I first became aware of this cigar when I heard about it over at Tiki Bar Online. I was instantly intrigued when I read that it had a binder and wrapper from Peru. You see, Peruvian tobacco is among my favorite. While it is impossible to describe the notes one gets from Peruvian tobacco this cigar is a perfect example of the flavor that comes from this type of tobacco.

The La Libertad is available in 3 sizes; short perfecto (5.25 x 54), Churchill (6.5 x 50) and the cigar for today, Robusto (5 x 50).

Cigar: La Libertad
Size: 5 x 50 (Robusto)
Wrapper: Peru (Habano Seed)
Binder: Peru (Nicaraguan Seed)
Filler: Dominican & Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
Cigars Smoked For Review: 2

Appearance and Construction: The wrapper of the La Liberatad isn’t the most pretty of specimens. It looks dry and feels dry, but it is durable. The roll of the cigar isn’t as clean as I would like to see on a premium cigars, but the cap is well places and is slightly flat like a Cuban. In the hand there is a nice hefty weight to this smoke and it is firm with no soft spots. The band utilized red, black and gold and states the brand, La Libertand which translates to Freedom. It could also be a reference to the Peru Movimiento Libertad which is a political party that was formed to battle the high inflation.

Flavor & Notes: The pre-light nose of the cigar might not please everyone, but the barnyard like notes and the hint of moss and dew are classic aromas of Peruvian tobacco. Once the cap is clipped the cold draw has more dew, moss and dry grass like notes. When the cigar was lit there some spice notes and a well defined pepper through the nose. The first third develops some wood, earth and a classic Peruvian taste. I wish I could describe it better, but it is a note that is specific to the tobacco. As we move into the 2nd third the Peruvian notes really took hold and I was a happy smoker. In the background there were some subtle caramel notes and a hint of nuts. The final third the Peruvian notes begin to fade and the cigar has a nice toasty taste to it with a touch of leather.

Smoking Characteristics: I mention in my last review how important aroma can be in a cigar, and this is no exception. The La Libertad smells incredible, I loved how it filled the room. The burn of the cigar was a bit off, but i never needed to touch it up and in the final inch of the smoke it was pretty perfect. The ash was firm and solid lasting for the first half of the cigar before becoming flaky and weak.

Conclusion: The flavor profile of this cigar is right in my wheelhouse, and it is a cigar I could smoke again and again especially considering the price. However, the cigar is most likely not for everyone. If you were ever curious about my passion for Peruvian tobacco though, check out this cigar.

Rating: 88
Price: $5.50

The cigar is made in the Dominican Republic for Crowned Heads under the watchful eye of EPC Cigars at Tabacalera LaAlianza. Ernesto Perez Carrillo has seen a lot of success, fast since he began he own label after a similar buyout but the Scandinavian Tobacco Group. One can say this was a match made in heaven as both have a similar past.

The cigar is available in four sizes, Corona Gorda (5 5/8” x 46); Robusto (5” x 50); Sublime (6” x 54); and Piramide (6 1/8” x 52). The suggested retail before local taxes is $6.95 to $8.65 per cigar.

Cigar: Four Kicks
Size: 5 x 50
Wrapper: Habano Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium-Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

Four Kicks by Crowned Heads

Appearance and Construction: The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper on the Four Kicks feels a bit coarse with a few veins present although none of them stand out too much. There are some oils present and the roll of the cigar is perfect right down to the cap. The foot is well packed, with a nice dark tobacco bunching which is dead center. There is a nice weight to the stick with no soft spots. The band uses red and gold and it reminds me a lot of the Saint Luis Rey band is tapered on one end which makes it real easy to remove when the time comes.

Four Kicks Foot

Flavor & Notes: Once I clipped the cigar I took a cold draw from the Four Kicks by Crowned Heads and was treated to notes of earth and nuts. The foot of the cigar had a wonderful sweet molasses to the nose. A classic pre-light experience if you ask me. Once the cigar was lit, there was some subtle spices, citrus bordering on lemon extract, and a wonderful sweetness. As we progressed into the first third there was a nice citrus note that was dominant for the first inch or so before submitting to notes of wood, and molasses.  As I smoked the second third of the cigar I noticed the pepper slightly more than in the first third especially through the nose. The wood notes became the focal point with a sweet finish that continued to remind me of molasses. The last third of the cigar gets a bit heavier in body and turns it up a notch in strength. The wood notes become a well defined oak, some leather notes come into the mix but the finish of the cigar holds on to the sweetness that was the dominant note throughout the cigar.

Four Kicks First 3rd

Smoking Characteristics: Does it get any better than the construction of cigars coming out of Tabacalera LaAlianza? The cigar had a perfect draw with a slight resistance the way it should be. The cigar also had a perfect burn. This doesn’t mean it was always razor-sharp but it always self corrected when it got slightly off-center. The solid ash was light in color and held for half the cigar. The aroma of the smoke complimented the notes which helped make this an easy cigar to dissect. .

Four Kicks Second 3rd

Conclusion: One can’t help but compare cigars. It is human nature, to see how they compare to another. I happily state this cigar stands on its own. There is no hint of CAO and there is no hint of EPC. The cigar has it’s own identity and that is of a cigar that is simply incredible. It easily falls into my top 5 of the year and I will smoke it again when it is time to figure out Cigar of the Year. The cigar which is limited to 30,000 in the first release is only available at 66 retailers, and that makes tracking them down a bit difficult. I managed to get mine from Buckhead Cigars. The effort is worthwhile, because this cigar definitely lives up to the hype.

Four Kicks Last 3rd

Rating: 95
Price: $7.50 (Approximate)

Leave a comment below to win a baseball cap of the Crowned Heads logo. Deadline to enter is 1 pm Eastern Time Thanksgiving Day. Winner to be announced on Black Friday.

The MJ 12 shows the mind of Dion at work. A believer of some conspiracy theories the MJ 12 was named after the Majestic 12. The scientists that allegedly were assigned to the Roswell incident in 1947 by President Harry S. Truman. The original MJ 12 release was wrapped in silver foil to acknowledge the alleged cover up by the  US Government. This time around, the MJ 12 Maduro is wrapped in black foil.

Cigar: Illusione MJ-12 Maduro
Size: 6 x 54 (MJ-12)
Wrapper: San Andreas Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

Illusione MJ12

Appearance and Construction: Looking at the illusione MJ 12 maduro the shade of the cigar isn’t tremendously darker then the original document. I know it’s not fair to compare one brand to another, but I liken it to the Padron Anniversary, which at times the difference between natural and maduro is minimal at best. The wrapper on the MJ 12 Maduro has a splotchy look to it with varying shades. There is a fair amount of oils present the maduro from San Adreas that has a slightly rough feel and a few ultra thin veins. The cigar is rolled to perfection with no soft spots and a perfect triple cap. The band of the cigar is crimson, gold and black instead of the original white and black.

Illusione MJ12 Foot

Flavor & Notes: Once the cap is clipped the pre-light draw, or the cold draw if you will, serves up a sweetness with some anise. The foot of the cigar has a compost like nose. Once the cigar is lit there is a sweetness that instantly gives this cigar a classic maduro feel. As we smoke our way into the first third of the cigar the sweetness becomes fruity with some subtle spices and licorice. The second third of the cigar the spice develops into a subtle cinnamon, while the licorice remains and is joined by coffee. The combination reminds me of an espresso with a touch of sambuca/anisette. As we enter the last third of the cigar a rich chocolate begins to develop which compliments the previous notes extremely well. The cigar has a nice long finish of coffee with a subtle sweetness that is mouth watering.

Illusione MJ12 First Third

Smoking Characteristics: The draw of the MJ 12 Maduro from Illusione was as perfect as they come. The cigar had a nice amount of smoke and never went out on me. The burn line was slightly jagged from time to time, but never got out of hand. The carbon line was thin and crisp and the aroma of the cigar was delightful. The ash had a salt and pepper like appearance and held on for half the cigar at a time.

Illusione MJ12 Second Third

Conclusion: When I first smoked this cigar at Tobacco Plaza on Long Island, I was unsure if I liked it. It grew on me though, and I think my unsure feelings is the fault of some in the cigar industry as a whole. When I first started cigar smoking this is what a maduro was supposed to be. However, lately we have gotten away from the traditional maduro cigar. It seems that many are trying to make a cigar stronger then the other manufacturer and as a result the flavor is disappearing. To quote Dion Giolito, “Never sacrifice flavor for strength.” And that my friends is an important statement.

Illusione MJ12 Last 3rd

Rating: 90
Price: $9.60

According to Atlantic Cigar, “Oliva Serie V Maduro Especial is a limited edition cigar released yearly and truly a treat with only 30,000 cigars produced with a different size created each year. This complex blend of Nicaraguan long filler tobaccos with a specially fermented Jalapa Valley ligero held together by a Nicaraguan binder. The cigar is then finished with high priming San Andres maduro wrapper grown in the fertile San Andres valley in Mexico. Packaged in boxes of 10 Toro (6 x 50) cigars these limited production cigars will not last long so grab a box before they are gone for good.”

Cigar: Oliva V Maduro
Size: 6 x 50 (Toro)
Wrapper: San Andreas Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium-Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 4

Oliva V Maduro 2011

Appearance and Construction: When I got an email from one of my shops that they got the 2011 V Maduro in I just shrugged my shoulders. When I made it into the shop and saw it wasn’t a torpedo I picked up a box and a few singles. The draw issues that plagued the last few years as a torpedo did not follow through in the toro. The V Maduro features an oily San Andres Maduro that is flawless. The cigar is rolled to perfection with a nice weight to it, and no soft spots. The band is your typical Oliva V, however, to the left of the logo on the side is the word maduro.

Oliva V Maduro 2011 Foot

Flavor & Notes: The cold draw of the cigar is earthy with a slight saltiness and chocolate while the foot serves up some earth to the nose.  Once the cigar is lit there is  aburst of leather notes that slowly fade revealing a sweetness. As we progress past that first 1/2″ the first third develops into a complex smoke. The leather notes are gone and have been replaced by earth which is joined by dark chocolate (slightly bitter), and strong espresso. As I breach the second third of the cigar, the coffee notes are dominant that they almost overwhelm what else the cigar has to offer. The dark chocolate notes are a bit more refined and less bitter, while some spice picks up especially through the nose which caused my eyes to water. The last third of the cigar becomes nutty with the occasional floral note gone is the spice and chocolate. There is some earth and espresso on the short finish.

Oliva V Maduro 2011 First 3rd

Smoking Characteristics: After a couple of years with difficult draws the issue has been resolved and kudos to Oliva for getting away from the torpedo/belicoso format. The cigar has a nice burn to it and a solid ash that was medium gray in color that holds for a third of the cigar at a time.

Oliva V Maduro 2011 Second 3rd

Conclusion: With 2008 a distant memory, and the disappointment of the earlier years, the 2011 really stands outs. Complex and enjoyable the Oliva V Maduro delivers and brings a renewed interest in the limited edition annual release. Definitely worthy of a box purchase or two. One to smoke now, and one to sit on and age.

Oliva V Maduro 2011 Last 3rd

Rating: 92
Price: $9.00 / $81.00 a box of 10 @ Atlanic Cigars

The result is a cigar can basically be called the half-brother to the Liga Privada line. Will the cigar become the black sheep of the family or will it be widely accepted. That is the question that can only be answered over time. But here is my opinion none the less.

The Undercrown is available in 5 sizes, Robusto 5 x 50 ($7.45 MSRP); Gran Toro 6 x 52 ($7.95 MSRP); Belicoso 6 x 52 ($8.45 MSRP); Corona Doble 7 x 54 ($8.95 MSRP) and Gordito 6 x 60 ($9.95 MSRP).

Cigar: Undercrown
Size: 5 x 50 (Robusto)
Wrapper: San Andreas Otapan Negro Último Corte
Binder: T52 Connecticut River Valley Stalk Cut & Cured Habano
Filler: Select Brazilian Mata Fina and Nicaraguan Cuban Seed
Strength: Medium-Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 5

Undercrown

Appearance and Construction: The wrapper from Mexico called “Otapan” is the name of the tobacco field on which it is grown and “Último Corte” translates to “last cut”; which refers to the harvesting was intentionally delayed by 4+ weeks to allow for additional field and sun time resulting in a higher natural sugar content and a richer, creamier flavor. The result is a dark maduro with minimal veins and an abundance of oils. In the hand the cigar has a nice weight to it, with no soft spots and it feels like velvet under the fingers. The band is blue and gold with the Liga logo with a crown underneath it.

Undercrown Foot

Flavor & Notes: The foot of the of Undercrown serves up some spices to the nose and is slightly floral. The cold draw of the cigar reminds me of paprika and earth. Once the cigar is lit a nice sugar like sweetness that compliments notes of coffee and cedar. As we move into the first third the sweetness remains in the background while the notes of coffee and cedar are joined by the occasional leather. As the cigar moves into the second third the cedar begins to dominate and the sweetness becomes a bit more cocoa like with coffee on the finish. The last third picks up some nuts, of the roasted variety and the coffer remains. The sweetness is gone, and is replaced with the first presence of a slight spice with a leathery finish.

Undercrown First 3rd

Smoking Characteristics: The amount of smoke that comes off this cigar is incredible or insane. Take your pick. A lot of times when I write a review I will smoke the cigar and compare it with the notes of cigars I smoked earlier. With the stick resting between my lips I had to put it down because I couldn’t see past the smoke coming from the cigar. The burn of the cigar is fairly crisp with a nice firm almost white colored ash. The aroma of the cigar is a bit funky at times as it reminds me of the wick from a candle after it has been blow out. Despite the massive smoke production the cigar burns slow and cool.

Undercrown Second 3rd

Conclusion: The Undercrown has some similarities to the Liga Privada, but it is definitely more like a distant cousin then a half-brother. The cigar lacks the strength, and power of the No. 9 and the smooth taste of the T-52. Does this mean it is a bad cigar, hell no. You just can’t go into it expecting the aforementioned cigars. It is more mild, and lacks the spice. It does however have a nice complexity although it is a tad rough around the edges. I will be buying a box of these to keep on hand.

Undercrown Last 3rd

Rating: 90
Price: $7.45 / $167.95 a Box @ Bonita Smoke Shop

Cigar: Thunder by Nimish
Size: 6 x 52
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaragua, Honduras (Dual Binder)
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica
Strength: Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 2

Thunder by Nimish

Appearance and Construction: The Thunder by Nimish features a beautiful looking chocolate in color wrapper of Habano variety from Ecuador. The amount of oils visible on the wrapper is incredible. There is some tooth and a few veins, but under the fingers there is a silk like smoothness to the touch. The cigar which is tripled capped has a nice hefty weight to it and no imperfections in the roll. The band, is a bit oversized and something about the logo that screams high school sports jersey/team. A secondary band denotes this cigar is by Nimish.

Thunder Foot

Flavor & Notes: The foot of the cigar has a sweetness about it, and the draw of the cigar is like much of what is produced in the mail order business for Rocky. I’m not really sure how to explain it other than it comes off as slightly medicinal. Normally I am in love with the pre-light ritual, but when it comes to cigars from Rocky Patel I just can’t wait to light, and I don’t necessarily mean that in a good way. Thankfully, when you light a cigar from the Rocky Patel family the pre-light is no longer present. As I smoke into the first third of the Thunder the notes are pepper, that slowly fades into a more generic spice and some leather. There is a slightly peat like finish that makes me wonder how this cigar would pair with Laphroaig. In the second third the peat notes remain in the finish, but the primary notes of the cigar are cinnamon, chocolate and some mild coffee notes. As we enter the last third the leather notes return, and take center stage. The cigar has  slight sweet finish with coffee notes as well.

Thunder First Third

Smoking Characteristics: The Thunder by Nimish burns well, and self corrects every time things got slightly askew. The amount of cigars that burn slightly off-center lately have made me wonder if my humidors are too packed. The ash of the Thunder is strong, holding for half the cigar. The draw was slight north of perfect and the aroma was a bit sweet. The cigar produced a lot of smoke so be sure to be well ventilated.

Thunder Second Third

Conclusion: The pre-release samples I got I liked a bit more, but that doesn’t mean these were different. Despite the poor pre-light notes this turned into a flavorful cigar with a nice complexity. I hope Rocky allows Nimish to have another go at making a cigar because this one is worthy of smoking again.

Thunder Last 3rd

Rating: 89
Price: $5.75 MSRP / Check Atlantic Cigar for Deals on this smoke…

I recently drove to Philadelphia with some friends, and hung out with Pete at Holt’s on Walnut before heading to the Oyster Bar for dinner. Over the course of the day we discussed his music career, future releases, and IPCPR. When I arrived there were only 4 non-dress boxes left, and within 5 minutes those were gone.

Cigar: Tatuaje Wolfman (Monster Series #4)
Size: 7.5 x 52 (Box Pressed Torpedo)
Wrapper: Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium-Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 4

Tatuaje Wolfman

Appearance and Construction: Coming in at 7.5 inches the Tatuaje Wolfman has more of an “A” feel to it and not the torpedo it is. The foot of the cigar has a clean-looking shaggy foot to it, which should light easy. The wrapper is gritty and coarse under the fingers with some thin veins present. Like earlier “Monster” releases, the stick has a nice scary look to it. The box pressed cigar (oh how I love a box pressed cigar!) has an average weight to it, and an ugly red on tan band.

Tatuaje Wolfman Foot

Flavor & Notes: There is an amazing amount of cocoa like notes coming off the wrapper that one doesn’t have to work on getting. Even sitting on my desk in front of me as I write this I can catch the wonderful aroma. The foot of the cigar is meaty to the nose, and once we clip the cap the draw reminds me a bit of marshmallows and cedar. When you light the cigar, the notes are different until you get to the wrapper. This shows just how important a wrapper is. Once the wrapper is breached there is a sweetness present with some wonderfully rich notes of cocoa and cedar that join the spice of the foot. As we smoke the first third the spice slowly fades and the sweetness intensifies. In the second third of the cigar the wood notes really take control of the stick with a sweetness in the background that reminds one of chocolate. The wood notes stay on the finish but are heavier than cedar bordering on pine or maple. The last third of the cigar picks up some coffee notes, that compliment the remaining notes chocolate and wood, which a slightly dry earth like finish.

Tatuaje Wolfman First 3rd

Smoking Characteristics: The draw of the Tatuaje Wolfman is slightly loose, and as a result smokes a little fast. This has been the case on all the samples I have smoked even with a small clip of the tip. The ash of the cigar is marble like with a mix of dark and light color ash. It is also fairly weak as I lost the ash about every inch or so in my lap. The cigar burns slightly jagged, but never once showed signs of getting out of hand. The aroma was both sweet and woody.

Tatuaje Wolfman Second 3rd

Conclusion: While none of the Monster series have disappointed, some stand out more than others. For me the Frank remains the best in the series while the Wolfman is a close 2nd. The profile of the cigar is right in my wheelhouse and that makes this a cigar that was worth the effort in tracking down.

Tatuaje Wolfman Last 3rd

Rating: 92
Price: $15.00

Each year EP Carrillo release a cigar in one size but in a different blend each year and this year is the fullest body of the 3 Limited Edition cigars released to date. This years release is limited to 2,000 boxes all of which were pre-sold at IPCPR. Ernesto Perez Carrillo was the original creator of La Gloria Cubana and now runs his own company based in Miami and are an advertiser on this site. The above reviews were written before that, and todays review is based on a couple of cigars I picked up at Cigar Inn in New York City.

Cigar: EP Carrillo Edicion Limitada 2011
Size: 6.5 x 56
Wrapper: Oscuro Maduro
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

EP Carrillo Edicion Limitada 2011

Appearance and Construction: This hefty looking Oscuro Maduro wrapper has a brindl like effect to it with varying shades of darkness. The wrapper is nice and thick with no veins present and the cigar is well rolled. There is some tooth to the smoke with a few soft spots present under the fingers. The cigar has the classic EP Carrillo bands with a secondary tan one denoting that the smoke is the edition limitada 2011.

EP Carrillo Edicion Limitada 2011 Foot

Flavor & Notes: I kicked back in Cigar Inn to smoke this cigar for review in one of the chairs at the front of the store. The door was open and a cool breeze worked its way through the store. Outside the hustle and bustle of the city carried on as a drizzle fell. Inside the store, I was lost in my cigar and was able to escape from the stress of the day. The foot of the cigar offered up some raisins and molasses to the nose while the cold draw reminded me of rye toast and a touch of figs. I toasted the foot of my cigar with a Xikar soft flame light and was treated to first notes of bitter chocolate and apricot. As I worked my way through the first third the apricot notes really began to shine while some espresso lingered in the background. In the second third of the smoke the fruit like notes began to fade as the notes of espresso began to take control of the cigar with a nice dark chocolate on the finish. The last third of the smoke continued with its warm dark chocolate notes and a nutty coffee on the finish making this the perfect cigar for after dinner.

EP Carrillo Edicion Limitada 2011 First Third

Smoking Characteristics: The EP Carrillo Ediction Limitada has a dark firm ash dark firm ash that held on well. The thick wrapper burns a little jagged and won’t win any beauty contests but it will hold up well in the winter if smoking in the elements. The cigar had a firm draw and produced massive amounts of smokes. A person sitting to my right commented a couple of times on how great the aroma was off the cigar.

EP Carrillo Edicion Limitada 2011 Second Third

Conclusion: Ernesto Perez Carrillo keeps hitting them out of the park. while the 2011 will get better with age it falls just short of the 2010 Edicion Limitada today, in 6 months it’ll be a different story. The reason for this is the cigar isn’t as smooth as I would personally like and is a bit rough around the edges. This will correct itself when the tobacco has a chance to marry itself during aging.

EP Carrillo Edicion Limitada 2011 Last Third

Rating: 91
Price: $15.00

The latest release from La Gloria Cubana, The Artesanos Retro Especiale. According to the press release,

Team La Gloria set out to break the mold with the blend by cross-breeding a Connecticut seed, which was then cultivated in Honduras. The maiden crop yielded a hearty, golden wrapper as noteworthy for its color as it is for allowing each of the cigar’s components to enjoy equal bearing on the overall taste of the cigar.

Despite the golden appearance of the wrapper, the blend is brash in its full flavor and engages the entire palate. The double binder of bold Nicaraguan and Mexican leaf is further enhanced not only by Nicaraguan and Dominican ligero but also through an additional peppering of proprietary Nicaraguan and Dominican leaf.

Each of the four frontmarks is uniquely packaged in a 25-count box with a different design and bears a classic name that hearkens back to the early days of La Gloria Cubana. Taino (7” x 52) will be available for a suggested retail price of $7.50 per cigar, or $187.50 per box. Habanero (6” x 52) will sell for an SRP of $7.25 per cigar, or $181.25 per box. Cubano (6 1/2” x 58) will carry an SRP of $8.15 per cigar, or $203.75 per box and Club (5 ¾” x 47) will sell for $7.00 apiece, or $175.00 per box.

Cigar: La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale
Size: 5.75 x 47 (Club)
Wrapper: Honduras (Connecticut Seed)
Binder: Nicaragua & Mexico (Double Binder)
Filler: Nicaragua & Dominican
Strength: Medium
Cigars Smoked For Review: 4

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale

Appearance and Construction: As this review goes live, I am in the Dominican Republic with some other social media types as the guest of General Cigar Company. At first look the wrapper on the cigar does not look like a typical La Gloria Cubana, in fact it looks like it was grown for use on the Camacho Connecticut. There are some veins present on the thin wrapper that feels somewhat coarse under the fingers. The foot is loosely packed, but is otherwise well rolled. The band of the cigar has been changed to focus on Lady La Gloria.

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale Foot

Flavor & Notes: The foot of the cigar serves up a buttery richness and the draw of the cigar offers up notes of grass, and hay with a slight sweetness in the background. When I clipped the cigar I had to go a little deeper than normal due to the double binder, but that is neither here nor there. As I smoked the first inch of the cigar there was a slight spice mixed with earth and a very faint butterscotch note. As I smoke through the first third there are notes of nuts, a faint mocha, and some buttery richness. The second third is full of wood notes, earth, and some buttery richness that begins to fade away. The last third of the cigar becomes more complex and even more tasty with notes of figs, wood, nuts and earth.

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale First Third

Smoking Characteristics: The first third of my review stick, and the one prior to it had burn issues in the first third. I suspect this had a lot to do with the loosely packed foot. The cigar corrected itself and burned well, with a pleasant aroma. The cigar had a loose ash with some flake. The draw was loose through the first third before becoming ideal.

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale Second Third

Conclusion: I often wonder why some companies put a cigar out under the moniker of an existing brand. This is one of those cigars. The profile of the cigar is nothing like others in the portfolio and this will most likely prevent others from trying a cigar they normally wouldn’t have. I believe that fans of La Gloria Cubana won’t embrace this cigar, and those who shy away from La Gloria will most likely not try it. The result might just be a good cigar that will get lost in brand loyalty and recognition. As far as the cigar itself, it was enjoyable but not what I expected from La Gloria. if you treat this as a cigar without the LGC label, it can easily score 1-2 points higher.

La Gloria Cubana Artesanos Retro Especiale Last Third

Rating: 88
Price: $7.00

According to UpDown Cigar (one of the retailers selling this smoke),

The first exclusive Tatuaje cigar for the Tobacconist’s Association of America, Pete Johnson only made 1,500 boxes total for only a handful of cigar stores. A beautiful U.S.A. grown Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is left with a shaggy foot and wrapped over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. Boxed pressed at 5 5/8″ by 54, the flavor has plenty of typical Tatuaje spice but is complimented by a rich sweetness from the wrapper. They smoke great now, and will age beautifully.

Here is our take on the latest from Pete Johnson…

Cigar: TAA 2011 Exclusive by Tatuaje
Size: 5 5/8 x 54
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 2

Tatauje TAA 2011

Appearance and Construction: The TAA Exclusive Tatuajue is a box pressed and is very square. The cigar has one medium-sized vein and the roll is a bit porous on the sample I am using to write my review. On the first cigar I smoked I only jotted down the notes of the smoke, so I can’t compare it to others. The foot of the cigar is closed, and under the fingers there cigar is smooth almost having a vinyl like feel to it. There are a few soft spots on the top side of the smoke, but the cigar does have a nice weight to it. The band off the cigar has the TAA logo and like other exclusive Series Tatuaje cigars, the band reminds me of the belt from the movie Rocky.

Tatauje TAA 2011 Foot

Flavor & Notes: The cigar has a wonderfully sweet nose to it that borders on milk chocolate with a dose of earth thrown in. Once the cap is clipped the cold draw serves up some more sweetness with a bit of leather in the mix. Once the cigar is lit a nice spice quickly develops with an underlying sweetness and cedar. Working into the first third of the smoke the spice remains and is the focal point, but there is also a nice coffee note and some leather especially on the finish. As we enter the second third, a sweetness begins to take over of the Tatuaje TAA 2011 on the draw, but the finish remains leathery. The last third of the cigar the spice and strength kicked it up a notch with a nice woody finish.

Tatauje TAA 2011 First Third

Smoking Characteristics: The Tatuaje TAA 2011 Exclusive burned pretty fast for me lasting just over an hour, and I am generally a slow smoker. The draw of the cigar was a bit on the loose side with a straight cut, so I would suggest going with a punch cut if you smoke one of these. The ash of the cigar was a medium gray and held on for a bit less than a quarter of the stick before falling off into my lap. The aroma of the cigar was a bit woody and it was a major league smoke producer.

Tatauje TAA 2011 Second Third

Conclusion: When I smoked this cigar I couldn’t get over how much this reminded me of the Barclay Rex 100th Anniversary stick. Pete has stated this cigar is a take on that cigar and the Pork Tenderloin. To me it reminds me of the Barclay with some extra ligero in the mix. The cigar is rich and powerful with the nicotine catching up on me in the last third. The cigars aren’t too difficult to track down and if you like the full-bodied this on is for you.

Tatauje TAA 2011 Last Third

Rating: 90
Price: $11.00