Origin : Cuba Format : Double Corona (Prominente) Size : 194 x 19.45 mm Ring : 49 Weight : 17.86 g Hand-Made Price : ~$17/piece
No doubt this smoke is one of the best “goods” Cuban manufacturers have ever done. Its draw and combustion can be defined as perfect for its uniformity, and its taste half way between medium and strong is balanced in great harmony with subtle sweet, woody and earthy notes.
Origin : Cuba Factory Name : Petit Corona Size : 129 x 15.87 mm Ring : 40 Weight : 7.52 g Machine-Made Price : ~$5/piece
Partagas Aristocrats belong to the Petit Cedros format (gauge 40, lenght 129mm). Their wraper is sometimes quite rough and the amount of tobacco is not always the same, that meaning some changes in the draw, which is sometimes too easy.
Origin : Cuba Format : Churchill/Julieta Size : 178 x 18.65 mm Ring : 47 Weight : 15.07 g Hand-Made Price : ~$17/piece
One of my favorite Churchills. Strong yet smooth, with a multitude of flavours, great to smoke on a hot summer evening. Bolivar Coronas Gigantes pairs nicely with a pint of cold water.
Origin : USA Format : Churchill Size : 7.0″ x 47 Wrapper : Nicaraguan Filler : Nicaraguan Binder : Nicaraguan Hand-Made Price : $11 each
Tatuaje has become my favorite marca hands down and this cigar only reinforced that opinion. Tatuaje Reserva SW is a big stick with an oily, leathery, brown wrapper. There were small veins throughout and it was a little bumpy giving it a slightly rustic look. It had an expertly applied triple cap that clipped perfectly. It was well filled with no sign of any rib veins in the filler at the head or foot. The pre-light draw was firm with just the right amount of resistance. Very peppery at the start, it mellowed quickly to a nice woody core and vanilla notes with a nice earthy finish. I’d describe it as medium to full bodied, not as robust as the Regio or Noella. Half way through the vanilla disappeared and it got buttery/creamy with cocoa notes. The last third was the smoothest dominated by wood and leather. A fantastic and complex smoke from start to finish. If it wasn’t for the price I could smoke this every day.