of black cherry, toffee, vanilla and spice over a great earthiness and musk. I am really into this flavor profile. The retrohale really brings out the cherry and I find myself going back to it often. The burn line is still slightly wavy, but hasn’t needed any additional attention from my torch yet. I close out the second third with only very little in terms of a nicotine kick.

Finish:

The L’Atelier Côte d’Or ‘19 finished much more strong and more bold. The cedar is dominating now with the dark chocolate and black cherry taking the backing spot with still tons of toffee and spice underneath ear with a very earthy and musky finish. The L’Atelier Côte d’Or ‘19 took a little over an hour and a half to smoke, and I took it down to the very nub. There was no harshness, no extra heat, and no sap. I also closed out with a surprisingly low amount of nicotine. I never once had to touch up, or relight the cigar even with the burn line being a bit wavy.

Overview:

To say the L’Atelier Côte d’Or ‘19 is a good cigar is an understatement. Hell, to say that it’s a great cigar is still an understatement. The blend has always been fantastic and the toro format is phenomenal. From start to finish the complex flavors were bold and enjoyable. Outside of some slight waves the cigar burned perfectly from start to finish. The price, while is a bit on the high end, is expected for a cigar that utilizes such rare tobacco. There really isn’t anything to fault here. This cigar can easily make its way into the top cigars I’ve smoked all year.

The post L’Atelier Côte d’Or ‘19 appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

#10 – Tatuaje Cigars / My Father – La Union – For My Father

The La Union by Tatuaje for My Father Is a special cigar and warrants a special occasion. While my special occasion is being alive, the cigar still delivered an exceptional experience. The flavor profile was great, and to honest something a bit different than you’d expect from Tatuaje. Instead, it seemed like this was a cigar that Pete Johnson blended specifically for a My Father profile which is EXACTLY how it’s presented. The price is steep, and I don’t expect to keep these on hand. But if I am looking for a cigar to celebrate with friends, or any special occasion this will absolutely be a contender.

Read the review here

#9 – The Crowned Heads Las Calaveras 2024

Every year I look forward to the Las Calaveras release. Not only to remember those we lost, but also, they are usually damn good cigars and the 2024 version is no exception. It’s been one of the more memorable Las Calaveras releases to date. Complex, full body, and full flavor. While it might be a touch more powerful than something a novice cigar smoker would enjoy, us vets love it. I usually grab a box of these to keep on hand and slowly smoke throughout the years and I will absolutely be grabbing more of these.

Read the review here

#8 – Joya de Nicaragua Joya Cabinetta Lancero

I love when a cigar reminds my how much I love a particular format. I love it even more when it’s a lancero. There is just something special about a great lacenro and the Joya Cabinetta is a prime example of it. The flavors are great, tasty, and pleasant especially as the grew more complex into the final stretch. The price point is incredibly affordable and I am glad I have so many on hand as I will be sad once these once again make their departure.

Read the review here

#7 – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sin Compromiso Seleccion No. 4

Let’s just get this out of the way. Steve Saka makes great cigars that I love. Bias? Whatever you want to make of that. I just feel a lot of his brands fit my personal preference very well and in the end, that’s what matters. This is why I liked it: First, the construction and burn was perfect from start to finish. I never had to mess with my torch. Second, the flavor profile was great. It’s not the most complex cigar and it didn’t need to be. I really enjoyed the flavor structure and consistency. Lastly the cigar has a ton of great body, but isn’t overpowered by strength. This mixture makes for a wonderful cigar that I would love to keep in my regular rotation.

Read the review here

#6 – RoMa Craft Tobac Cromagnon Clovis EMH

I have always loved the Cromagnon from the first time I smoked it in Skip’s initial release sampler packs. To this day I keep my humidor stocked with them. When Skip announced the blend changed I didn’t really worry much, if anything I got excited. I know the tobaccos are both very similar, but I also know that Skip wouldn’t have made the change if he didn’t think it was worthy to carry the same Cromagnon moniker. I’ll probably end up copying that portion of the overview over when I review the standard new release, but I figured it applied here too. Now the Clovis carries a very similar experience only there are some lighter herbal notes I am able to pick up which differentiate it from the standard Cromagnon. Or maybe it’s a placebo. Either way I do feel there are little nuances that make the cigar different. While it’s a bit pricey and hard to find, it’s a worth cigar if you do find it and urge you to pick it up as it won’t be around for very long as I already had a hard time getting my hands on it.

Read the review here

#5 – Illusione OneOff Black

The Illusione OneOff Black has such a unique flavor profile I dont think I have ever smoked a cigar with this much dark chocolate. Outside of that the changeups were wild which made for a complex experience with surprises around every corner. I also thing the changing of the profile isn’t very subtle which means that it won’t take a seasoned cigar smoker to pick up, and enjoy the experience. The price is a bit up there, but still makes for an affordable cigar. Keep in mind it’s using a pretty rare tobacco which I’d imagine isn’t cheap to grow. Get them while you can, cause at only 1,000 boxes being produces, these will sell out fast.

Read the review here

#4 – Tatuaje Cojonu 2018 Broadleaf

Wow, just wow. I have been a fan of the Cojonu 2018 for a while now, but the added Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper just takes a great cigar to a whole new level. I can honestly say it’s been a while since I have enjoyed a cigar as much as this one. The complex profile is incredibly pleasant and really pleases my personal palate. The burnline was perfect from start to finish and the price point is pretty affordable for a cigar that delivers as much as this one. Box worthy? Yes. Multiple box worthy? Yes and yes.

Read the review here

#3 – Black Label Trading Co. Intergalactic Event Horizon

The original Intergalactic didn’t really knock my socks off, however the Event Horizon is a completely different beast that surely rocked them right off my feet. The flavor profile was right in line with everything I personally look for in a cigar while being very balanced, yet complex. It was fun trying to sort through all the layers of great flavors. The cigar performed perfectly, is priced well, and is something I will definitely track down more of while I can before they are all sold out.

Read the review here

#2 – Illusione Group of Five RB

There are certain cigars you smoke and you’re like, “That’s Illusione”. Or there are Illusione cigars you purchase because you want a certain experience. The Group of Five is that cigar, except on a more exceptional level. I really feel like whatever tobacco Dion chose to use here really added a level of not only flavor but complexity that moves this cigar is a category of its own. Yes it’s pricey, but the experience is worth it. This is a box worthy purchase for sure and easily one of the best cigars I have smoked all year.

Read the review here

#1 – RoMa Craft Tobac Marquette La Maestranza

I’ve had some really good cigars this year, and I’d be hard pressed to find one that stood out more than the RoMa Craft Tobac Marquette La Maestranza. I haven’t compiled my list of best cigars for the year yet, but I’d be shocked if I didn’t make its way onto the list. The flavor profile is incredible and really matches up well with exactly what I look for in terms of my personal palate. Take the subjectiveness out of the picture and the cigar burned perfectly from start to finish, it’s pretty affordable, and burned slow enough to get a ton of bang for your buck. I smoke a lot of RoMa Craft cigars and this is one that will likely be in my rotation for a very long time to come.

The post Top 10 Cigars of 2024 appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The Good Stuff:

Tatuaje and My Father cigars have been working together for 20 years. To celebrate this partnership the two created four very special releases. There are two separate humidors being released. The Black Humidor which features a blend by Pete Johnson of Tatuaje and Jaime Garcia of My Father Cigars was released earlier this year with the second set, the Red Humidor being released in 2025. Narrowing it down a bit further today we are focusing on the cigar from the Black Humidor created by Pete Johnson of Tatuaje. The La Union for My Father features a Nicaraguan Corojo 99 wrapper over Nicaraguan binders and fillers. The cigar comes in a single 7 1/4 x 50 format. The La Union comes packaged in boxes of 40, 20 of each cigar which runs $2,400 per box, or $60 per cigar. I purchased mine over from our friends at Cuenca Cigars.

• Size: 7 1/4 x 50
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo 99
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Body: Medium/Full
• Strength: Medium/Full
• Price: $60

Prelight:

The La Union by Tatuaje for My Father starts out with a very consistent yellow-tinted light brown wrapper. The wrapper’s texture is very smooth with lots of oils coating it. The wrapper feels a bit thin and brittle while the rest of the cigar feels very hard, very dense, and very tightly compacted. There are a few very minor veins running through the cigar’s long body leading from the cigar’s covered foot up to the double-wrapped cap. The cigar features a very extravagant, very complex, very large band with gold, peach, brown and black which carries the “La Union” crest as well as Tatuaje and My Father’s logos. There is a secondary band which dictates “For My Father” which distinguishes the two cigars as well as an additional peach ribbon on the bottom.

The wrapper on the La Union by Tatuaje for My Father gives off mostly cashew and honey aromas while the foot of the cigar is very earthy with a lightly creamed coffee note that really stands out. The cap cut clean and easily using my Xikar XO double bladed cutter. The cold draw is very earthy and nutty with just a bit of a tart coffee aftertaste.

First Third:

The La Union by Tatuaje for My Father Starts out with with a surprisingly potent black pepper punch which really sticks around for a while. After the pepper begins the fade the cigar releases a ton of earthy flavors over caramel and cashew with lighter notes of creamed coffee and a cedar finish. Despite the cigar being packed so tightly the draw is flawless as it releases huge amounts of thick, gray smoke with each and every puff. The burn line is dead even and razor thin leaving behind a trail of tightly compacted white and light gray ash which held on for about an inch before falling into my ashtray.

Second Third:

The body really starts to ramp up in the second third of the La Union by Tatuaje for My Father. The cedar and earthy flavors are still dominating backed by cashew, espresso, and oat with a soft spice on the finish. The retorhale brings a ton of the spice to the front and I don’t find myself doing it too often. I’m almost an hour in and barely finishing out this second third which left me with a decent nicotine kick already.

Finish:

Into the final third of the La Union by Tatuaje for My Father and the flavors haven’t changed up too much. Mostly led by cedar, cashew, and earthiness backed by espresso, pine, and a bit of saltiness mixed with nut and spicy aftertaste. This is a big cigar, and took me a little more than two hours to take down to the nub. I experienced no heat, nor sap, however there was a bit of wrapper breakages around the cap that didn’t interfere with the experience in anyway. This could likely be due to the weather we are having and how wet to dry my lips became during this smoke. I did close out with a decent nicotine kick, however that evolved over time since this was such an extended smoking experience.

Overview:

The La Union by Tatuaje for My Father Is a special cigar and warrants a special occasion. While my special occasion is being alive, the cigar still delivered an exceptional experience. The flavor profile was great, and to honest something a bit different than you’d expect from Tatuaje. Instead, it seemed like this was a cigar that Pete Johnson blended specifically for a My Father profile which is EXACTLY how it’s presented. The price is steep, and I don’t expect to keep these on hand. But if I am looking for a cigar to celebrate with friends, or any special occasion this will absolutely be a contender.

The post Tatuaje Cigars / My Father – La Union – For My Father appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The Good Stuff:

At the PCA trade show earlier this year Tatuaje showcased multiple line extensions to the Cojonu brands. Today we are focusing on the new broadleaf version of the Cojonu 2018. Manufactured at the My Father Cigar factory in Nicaragua the blend features the same Nicaraguan binder and fillers as the standard Cojonu 2018 only with a newly introduced Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. The cigar is offered in a single 5 5/8 x 54 format which comes packaged in boxes of 21 running $13.50 per cigar. I purchased mine over from our good friends at Cuenca Cigars where you can now buy these in singles.

• Size: 5 5/8 x 54
• Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Body: Full
• Strength: Medium
• Price: $13.50

Prelight:

The Tatuaje Cojonu 2018 Broadleaf starts off with a very rustic, beaten-up looking wrapper which is mostly dark brown with lots of lighter brown and orange areas splotched around the cigar. The wrapper’s texture is very toothy and extremely oily. The wrapper itself is very thick and dense while the cigar as a while is heavy and tightly packed. The wrapper is laid perfectly over itself leading up to the cigar’s round, double-wrapped cap. The body of the cigar has such a slight, simple, soft-boxpress to it. In normal fashion the cigar is polished off with a brown and white Tatuaje band and a secondary black and gold “Cojonu 2018” band.

The wrapper on the Tatuaje Cojonu 2018 gives off a mixture of sweet spices and oak while the foot of the cigar caries more sharp spice along with lots of natural tobacco aromas. The cold draw kicks out a ton of sweet spice and herbal flavors over some light earthiness.

First Third:

The Tatuaje Cojonu 2018 starts off with an incredibly tasty mixture of sweet spice, nutmeg and ginger over some musky oak and lighter notes of vanilla, cinnamon, and earthiness with just a hint of black pepper. What an incredible flavor profile right off the bat. The draw is perfect as each little puff kicks out a massive cloud of thick, gray smoke which dissipates quickly while the cigar releases a whole mess of stationary smoke while the oils burn off the wrapper. The burnline is mostly even and razor thin while it leaves behind a trail of very tightly compacted medium gray ash which held on for an inch before falling into my ashtray.

Second Third:

Into the second third of the Tatuaje Cojonú 2018 Broadleaf and I am completely in love with the flavor profile. So much sweet spices with the cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger over lots of vanilla now, musk, oak, cedar, and a splash of honey. The retrohale is actually pretty enjoyable as well as it brings out even more of the spice. I close out the second third with no signs of any nicotine.

Finish:

The final third is where the Tatuaje Cojonú 2018 Broadleaf really shines. The flavor profile is banging as each flavor is firing on all cylinders. Loads of sweet cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger over loads of oaky musk and some soft spice with vanilla and a cocoa aftertaste. What a great profile. It took me an hour and a half to smoke this cigar down to the nub. There was no harshness, no sap, no extended heat and I never once had to reach for my torched to touchup or relight the cigar. I close out the cigar with only a very minor nicotine kick.

Overview:

Wow, just wow. I have been a fan of the Cojonu 2018 for a while now, but the added Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper just takes a great cigar to a whole new level. I can honestly say it’s been a while since I have enjoyed a cigar as much as this one. The complex profile is incredibly pleasant and really pleases my personal palate. The burnline was perfect from start to finish and the price point is pretty affordable for a cigar that delivers as much as this one. Box worthy? Yes. Multiple box worthy? Yes and yes.

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#10 – My Father Cigars – Don Pepin Garcia 20th Anniversary Limited Edition

While not as power-packed in terms of strength as the original, the Don Pepin Garcia 20th Anniversary Limited Edition is a much more complex and flavor-packed version of the cigar. The delicate mixture of flavors is decadent, and extremely enjoyable while the cigar performed like a star from start to finish. While I normally don’t gripe about costs, this cigar is very pricey and while I loved it, the price keeps it out of contention for something that would fall into my regular rotation. Which it should. This isn’t a cigar for casual smoking. This is a celebratory cigar created to go alongside any of your accomplishments and celebrations and does a great job at doing so.

Read the full review here

#9 – Foundation Cigar Highclere Castle Senetjer

While the $33 price tag is pretty impressive, so is the performance that the Foundation Cigar Highclere Castle Senetjer put on. The flavors are incredible, in tune with my personal palate, enjoyable, and complex with just the right amount of change-ups to keep me entertained all the way through. The burn-time is a factor here as well as you get a lot of bang for your buck. While these aren’t a cigar that I will keep in my regular rotation mostly due to price, they are a cigar that I will keep around for those days when I have an urge to smoke something extra special.

Read the full review here

#8 – RoMa Craft Tobac Quinquagenario

A big part of a collaborative effort is to make sure each contributor leaves behind their personal mark and that’s exactly the case in the Quinquagenario. While I am used to the deep, rich and bold flavors skip bakes into each one how blends, this cigar has a bit of a finer touch to it which is likely attributed to E.P. Carrilo’s touch. It’s different for sure, but incredibly enjoyable. The flavor profile is refined, yet complex despite being creamy if that makes any sense. It’s a cigar you don’t have to thing about. It’s just good as a great cigar should be. I only have one more of these left, and plan on picking up a few more to keep around as I really enjoyed it and want to make sure they aren’t sold out before I have a chance to get my hands on more.

Read the full review here

#7 – Tatuaje 20th Merveille

The Tatuaje 20th is a damn good cigar. I really, really enjoyed the flavor profile especially the clove which I feel isn’t something I pick up in cigars too often. In fact, this is one of the best flavor profiles I have had in a cigar all year. I smoked a handful of these and each time they got better and better so I am curious how they will age especially considering that they are a regular production line. This is a box worthy purchase for sure and one I can see myself coming back to very, very often.

Read the full review here

#6 – Crowned Heads Las Calaveras 2023

I have always been a fan of all the Las Calaveras releases and it’s an annual tradition for me. Both for what the cigar represents and how great they usually are. I am happy to report that this has probably been one of, it not my favorite Las Calaveras blend to date. I feel like I have said that before, and if I have it only shows how great Jon Huber is as coming up with new blends that always evolve. This release is extremely complex with a flavor profile that absolutely fits my personal preference. It burned great for start to finish and still falls in a price that affordable enough to keep quite a few on hand. Its box worthy for sure, while you can still get them.

Read the full review here

#5 – Illusione Singularé Origen

In a single word the Illusione Singularé Origen is GREAT. I can’t really say it fits in with the rest of the Singulare series since this was created to be more of a standalone blend, however I can say that this cigar just feels special. And to me, thats what the Singulare always represented. Solid construction, very enjoyable and complex flavors at an excellent price point. I am also a huge fan of not having to chase down limited edition cigars and hoard them if they are good so extra points awarded there. This is absolutely a box worthy purchase and I can see myself smoking these on repeat for quite some time.

Read the full review here

#4 – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Mi Querida Black PapaSaka

I loved the SakaKhan last year, and could wait for the PapaSaka release this year. I am happy to report that it completely lived up to my personal built-up hype. In fact, I may have even enjoyed this year more. The flavor profile is where this cigar really shines. Subjective, I know, but this is one of those cigars I feel were created for my own personal palate. The profile is extremely enjoyable, not overly complex, and one that I think would also appeal to quite a large amount of smokers who enjoy full-bodied cigars. A big plus here as that the bold flavors didn’t come at the cost of a stronger cigar as the PapaSaka fell comfortable in the lower medium-medium/full arena. The price is on par and likely even a bit lower that I’d expect to pay for an experience like this, however its a pretty limited run and will sell out very quickly.

Read the full review here

#3 – Tatuaje DB Capa Especial

I am a huge fan of anything with Tatuaje’s Capa Especial wrapper and I am glad to see that Pete is putting it into use more. The Tatuaje Capa Especial DB is a hell of a cigar and I feel like it was created for my own personal palate. I love the flavors, the boldness, and the complexity not to mention the long burn time which made me happy to pay $17 per cigar on this one. This is a stick that I am glad I have a few more of as it’s not really available anymore and will not be remade. I’ll save these for special occasions or when I am really craving a unique experience I know I’ll love.

Read the full review here

#2 – Illusione Original Documents Habano

All the hype I built up for myself leading up to The Illusione Original Documents Habano was fulfilled as I not only enjoyed it, but couldn’t stop smoking them right off the truck. The flavor profile is great, well balanced, and complex enough to keep me interested in the blend from start to finish. Not to mention it hit on everything my personal palate looks for in a cigar. The construction was flawless and the cigar burned like a dream from start to finish. This blend is box worthy for sure and something that I can see myself smoke a whole ton of going forward.

Read the full review here

#1 – RoMa Craft Tobac Intemperance Volstead VO 1920 Noble Experiment

There aren’t too many brands out there currently that kick out stellar releases one after another like RoMa Craft. I honestly don’t think I have ever come across a RoMa Craft I didn’t just enjoy, but thoroughly enjoy and the Volstead VO 1920 is no exception. The flavor profile is balanced, yet complex enough to keep me entertained. The profile itself marries up really well with my subjective palate as I really enjoyed the flavors. The construction was top-notch and the price is very affordable and the full-production releases will always be easily available. This makes this a perfect, box-worthy cigar that will find its way into my everyday rotation.

Read the full review here

The post Top 10 Cigars of 2023 appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The Good Stuff:

The limited edition Tatuaje Capa Especial DB is a spinoff of the limited edition Tatuaje tobacco plaza DB. The cigar features the same all Nicaraguan blend except utilizes Tatuaje’s “Capa Especial” or Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper instead of the Connecticut Broadleaf featured on the Tobacco Plaza DB. Created at the My Father factory in Nicaragua, the Capa Especial DB comes in a single 6 x 58 format which comes packaged in boxes of 10 with only 2,000 boxes released. Each stick runs $17 per. I picked mine up over from our friends at Cuenca Cigars who are currently out of stock.

• Size: 6 x 58
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Body: Full
• Strength: Full
• Price: $17
• Pairing: The Answer Apple Brandy Coconut Diablo Bunch (Imperial Stout 13.5% ABV)

Prelight:

The Tatuaje Capa Especial DB starts out with a rustic-looking wrapper that ranges in color from dark brown to lots of lighter brown splotches scattered throughout. The wrapper itself feels thick and dense while the cigar as a whole feels a bit soft and squishy, yet is very heavy and thick. There are a few smaller veins located throughout the cigar’s meaty body as the wrapper is laid over the foot of the cigar leading up to the cigar’s stubby, tapered cap. The Cigar features the red, white, blue, green, and black “Tatuaje Limited” band as well as the secondary white and gold “Capa Especial” band we’ve come to expect.

The wrapper on the Tatuaje Capa Especial gives off sweet berry and cedar aromas while the foot of the cigar is mostly the same only with a good amount of natural tobacco added. The cap cut clean and easily using my Xikar XO double bladed cutter. The cold draw produces notes of sweetness, berry, cedar, and natural tobacco.

First Third:

The Tatuaje Capa Especial DB starts out with a nice blast of cayenne pepper which hit me right on the tongue and lips. After the first few draws the pepper began to fade away allowing the cigar to release notes of bold sweetness, black cherry, black licorice, brown sugar, and cedar over notes of pecan, musk, and spice. The flavor profile kinda reminds me of a Dr. Pepper cigar in the best way possible. The draw is beautiful. Each and every little puff kicks out a massive cloud of thick, gray smoke which hangs out forever before dissipating while the cigar release a whole ton of stationary smoke while it rests in my ashtray. The burn line started a bit wild which is to be expected with closed-foot cigars, but has completely corrected itself and is now burning clean while leaving behind a trail of tightly compacted white and gray ash which held on for 3/4 of an inch before falling into my ashtray.

Second Third:

Into the second third of the Tatuaje Capa Especial DB and the flavors have started to balance out more while still rocking in the center of full-bodied. The profile leads with black cherry, sweet brown sugar, black licorice and pecan over lighter notes of musk, spice, and cedar. I am totally into the flavor combination. The retrohale brings out more of the spice which honestly I can do without so I don’t find myself doing it too often. There has been some slight sap build up so I clipped a tiny bit off the cap and slowed down my smoking pace which seemed to resolve the issue. I close out the second third with a decent little nicotine kick.

Finish:

Ah, the final third of this monster of a cigar. The Tatuaje Capa Especial DB is still pouring on the flavors. While they haven’t changed up too much, I don’t think I’d have it any other way. The profile is still lead by black cherry and sweet brown sugar with a good mixture of cedar and pecan with lighter notes of black licorice. It took me 2 and a half hours to take this cigar down to the nub. I experienced no harshness nor any extended heat. After adjusting my pace the sap never returned. Sometimes I feel like I just smoke too fast and as enjoyable as this cigar was, this was one of those times. I close out with a pretty hefty little nicotine kick.

Overview:

I am a huge fan of anything with Tatuaje’s Capa Especial wrapper and I am glad to see that Pete is putting it into use more. The Tatuaje Capa Especial DB is a hell of a cigar and I feel like it was created for my own personal palate. I love the flavors, the boldness, and the complexity not to mention the long burn time which made me happy to pay $17 per cigar on this one. This is a stick that I am glad I have a few more of as it’s not really available anymore and will not be remade. I’ll save these for special occasions or when I am really craving a unique experience I know I’ll love.

Pairing:

Brewed in Richmond, Virginia, the Answer’s Apple Brandy Coconut Diablo Bunch is a 13.5% Imperial stout brewed with Kona coffee, toasted Hazelnut/Macadamia, Vermont maple syrup, Tahitian vanilla, Saigon cinnamon and toasted coconut which is then aged in my favorite barrels, apple brandy. The beer leads with a ton of sweetness, coconut, black cherry, roasted malt, milk chocolate, maple and red apple with an incredibly heavy and sticky mouthfeel before finishing with even more sweetness, brown sugar, coconut, cherry, chocolate, raw vanilla and this awesome artificial banana type flavor. This is a true pastry stout. While I am not too big on coconut in beer I felt that the other flavors were bold enough to balance it out, even as it was one of the bolder flavors in the profile. I decided to pair this particular beer with the Tatuaje Capa Especial DB as the cigar carried so many bold, sweet flavors and had enough body to keep up with the beer without being overpowered. The woodsy/musky flavors from the cigar completed the pairing and created a very pleasant and bold experience.

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#10 Cohiba Serie M

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I entered the Cohiba Serie M. I didn’t research the cigar before smoking it and just lit it up and was very impressed the first time. After that, I dug into the researched and realized that it was created at El Titan de Bronze and I should have known it was going to be great. Each one I had after that impressed me even more. The flavor profile is just incredible, nicely complex without being overdone, the burn is perfect, and the construction is flawless. The only issue is $29.99 is pretty steep for just about any cigar. But if you are looking for a Uber-premium that you can really get lost in, dissecting, and enjoying, it may be worth the coin.

Read the full review here

#9 Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Maduro 2022

I have always been a huge fan of Aganorsa Leaf. I feel like each time they kick out a cigar I know what to expect, yet they are constantly raising their own bar. The Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Maduro is a great example of a beautifully blended, complex cigar that doesn’t kick your ass in strength. The flavors are bold, yet not too much to overload your palate. While it’s leaning on the pricier side, I think this cigar delivers enough of an experience to make it a box-worthy purchase and I am really glad they decided to keep this one around as an ongoing full-production line.

Read the full review here

#8 Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Muestra de Saka Bewitched

I think I have smoked most of if not all of the Muestra de Saka releases to date with the exception of the unicorn. I really look forward to these releases as they usually showcase the uniqueness of Saka’s craft. The Bewitched is probably my favorite release in this set so far. The flavor profile is very unique with that amazing fig over great floral / cologne and awesome backing flavors. It smoked perfect from start to finish, and the fact that this is regular production means no hunting. This is box worthy, especially at the 7 count box format and something I’ll keep around when I am craving a break from the norm.

Read the full review here

#7 Black Label Trading Co. Memento Mori

The Memento Mori is a great example of the rich flavors, complexity, and great profile that I have grown to love with Black Label Trading Co. The cigar kept me on my toes from start to finish and delivered in every aspect. These may be sold in out most cases, but I will be chasing a few more down to keep in my rotation when I am craving a more complex cigar that won’t knock me on my ass.

Read the full review here

#6 Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu Blue

 really love the Verocu line and let me just say, the Verocu Blue blows it out of the water. I am a HUGE fan of the Escasos line and what I am learning is just how incredible this wrapper is. It completely changes the entire experience by adding this incredible caramel and honey-forward flavor profile which married up extremely well with the Verocu blend. While these are selling like hotcakes right now I hope that I can add many more to my humidor so that I can get them into my regular rotation.

Read the full review here

#5 My Father Le Bijou 1922 100 Anos

The My Father Le Bijou 1922 100 Anos makes me remember why I loved the Le Bijou blend so much. While the cigar caries much of the same flavors and experience I feel the 100 Anos version has a bit more oomph to it in both body and strength. The complexities are still there, the flavors are fantastic and really keep me on my toes, and with such a long burn time on this cigar the price point is completely worth it. If you are a fan of the Le Bijou 1922 or any My Father cigars in general then this is totally worth picking up before they are no longer available.

Read the full review here

#4 Black Works Studio Killer Bee Shaolin

The Black Works Studio Killer Bee Shaolin is easily one of the better cigars I smoked all year. The flavor profile is absolutely beautiful, and matches exactly what I look for in a cigar. The complexity was great. The burn was flawless from start to finish even considering the tunnel that popped up about halfway through. It always surprised me how complex the manufacturing of a lot of Black Label cigars are, and how well put together the final product is. My only gripe, as you can guess, is that these are pretty much sold out absolutely everywhere. Happy Hunting.

Read the full review here

#3 Illusione Allegria

I smoked a handful of these and each time I liked it more than the previous. The Illusione Allegria delivers a great, complex flavor profile that really keeps you on your toes. I smoked quite a few One Offs and at times I felt the Allegria was a much better version of that cigar and at other times I felt like it wasn’t even in the same realm as the cigar offers a profile that is quite different especially in terms of complexity and body. At this point, I think the Allegria will keep the One Off out of my rotation for at least the time being and this is a cigar that I enjoyed so much that I can see myself coming back to over and over again.

Read the full review here

#2 Foundation Cigar Co. Olmec Maduro

The Foundation Cigar Co. Olmec Maduro has been on my radar most of the year and not only am I glad to finally get my hands on it, but I am also glad that it lived up to the hype. The cigar delivered in flavor profile, performance, and price. Emphasis on flavor profile here as Nick hit the nail on the head. I have a few of these left and they won’t last long so I will be picking up at least another box to keep these in my regular rotation. Be on the lookout for the Olmec Claro version being reviewed on Casas Fumando very soon.

Read the full review here

#1 Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Mi Querida SakaKhan

I swear, Saka came out swinging when he released the first Mi Querida line and each release since has eclipsed the previous and if this is any indication of what to expected from the Mi Querida Black then count me in. The SakaKhan carries a unique, flavorful, and extremely enjoyable flavor profile at least by my personal palate’s standards. The gigantic cigar smoked perfectly from start to finish with no issues or extra attention needed. The price point is also pretty affordable considering the quality of the experience as well as how well and long this cigar performed. My only grip is, you guess it, availability since these will be a limited run. I’ll just have to make sure I get my share before they disappear.

Read the full review here

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The Good Stuff:

The Tatuaje Verocu took the cigar community by force back in 2007, with me included. It was always a blend that I rather enjoyed and have consistently smoked through the years. At this year’s annual PCA show Pete Johnson of Tatuaje showcased the newest update to the blend, the Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu Blue. The Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu Blue features a Corojo 99 rosado shade grown wrapper which should be the same wrapper featured on the Escasos line, and all Nicaraguan binder and fillers which are all grown by the My Father Cigars Garcia family. The blend is offered in only two sizes: No. 1 (6 1/4 x 52) and No. 2 (5 1/2 x 54). Both come packaged in both boxes of 20 and cabinets of 50 and both sizes run $12 per stick. I purchased mine over from our good friends at Fox Cigar.

• Size: 6 1/4 x 52
• Wrapper: Corojo 99 rosado
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Body: Full
• Strength: Medium/Full
• Price: $12
• Pairing: Bow & Arrow Magic Desert Shop (Imperial Stout 12% ABV)

Prelight:

The Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu Blue starts out with a consistent, light, yellowish brown wrapper. The wrapper feels very delicate and thin with a rather smooth texture and lots of oils coating it. The wrapper showcases some mild veining and natural webbing in the tobacco leaf as it is laid seamlessly over itself leading up to the cigar’s round, double-wrapped cap. Like all cigars in the Verocu line the cigar features a red and white bland with the “Tatuaje” logo, however unique to this blend the secondary band that carries the “Verocu” crest is a deep, dark blue to match it’s name.

The wrapper on the Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu Blue gives off bold musk, caramel, and pecan aromas while the foot of the cigar is much more earthy with notes of natural tobacco and spice. The cap cut like butter using my Xikar XO double bladed cutter. The cold draw produces notes of caramel, honey, and musk.

First Third:

The Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu Blue starts out with starts out with a pretty impressive burst of cayenne pepper which really sent my tongue on fire for a few seconds but faded just as quickly as it started allowing the cigar to release bold notes of pecan, caramel and honey over musk, vanilla, and earthiness with some light piney/floral flavors surrounding it. The draw is absolutely perfect as each puff kicks out a huge cloud of thick white smoke which dissipates very quickly while the cigar releases almost no stationary smoke while it rests in my ashtray. The burn line is razor thin and dead even leaving behind a trail of tightly compacted white and light gray ash which held on for about an inch before falling into my stupid lap cause I waited too long to knock it.

Second Third:

Into the second third of the Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu Blue and the spice has really kicked it up a notch here. While the spice is taking over the pecan, caramel and musk are still pouring it on, especially the caramel. Backed by vanilla, musk, and earthiness the floral flavors have all but dropped out. The retrohale pours on the spice and even brings out some of the pepper I picked up at the start so I don’t find myself doing it too often.

Finish:

Into the final third of the Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu Blue and the flavors remain much of the same, but are really kicking it into high gear. Loads of pecan, caramel and musk lead the way with lighter notes of vanilla, spice, musk and a real subtle yet tasty coffee flavor has snuck its way into the mix. It took me almost 2 hours to take this down to the nub and I didn’t want it to end. There was no extra heat, no harshness, and absolutely zero burn issues as this cigar performed flawlessly from start to finish. The Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu Blue left me with a small little nicotine kick as I close out.

Overview:

I really love the Verocu line and let me just say, the Verocu Blue blows it out of the water. I am a HUGE fan of the Escasos line and what I am learning is just how incredible this wrapper is. It completely changes the entire experience by adding this incredible caramel and honey-forward flavor profile which married up extremely well with the Verocu blend. While these are selling like hotcakes right now I hope that I can add many more to my humidor so that I can get them into my regular rotation.

Pairing:

Magic Desert Shop is an imperial stout brewed with coffee, almonds, vanilla and amaretto aged in Rabbit Hole bourbon barrels. Brewed at the Bow & Arrow brewery in Albuquerque, New Mexico this 12% ABV beer leads with loads of sweet chocolate, brown sugar, vanilla, malt, and almond with a very sticky and heavy mouthfeel before finishing with even more vanilla, brown sugar, and malt over a great coffee flavor and amaretto aftertaste. It tastes like tiramisu. This paired great with the nutty flavors found in the Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu Blue and added another level of sweetness that brought this pairing to a whole new level.

The post Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu Blue appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The Good Stuff:

Originally released wayyyyy back when I first started to really get into Tatuaje, the La Riqueza was a staple in any cigar smoker’s humidor. Fast forward to 2022 and the blend has made it’s triumphant return. You can see a super old review of the original I did here and one of Jeremy’s here. This was the cigar that really turned me onto Tatuaje when I first started smoking and was always one of my favorites. While the cigar features the same Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper, double Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers, Pete Johnson has mentioned that a few tweaks were made with the blend to amp up the body and strength compared to the original version. The cigar is still being produced at the My Father factory in Nicaragua. The Tatuaje La Riqueza SE 2022 comes in a single 5 5/8 x 54 format packaged in boxes of 10 running $12 per cigar at only 4,500 boxes produced.

• Size: 5 5/8 x 54
• Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
• Binder: Double Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Body: Medium/Full
• Strength: Medium
• Price: $12
• Pairing: Bruery Terreux Natty Noir (Sour Ale 12.1% ABV)

Prelight:

The Tatuaje La Riqueza SE 2022 still sports the same beat down, rustic looking wrapper. The wrapper features a mostly milk brown color with loads of darker brown and orangish splotches scattered throughout. The wrapper’s texture is very toothy with a good amount of tooth and light oils coating it. The wrapper is very thick and hard while the cigar as a whole is nice placed and carries no soft spots. This version of the La Riqueza carries a very nice, very soft-pressed body and a enclosed foot as the wrapper is carefully folded over it. The wrapper is laid nicely over itself leading up to the cigar’s round, double-wrapper cap. The cigar also carries the same red, gold, and white band as the original La Riqueza. Or should I say, the second iteration of the La Riqueza band that sports the PHJ crest instead of the OG Fleur De Lis.

The wrapper on the La Riqueza SE 2022 gives off strong grape and cedar aroma while the foot of the cigar is mostly the same with a bit more natural tobacco scents. The cap cut clean and easily using my Xikar XO double bladed cutter. The cold draw produces some great raisin notes of natural tobacco and musk.

First Third:

The Tatuaje La Riqueza SE 2022 starts out with a quick black pepper blast which left my lips tingling. After the pepper fades the cigar begins to release notes of raisin, black cherry, cedar, oat, and dark chocolate. The draw is absolutely beautiful as each little puff kicks out huge clouds of thick, white smoke which dissipate quickly while the cigar releases only a small amount of stationary smoke while it rests in my ashtray. The burn line is dead even and crazy sharp leaving behind a tightly compacted trail of white ash which held on for an inch before falling into my lap.

Second Third:

Into the second third of the Tatuaje La Riqueza SE 2022 and that great black cherry note that I remember from the old blend has started to really pop. The cherry is backed by raisin, cedar, oats, dark chocolate and also a great little floral mixture that has crept it’s way into the the profile especially on the retrohale which also brings out a bit of the hidden spice in the experience. The cigar is burning perfectly and I am feeling nada in terms of nicotine at this point.

Finish:

The Tatuaje La Riqueza SE 2022 has been great up to this point, but I feel the cigar really shines in the final third. The flavor profile is at the top crest of medium-full as bold raisin and black cherry lead the charge backed by oats, dark chocolate, and cedar. The floral flavor has completely dropped out. The flavor profile didn’t change up much, but it didn’t need to. It took me an hour and a half to smoke this cigar down to the nub and I experience absolutely no harshness nor extended heat. In fact, this cigar burned like a dream from start to finish. It left me with almost no nicotine whatsoever.

Overview:

I couldn’t wait to try this cigar as I was such a fan of the original release and I wasn’t disappointed. This cigar is everything I want in an experience. A great flavor profile with excellent body and decent complexity wrapped up in a very medium-strength package. That’s my sweet spot and even with the tweaked blend the La Riqueza delivered. Big thanks to Ray and JG for hooking it up with a handful of these. Now I need to go out and find some more.

Pairing:

The Bruery Terreux’s Natty Noir is a 12.1% barrel aged wild ale Pinot Noir grapes with natural native mixed culture fermentation – fermented natively with microflora from grape skins. The result is essentially a sparkling wine-esque sour grape juice. The beer leads with tart grape and black cherry over fresh apple and light citrus with a good amount of funk and loads of sweetness with a very light and fizzy mouthfeel before finishing clean with heavy grape, black cherry, and funk. This is such a great summer beer especially during this little heat wave. The fruits paired beautifully with the raisin and cherry I picked up in the Tatuaje La Riqueza SE 2022 while the cigar helped accentuate the light barrel I picked up in the beer.

The post Tatuaje La Riqueza SE 2022 appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

#10 – Arcana CAO Mortal Coil

The CAO Arcana Mortal Coil was certainly an enjoyable cigar, but that didn’t come without it’s issues. The draw on 3 of the cigars I smoked were all a bit on the tight side. Not anything that killed the experience but it did require some extra effort. Outside of that, I enjoyed the flavor profile, and the pricing seems perfect if the cigar performed without the issues. The flavor profile was particularly exceptional. I have a handful more of these that I will probably let rest a while and see how they perform in a few months but it’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a CAO as much as I have this year.

Read the Review here

#9 Drew Estate Liga Privada Undercrown 10

There is so much hype around each one of Drew Estate’s releases, and in most cases, they deliver which is the case for the Undercrown 10. This cigar has all the flavors from the classic Undercrown maduro line that I love, with added body and a ton of new flavors. The cigar reminded me so much of Abuelita hot chocolate for those familiar. The cigar is balanced, complex, and nailed my personal profile for what I look for in a cigar. The burn performance was great, and the cigar as a whole offered a fantastic experience. These are a bit pricy as they are almost pushing the bounds for the normal Liga Privada lines, but the cigar does deliver.

Read the Review here

#8 Davidoff Winston Churchill Limited Edition 2021

hen Davidoff hits it out of the park, its all the way out of the park and the Davidoff Winston Churchill Limited Edition 2021 landed in a different time zone. The big, bold and unique flavors kept me on my toes from start to finish. The construction is flawless, and this cigar is astonishingly still available. The price tag probably has a lot to do with it, and is my only gripe here. But you get what you pay for and in this case, you get a hell of an experience.

Read the Review here

#7 Tatuaje The Frank Redux 1

While the original Frank is so far in my rear view mirror that I can’t remember much of that experience outside of my written words, I do remember how special of a cigar that was. The Frank Redux 1 delivered the same experience. It’s just an all around fantastic cigar. The flavor profile is incredible and really marries up well with my I personally look for in a cigar. The blend is complex, yet balanced, the price is perfect, and the fact that it’s much easier to find this time around is just awesome. I’ve always been a huge fan of the monster series and I for one am more than happy with it’s resurrection.

Read the Review here

#6 Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sin Compromiso Paladin de Saka

The Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sin Compromiso Paladin de Saka is an exceptional cigar. The profile is incredibly nuanced and complex. Anyone who knows Saka knows just how picky he is when it comes to his blends and I can’t imagine the work that was involved getting this one right where it is. Outside of the flavors the experience as a whole were flawless. No burn issues, no heat or sap. Just all around a great experience. While this cigar was excellent, the cost still feels a little steep for me. I know you can’t achieve the same experience without the high-level of production and selectivity, something that Steve Saka is known for, I just don’t know if I’d grab a full box of these. This is something I’d probably keep a few around for though when I am craving such a complex experience. Now if you’re a big Sin Compromiso fan and don’t mind paying a bit of extra coin for a next level version of the cigar I think you’ll be all over this one!

Read the Review here

#5 Black Label Trading Co. Last Rites Viaticum

Giving credit where credit is due, this is easily one of the best cigars I’ve smoked all year. The construction and burn were fantastic while the unique blend and flavor profile really appealed to my personal palate. And when I say it “really appealed”, I meant that I loved it. There are few drawbacks, but most are expected. It’s a bit pricey, however I feel the price is justified as I don’t mind paying $15 for the experience it delivered. It’s very limited. Well, that’s a given. And it burns very quickly. None were big enough miffs to keep me from purchasing quite a few more.

Read the Review here

#4 Tatuaje T110 2021

That Tatuaje 110 is everything I remember it being. A complex cigar that will kick your butt if you aren’t ready for it. The flavor profile was great, the burn was awesome after the slight stumble at the start, and the price is on point. If only these weren’t so limited. If for some reason you happen to stumble across any, buy them. All of them. You won’t regret it.

Read the Review here

#3 Black Works Studio Hyena

The Black Works Studio line is unique, and the Hyena is a perfect example of that. Cameroon is a tobacco that I don’t often smoke, and every time I do I wonder why I don’t smoke more of it. The tobacco is just so flavorful which is on full display in this African version, which is the first time I have ever tried. The cigar is packed with very deep, rich, and complex flavors that will keep you on your toes but more importantly, are all extremely pleasant and appealing. This was probably one of the better cigars I’ve smoked all year and something that I will definitely keep on hand going forward.

Read the Review here

#2 Illusione Jeremy Piven Collection PIV Robusto

I’d be curious to know just who Jeremy Piven met with before ultimately deciding to do this collaboration with Illusione. Why he chose Illusione, well that’s pretty obvious. As my boy Drew would say, “Cause he is the king of Corojo!”. The PIV Robusto carries some great, deep, yet very balanced flavors. While a few of the cigars we reviewed recently by Illusione tend to be a bit of a departure from his normal style, the PIV Robusto is a great representation on just how well Dion knows his way around Corojo. This is a perfect afternoon smoke when you are craving something with a good amount of flavor that won’t overwhelm your palate yet still deliver.

Read the Review here

#1 Black Label Trading Co. Bishop’s Blend 2021

The team over at Oveja Negra is making it really hard for me not to include every one of their releases in my top 10 cigars for 2021. I always thought the bishop’s blend releases were special cigars, but this year there was something extra special with the blend or tobacco. The flavor profile is absolutely incredible from start to finish. The cigar burned perfectly, and the price is actually lower than I’d expect for a cigar like this. The limited production is a bit daunting, but they have released a new run each year which evens it out. The only complaint here is the amount of sap this cigar produces. There is quite a bit and while slowing down my smoking pace greatly reduces it, I was unable to make it through any of the cigars I smoked without some slipping out. I’m sure some more rest would easily clean that up.

Read the Review here

The post Top 10 Cigars of 2021 – Tony Casas Edition appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

With that out of the way, lets get rocking!

#10 – Drew Estate Liga Privada Unico Year of the Rat

This cigar actually reminded me much more of a No.9 than a rat, and that’s likely why I enjoyed it so much. The flavor profile was spot-on with what I look for in a cigar, the burn and construction were perfect, and the burn was so slow it really allowed me to get more comfortable with the cigar. All in all this is a near-perfect cigar if it wasn’t for the availability which I really hope expands more in the near future as I’d love to keep this in my daily rotation.

Read the Full Review here

#9 – The Crowned Heads Las Calaveras 2020

This year’s Las Calaveras release simply put, is fantastic. It seems a bit of a departure in flavor from previous releases as the flavors seemed more on the sweet/chocolatey side vs more organic tobacco flavors. The construction is flawless, and the price point as always, is very affordable. This was one of the better cigars I had this year, but I still don’t believe it competes with last year’s release as far as the flavor profile goes which is strictly subjective. I even smoked them back to back to make sure my bias against how much I enjoyed last year’s wasn’t leading my decision and I still choose last year’s release over this one. I can’t stress this enough, that doesn’t mean this cigar isn’t on par by any stretch, it certainly is.

Read the Full Review here

#8 – Tatuaje Escasos N

To me the Cazadores line always had this nice sweetness to it, but the Escasos is a much more dry experience in a very special way. The cigar is complex, and the flavors are very enjoyable. While the blend is similar in some aspects to the Cazadores, the experience is not. This blend actually seems like they took a more Cuban spin on the Cazadores line, which may be why it’s been circulated more in Europe as they tend to smoke more Cubans that us Americans do. Either way, its a great, special cigar and I can’t wait to get my hands on more.

Read the Full Review here

#7 – The Crowned Heads Four Kicks Capa Especial

It’s no surprise that I absolutely loved this cigar. The Crowned Heads Four Kicks Capa Especial falls right in line with the rest of the portfolio. The cigar absolutely delivered on both taste, complexity, and overall smoking experience. It’s very likely that this one will fall in my top 10 cigar list as its one of the best cigars I have smoked all year.

Read the Full Review here

#6 – Tatuaje Karloff

The Boris was one of my absolute favorite Tatuaje cigars released to date. While the memory is distant, reviewing my notes and what still exists up in my brain this cigar feels very similar, only with a bit more body to it. Taking the Boris out of the equation, the Karloff is an incredible experience. The flavors are incredible, well balanced, and just complex enough to keep me on my toes. On the subjective side those flavors really appeased my personal palate, especially the sweetness the cigar offered. The experience was perfect with not snags at all, and the price is well worth it. The only gripe, as you’d guess it, is the availability. That just means I gotta throw in a little more effort to pick up more of these before they are gone.

Read the Full Review here

#5 – Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Sobremesa Brûlée Blue

It goes without saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this cigar. And any Connecticut-wrapped cigar that can product enough flavor to be paired with a bold pastry stout without being overpowered by the beer demands attention. The flavors were incredible and a great change of pace for cigars I’ve smoked recently. They were complex enough, yet smooth and balanced. This is really a cigar for all occasions and something I would like to get quite a few more of before they are gone.

Read the Full Review here

#4 – RoMa Craft Tobac Baka Jengi

I am a big fan of RoMa Craft’s cigars and there is no hiding that. While I smoked quite a few Baka last year, I never got around to reviewing them. I just kept smoking them thinking “It’s ok, you can just grab more when you’re ready to review them”, and then suddenly they were gone. Not making the same mistake with the Jengi I am glad to finally give my thoughts on this cigar. Plain and simple, I absolutely loved it. The whole Full-Body, Medium-Strength combination is my preference and this flavor profile is incredible. Its complex, yet easy to pick apart. The chocolate and oak flavors really appease my personal profile. All while delivering a flawless smoking experience. The only gripe I have is the availability, but that just means I need to buy more up front and make them last right? Box-worthy for sure.

Read the Full Review here

#3 – Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf Robusto

The Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf has been flying off shelves, with good reason, its a fantastic cigar. I have always been a fan of the brand and thier newest releases have just been on a whole new level. The flavor profile for the Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf is complex, and really showcases the superior quality tobacco in which the company uses. The price is VERY affordable and in my opinion much lower than what I’d drop on a cigar like this. Lets just hope they start coming in more regularly so I can stock up and keep them on hand for my regular rotation.

Read the Full Review here

#2 – Fonseca by My Father Robusto

I’ve been on pins and needles awaiting the moment I could get my hands on these cigars. Quesada has been a favorite brand of mine for as long as I can remember, and My Father, I mean, who doesn’t love them? How did it go? Well, in short, it was absolutely amazing. The flavor profile is incredible and right up my alley, the smoking experience was flawless and the price is way below what I feel like I’d be comfortable paying for such a fantastic cigar. This is box worthy for sure, and a strong contender for my top 10 cigars of the year as it sits currently.

Read the Full Review here

#1 – Illusione Cigares Prive PCA 2020 Exclusive

This Cigares Prive is a pretty big departure from the Illusione cigars I have smoked lately, yet somehow still feels similar. The flavor profile is very complex, and extremely impressive as it suits my personal palate extremely well. The cigar burned like a dream from start to finish, and the price is something I would pay time and time again for this cigar resulting in a perfect mixture. My only gripe is the availability. This just means I’ll need to buy quite a few more as a Christmas present for myself before these are gone.

Read the Full Review here

Thanks for sticking it out with us this year. I hope each and everyone one of you have an amazing holiday and a much better 2021!

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The Good Stuff:

The Tatuaje Escasos is not to be confused with the Cazadores line. while they share similarities in look and blend, they are different cigars. While the release details are a bit dark, the Escasos had made brief appearances in the past few years as very limited US and European releases. Pete Johnson explains that he will release the Escasos in very limited 50 box runs from time to time. The Tatuaje Escasos starts out with an Ecuadorian Rosado Habano Claro wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan Filler. While on paper, the Cazadores line features a similar blend, Pete Johnson has confirmed that the Escasos blend is slightly different. The cigar is offered in six different formats: HC (6 3/8 x 43), U (6 1/8 x 52), N (5 1/8 x 48), T (7 5/8 x 49), E (7 1/2 x 38) and the R (5 1/2 x 50). The letters spell out “HUNTER”, much like the first letter in each name in the Cazadores line. Hunter is none other than Pete Johnson’s dog. Gotta love that dog love. Each format comes packaged in boxes of 25 ranging between $10 and $14 a stick. Big shout out to JG who passed a few of these over my way as I am not sure these are available in the US at this point.

Note: Just after posting this I read the Halfwheel article found here where Pete Johnson has added two new sizes to the Escasos line: the Robusto Especial and Toro Especial. They also mentioned that the Escasos line is going through a blend change that replaces the Ecuadorian Rosado Habano wrapper with Corojo 99 on any Escasos cigars with a box date of April 2020 or later. The cigars smoked in this review in fact have a box date of April 2020 so I have updated the blend below to reflect the corrected change.

• Size: 5 1/8 x 48
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo 99
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Body: Medium
• Strength: Medium
• Price: $10
• Pairing: St. Bernardus Christmas Ale (Abbey 10% ABV)

Prelight:

The Tatuaje Escasos starts out with a very rustic, patchy looking wrapper that’s mostly a mixture of light brown and off-orange colors with darker browned scattered throughout. The wrapper’s texture is very smooth and silky with only light tooth, and a good amount of oils. The wrapper itself feels very thin and brittle while the cigar as a whole feels light yet nicely compacted. There are a few very minor veins and naturally tobacco webbing in the wrapper leaf as it’s laid seamlessly over itself leading up to the cigars round, triple-wrapped cap. The cigar is polished off with the standard brown and white band we find on the Miami/Cazadores blends along with a gold and black secondary band with a scripted “Escasos” crest embossed in the front.

The wrapper on the Tatuaje Escasos gives off very little aroma with only hints of natural tobacco while the foot of the cigar releases only light musk scents. The cap cut clean and easily using my Xikar XO double bladed cutter. The cold draw surprisingly releases a ton of cinnamon, musk, and natural tobacco flavors.

First Third:

The Tatuaje Escasos starts out with a quick, immediate black pepper burst which only last through the first few puffs allowing the cigar to showcase some great musk, pecan, and light black coffee over dry herbal/earthy flavors with a very light floral undertone. The draw is absolutely perfect. Each tiny puff kicks out a massive cloud of thick white smoke which hangs around for a considerable about of time before dissipating while the cigar itself releases a whole mess of stationary smoke while it rests in my ashtray. The burnline is dead even and razor thin leaving behind a trail of tightly compacted light gray ash which held on for about and inch before giving way.

Second Third:

Into the second third of the Tatuaje Escasos and the body of the cigar has really ramped up. The pecan and musk are still in charge here backed by a ton of earthy flavors over light cinnamon and floral flavors. The retrohale brings out some spice that seems to be buried deep within the smoke and I find myself doing it quite often as it adds a step of extra complexity to the experience. The burnline is still dead even and I close out the second third with only a very minor nicotine kick.

Finish:

Into the final third of the Tatuaje Escasos and not a whole lot has changed here. the Pecan and musk are still the dominant flavors backed by a very dry mixture of earthiness, hay, oat and floral flavors. It took me an hour and a half to smoke this cigar down to the nub. I experienced no harshness, nor any extended heat. There was a bit of sap towards the end which just reminded me to slow down my smoking speed. I close out with only a very light nicotine kick.

Overview:

To me the Cazadores line always had this nice sweetness to it, but the Escasos is a much more dry experience in a very special way. The cigar is complex, and the flavors are very enjoyable. While the blend is similar in some aspects to the Cazadores, the experience is not. This blend actually seems like they took a more Cuban spin on the Cazadores line, which may be why it’s been circulated more in Europe as they tend to smoke more Cubans that us Americans do. Either way, its a great, special cigar and I can’t wait to get my hands on more.

Pairing:

St. Bernardus Christmas ale is my favorite winter beer and one I drink at least a few time every year. This 10% ABV Belgian Abbey ale leads with tons of apple, pear, caramel, cinnamon, and nutmeg with a heavy mouthfeel before finishing with more pear, caramel, and a bit of yeastiness with an overall sweet composition. I love this damn beer and it made for a great pairing with the Tatuaje Escasos as it really helped the dryer cigar move into a more sweetly-balanced pairing without overpowering the cigar.

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The Good Stuff:

Easily one of the most anticipated releases year after year is the Monster Series from Tatuaje. Released on Halloween each year since 2008. This cigar is released around Halloween every year in very limited quantities. 13 “Unlucky” retailers across the nation each year receive 13 count dress boxes which are heavily designed and themed versions of the packaging while other retailers receive the standard 10 count brown boxes. I’ve been lucky enough to smoke each one, and review almost all of them to date:

• 2008 – The Frank
• 2009 – The Drac
• 2010 – The Face
• 2011 – The Wolfman
• 2012 – The Mummy
• 2013 – The JV13
• 2014 – The Jekyll
• 2015 – The Hyde
• 2016 – Krueger
• 2017 – The Michael
• 2018 – The Bride
• 2019 – Chuck and Tiff

As the 13 Monsters came to a close it left a lot of cigar enthusiasts wondering what would become of the series. Well, Pete Johnson wasn’t ready to give up on it yet expanding the series to include actors as well. Enter, the Karloff. The Karloff is the first cigar in the Actor series which pays homage to the actors who played the monsters from the iconic monster movies. This release is named after Boris Karloff who played Frankenstein, which is actually a slightly tweaked blend of the Boris, one of my favorite Tatuaje inventions to date. It is unclear if this will be an ongoing project or not at this point.

The blend features an Ecuadorian Sumatran wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers while the Karloff is offered in a single 6 5/8 x 49 size. Foregoing the traditional dress boxes the original monster series came in, the Karloff are all packaged in boxes of 13 running $13 per stick with only 4,000 boxes being produced. I got mine over from our great friends at Fox Cigar Bar.

• Size: 6 5/8 x 49
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Body: Full
• Strength: Medium/Full
• Price: $13
• Pairing: Prairie Artisan Ales Snickerdoodle Vanilla Noir (Imperial Stout 14.4% ABV)

Prelight:

The Tatuaje Karloff starts out with a very, very dark brown wrapper. The wrapper is pretty consistent color with only a few lighter, orangish areas scattered throughout. The wrapper’s texture is very dense and hard with a good amount of gritty tooth and a whole mess of oils coating it. The wrapper is laid seamlessly over itself as the cigar showcases a good amount of soft veining and webbing leading up to the cigar’s round, double-wrapper cap. The Karloff is then polished off with the simple, elegant white and back Tatuaje band a design similar to that of the Boris.

The wrapper on the Karloff gives off a great oak and rich chocolate aroma while the foot is much of the same with a small amount of spice and natural tobacco making its way through the covered foot. The cold draw produces a whole mess of dark chocolate over oak, and natural tobacco flavors as well matching up pretty when with the raw aromas.

First Third:

The Tatuaje Karloff starts with a good amount of black pepper which really hangs around for a while leaving my tongue and lips tingling. Once the pepper fades I am left with a heap of dark chocolate and coffee notes over pecan, cinnamon, plum, and musk. This cigar starts out with a bang. The draw is beautiful as every little puff kicks out a huge cloud of thick, gray smoke while the cigar releases a good amount of stationary smoke while it rests in my ashtray. The burnline is a bit wide, and slightly wavy, but nothing too concerning and I am sure the breezy weather has a lot to do with that. The ash left behind is dark gray and black and very tightly compacted as it drops in my ashtray at around the 1 inch mark.

Second Third:

Into the second third of the Tatuaje Karloff and the cigar is really pumping out a ton of flavor. The dark chocolate and coffee still lead the way backed by a good amount of sweetness, pecan, and cinnamon over light musk and a great dark berry/plum mixture. The retrohale brings back a lot of the pepper that has been completely taken out of the mix after the first few draws so I don’t really find myself going back to it very often. The cigar is still burning like a champ and I close out the second third with only a very minor nicotine hit.

Finish:

Into the final third of the Tatuaje Karloff and the flavors are still kicking it off. Chocolate and coffee are still the dominant ones backed by musk, pecan, sweetness, and cinnamon over light dark berry and plum. The flavors really haven’t changed up a whole lot since the start, and that’s ok cause I am loving them just the way they are. It took me two hours to take this cigar down the nub, and I never wanted it to end. There was no harshness, nor extended heat and the cigar only left me with a very minor nicotine kick.

Overview:

The Boris was one of my absolute favorite Tatuaje cigars released to date. While the memory is distant, reviewing my notes and what still exists up in my brain this cigar feels very similar, only with a bit more body to it. Taking the Boris out of the equation, the Karloff is an incredible experience. The flavors are incredible, well balanced, and just complex enough to keep me on my toes. On the subjective side those flavors really appeased my personal palate, especially the sweetness the cigar offered. The experience was perfect with not snags at all, and the price is well worth it. The only gripe, as you’d guess it, is the availability. That just means I gotta throw in a little more effort to pick up more of these before they are gone.

Pairing:

I wanted to go with something pretty sweet on this pairing to match up with the holiday, as well as a lot of the sweetness packed into the Karloff. My poison, Prairie Artisan Ales Snickerdoodle Vanilla Noir. Coming in at 14.4% this offering is a spin off of one of my favor Prairie beers, the Vanilla Noir. Aged in bourbon barrels this imperial stout is brewed with Snickerdoodle Chia cookies and vanilla. The beer leads with heavy amounts of vanilla, malt, milk chocolate, coconut, and just the right amount of sweet cinnamon. The mouthfeel is extremely heavy and stick before finishing with more vanilla and cinnamon over chocolate, toffee, and light plum. It easy to see why I paired this cigar with the Karloff as it shares so many of the same flavors. While the beer’s sweetness may overpower many cigar, the Karloff carries enough sweetness to hold it’s own with out muddying up the flavors.

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The Good Stuff:

It’s everyone’s favorite Halloween cigar time! Every year Pete Johnson of Tatuaje releases a new Monster cigar which celebrates… well… monsters. Monsters from the past, and from iconic movies:

• 2008 – The Frank
• 2009 – The Drac
• 2010 – The Face
• 2011 – The Wolfman
• 2012 – The Mummy
• 2013 – The JV13
• 2014 – The Jekyll
• 2015 – The Hyde
• 2016 – Krueger
• 2017 – The Michael
• 2018 – The Bride
• 2019 – Chuck and Tiff

Last week I took a look at the Tiff, while this week I take a run at Tiff’s love, the Chuck. Just like the Tiff, the Chuck is rolled at the My Father Cigars S.A. factory in Nicaragua. The blend differs from the Tiff by featuring an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, but features a Nicaraguan binder and fillers. As with most of the Tatuaje Monster Series cigars there are two packaging options, a 13 count dress box which was limited to only 700 boxes, or a 10 count standard box which was limited to 2,190 boxes. Each option goes for $13 a stick. I purchased mine over from our friends at Neptune Cigars.

• Size: 5 7/8 x 52
• Wrapper: Ecuadoria Habano
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Body: Medium/Full
• Strength: Medium/Full
• Price: $13
• Pairing: Founders KBS Espresso (Imperial Stout 12% ABV)

Prelight:

The Tatuaje Chuck starts out with a beautifully consistent, dark brown wrapper that resembles a Hershey’s bar. The wrapper features a copious amount of oils and some very minor veining and webbing leading up to the cigar’s round, double-wrapped cap. The wrapper itself feels very dense and hard while the cigar as a whole is very heavy and tightly packed with no soft spots whatsoever. The cigar is polished off with the standard, beautiful Tatuaje band in blue and white with the words “Halloween” and “Monster” printed in red on the sides.

The wrapper on the Tatuaje Chuck gives off soft oak and chocolate aromas while the foot of the cigar carries a bit of pepper, spice, and dirt. The cap cup clean and easily using my Xikar XO double bladed cutter. The cold draw on the Tatuaje Chuck produces bold oak and spice flavors with underlying earthy notes.

First Third:

The Tatauje Chuck starts out with a tiny little bit of black pepper which only last the first puff or two before releasing a ton of bold oak, dark chocolate, coffee, spice, and musk. The draw is perfect as each little puff kicks out massive clouds of thick, gray smoke which hangs out for a very long amount of time before dissipating while the cigar gives off only very minor stationary smoke as it rests in my ashtray. The burn line is razor thin and dead even leaving what I thought was a trail of tightly compacted white ash until it fell in my lap about a quart of an inch in, so excuse the following picture.

Second Third:

Into the second third of the Tatuaje Chuck and the dark chocolate flavor is now dominating the flavor field backed by notes of coffee, musk, and oak. The retrohale really helps bring the oak out making the chocolate/oak combination incredible.

Finish:

Into the final third of the Tatuaje Chuck and the flavors mimic what I picked up in the second. The cigar still leans heavily on dark chocolate with backing notes of coffee, spice, musk and oak. It took me almost two hours to smoke this cigar down to the nub and I experienced no harshness nor extended heat. The cigar did tend to produce some sap which just reminded me to pace myself and not to smoke too quickly. Slowing down minimized the impact. I close out the cigar with only a very light nicotine kick.

Overview:

The Tatuaje Chuck isn’t the most complex cigar, nor did it need to be for me to enjoy it. The chocolate-led flavor profile was great and really hit the spot for me. The construction was flawless, and the price is average to what I’d expect to pay for this experience. While I did enjoy this stick, its not something that would find its way into my regular rotation but something I do see myself coming back to from time to time.

Pairing:

By now, everyone should be well aquatinted with Fonder’s Pride and Joy, KBS. KBS is a 12% imperial stout brewed with chocolate and coffee and aged in bourbon barrels. New to the line, the espresso version is the same beer which then ages on espresso beans after its pulled from the barrels. The Espresso KBS leads with what tastes more like a mild, smooth, roast cold brewed coffee flavors than espresso, chocolate, and malt with a heavy mouthfeel before finishing with more light coffee and chocolate. Like the cigar, its not the most complex beer, and you can’t even taste the bourbon barrel anymore, but it makes for a hell of a pairing with cigars like the Chuck that have chocolate and coffee notes in their experience.

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