Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Robusto
Size : 5 x 50
Wrapper : : Nicaraguan Sun Grown Criollo
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ? (given away at events)
More info about purchasing Tatuaje Black Label cigars...

Since Pete Johnson has released the Tatuaje Black Label Petit Lancero as a full production, it was only appropriate to revisit some of the older releases of the famed Black Label line. Of course most aficionados know of the notorious corona gorda jar release which was the first release of one of the most expected releases in most recent history. Of course the corona gordas were good, so are the petite lanceros, but how do some of the other vitolas stack up to their highly touted brethren? We shall see,…

Read the full review of Tatuaje Black Robusto (1st event pack w/ closed foot)...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Petit Lancero
Size : 6 x 38
Wrapper : : Nicaraguan Sun Grown Criollo
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : $8.50-$10.00 each (aftermarket could be higher)
More info about purchasing Tatuaje Black Label cigars...

The black label cigars by Pete Johnson’s Tatuaje brand could be one of the most sought after and legendary cigars of the last several years. I know corona gordas from the original jar release are bringing high dollar amounts in the aftermarket, as well as any of the other 8 releases that have been put out over the last couple years. The Black Label is Pete’s personal stash blend. Some of the older black labels were wrapped with tobacco that was designated for binder purposes but tasted so good to him that he used them as wrapper.

Tobacco Grove in early spring, worked with Pete personally to bring this cigar into the store and sell it as an exclusive to the store. Immediately once the word got out, the phone lines started to get blown up at Tobacco Grove with orders piling in and they all sold very quickly within hours. But there has been word that Pete may bring the black label petit lancero out as a regular production stick. I truly hope he does, ‘cause these cigars are superb. If this news is true, then the cigar gods will shine on Pete and we will all be in agreement for his sainthood! To see how superb these smokes were just keep on readin',…

Read the full review of Tatuaje Black Label Petit Lancero...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Conde 109
Size : 7 x 50
Wrapper : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$10 each
More info about purchasing Tatuaje cigars...

Federal Cigar, at the beginning of the year celebrated its 90th anniversary by releasing an exclusive Tatuaje cigar informally called the Tatuaje 109. These were produced in two versions with different wrappers with the same base verocu blend, one with a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, and the other with a Rosado leaf wrapper. Here, I am reviewing the Rosado leaf version, and will soon also do a review of the reserva version in the Connecticut broadleaf wrapper.

Read the full review of Tatuaje 109 Federal Cigar 90th Anniversary...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Double Corona
Size : 7 5/8″ x 49
Wrapper : Sungrown Broadleaf
Filler : Nicaraguan
Binder : Nicaraguan
Hand-Made
Price : $8 each
More info about purchasing Tatuaje cigars...

I read on a discussion board somewhere that someone was saying hurry up and smoke The Frank because it has peaked and is in the decline. I thought, OK let's smoke one and see how they are doing. I still have the better half of my box left (you can read my initial review of The Frank here). I’m glad I picked the box I did because my Franks are certainly not in a decline. They are smoking wonderfully. True they have lost a bit of their oomph, and a little bit of the spice they had when they were newborns but these dark double coronas still have plenty to offer me. They still start off with a blast of pepper but perhaps not the full on punch in the palate that it once was. It also still has plenty of the “sun grown twang” that I love from sun grown broadleaf wrappers. The black pepper and spices are much more subtle now and the coffee and cocoa flavors are more prevelant and I was occasionally getting an nutty, almost almond like flavor from it from time to time.

Read the full review of Redux: Tatuaje Monster Series “The Frank”...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Petite Cazadores
Size : 4 x 40
Wrapper : Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler : Nicaraguan
Binder : Nicaraguan
Hand-Made
Price : $4 each
More info about purchasing Tatuaje cigars...

Everything I love about a Tatuaje packed into a 30 minute smoke. This little guy has classic Tatuaje flavor. Plenty of the Nicaraguan earth and toasted tobacco, great black coffee notes, and just enough black pepper for some spice. The construction is impeccable and the format is just perfect for when I want a Tatuaje but perhaps don’t have a whole hour to hour and a half to spend with one. I will be buying a cabinet of these.

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Torpedo
Size : 6 1/8 x 52
Wrapper : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$10-11 each
More info about purchasing Tatuaje Verocu cigars...

Many thanks to Austin from the 7th Street Reserve for taking these excellent pictures for my series of reviews.

Pete Johnson is the genius cigar producer behind the Tatuaje brand. Towards the end of 2009, he released a new cigar, the Tatuaje Verocu Tubo. For those of you who do not know, the Verocu is an addition to the Havana IV, with the Verocu Tubo as the fourth of the line.

Read the full review of Tatuaje Verocu Tubo...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Churchill
Size : 7 x 49
Wrapper : Ecuadorian Sumatra Rosada
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$12 each
More info about purchasing Tatuaje cigars...

Many thanks to Austin from the 7th Street Reserve for taking these excellent pictures for my series of reviews.

The man behind the Tatuaje brand, Pete Johnson, has established a yearly tradition with his cigars: on each Halloween, a new blend is released, named after a classic monster from the film industry. In 2008, the Frank was released. Last year, it was time for the Drac and the Boris to burn their way into the cigar lovers’ hearts.
Since all of these Halloween blends are limited editions and very hard to find, I managed to get my hands on a Boris only, missing the Drac. Only 1000 boxes of 10 Boris each were produced.

For this review, I smoked an aged Boris – and I have to say, it was worth the wait: aging conferred a unique flavor to the cigar, ramping up the Boris from “good”, as other have rated it, to a rather great level – in my books. Let’s get started and see in detail how this Halloween monster fares.

Read the full review of Tatuaje Boris...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Perfecto
Size : 6 x 54
Wrapper : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaraguan
Binder : Nicaraguan
Hand-Made
Price : $10+ each
More info about purchasing Tatuaje cigars...

This is one heck of popular cigar… and it’s not even released yet. The Tatuaje Anarchy is a special Limited Edition cigar that is a collaboration between Pete Johnson, Pepin Garcia and the Abe “Ming” Dababneh at Smoke Inn in the Palm Beach area. It features an all new blend and is one of the most interesting looking cigars I have seen in a long time.

The foot is slightly tapered and the cap looks like a cinnamon bun (it's a flattened pigtail that can be unraveled - see picture below). Holding it upright, it resembles a baseball bat and sports one of the coolest bands I’ve come across.

The cigar is a rusty dark brown and is firm to the touch. It seems to be exuding oils which always bodes well in the flavor department.

After light, the aroma of the smoke is very strong and makes you dizzy upon inhale. The first half inch is very spicy and peppery, reminding you this is a Pepin/Pete cigar. It immediately backs off on the spice and delivers a nice pleasant leathery, woody flavor with a hint of citrus and licorice on the finish.

There is also a dominant aura of earthiness o the palate that lingers past the halfway point.

The last half has a bit of bittersweet chocolate and leather with a hint of pepper. Very nice!

I’d like to thank the folks at Smoke Inn Cigars for the chance to try such a unique and tasty cigar!