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

He began the process with Olancho San Agustin wrapper tobacco from the proprietary 2008 crop. Ideal climatic conditions that year led to the expression of essential oils on the leaf. When processed, the natural oils contribute to the cigar’s uniquely robust, earthy flavor and full-bodied aroma.

To achieve its uniquely balanced, medium-bodied taste, Rick and his team have punctuated the flavorful OSA wrapper with a hearty Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran filler.  The result is a provocative taste that celebrates the nuances of Olancho San Agustin tobacco.

The cigar will be available in 25 count boxes in 3 sizes.

• Lot 50 (5 x 50/$5.75 MSRP)
• Lot 54 (6 x 54/$6.25 MSRP)
• Lot 58 (6.5 x 58/$6.75 MSRP)

So the question remains, how do these smoke?

Cigar: CAO OSA Sol
Size: 5 x 50 (Lot 50/Robusto)
Wrapper: Olancho San Agustin (Honduras)
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras
Strength: Medium
Cigars Smoked For Review: 5

CAO OSA Sol

Appearance and Construction: The wrapper of the CAO OSA Sol has a brindle like appearance with some symmetrical variations of color on the leaf. There are some oils present on this cigar that has it’s fair share of ultra thin veins. In the hand the CAO OSA Sol has the feeling of rawhide between the fingers as we search for sport spots in the bunching of tobacco and roll of the cigar. The result was none to be found and the foot is well packed. The band of the cigar means nothing in the smoking of the cigar, but it can play a part in the first time a consumer picks up a smoke. With that said and done, I love the band of the cigar, specifically the wavy lime green storm symbol.

CAO OSA Sol - Foot

Flavor & Notes: The foot of the cigar reminds me of the sweetness from a marshmallow and some wood, in fact it takes me back to camping and roasting marshmallows over an open fire. The draw of the cigar is primarily earthy with some wood added to the mix. Once the cigar is lit a slight sweetness mixed in with some distinct notes of wood. In the second third of the cigar there are some notes of citrus that join the mix which is mostly earth and wood. The last third becomes heavy on the earth with some pepper and wood through the nose. The finish was just light being not too short nor too long.

CAO OSA Sol - First Third

Smoking Characteristics: When smoking the CAO OSA Sol the one thing I noticed the most was how dense the smoke was and the cigar became. The cigar seemed to get heavier as it went on. Thankfully it didn’t become wet. The smoking time was 90 minutes and the burn of the cigar was ideal. The salt and pepper ash on the review stick didn’t hold more than an inch at the time, but i was in a pretty intense phone call at the time waving my hands all over the place. The aroma of the cigar was woody and enjoyable.

CAO OSA Sol - Second Third

Conclusion: It’s funny how the loyalty of a brand can really alter the opinion of a cigar. I know a few retailers who were trashing this cigar before samples were even available out of loyalty to the brand under its old owners. The most important thing when trying a new cigar is to keep an open mind. The CAO OSA Sol reminds me of nothing in the current portfolio, which I think is a good thing. Is it the best cigar in the CAO catalog, no. Is it the worst, definitely not. The result is a cigar that was very enjoyable at the right price that I will smoke again.

CAO OSA Sol - Last Third

Rating: 89
Price: $5.75

Today’s smoke is the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition. According to Uptown Cigar Company,

With a total of only 3,700 boxes made, this is the first limited edition cigar made solely by Master Blender Jaime Garcia. A Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper from a lower priming, a Nicaraguan Pelo de Oro binder, and 2 Cuban-seed Nicaraguan leaves for the filler, this full bodied smoke has a similar taste to the original Jaime Garcia, except the cigar is MUCH richer and more refined in depth and flavor.

The cigars come 16 in a box, with a twist. The Broadleaf wrapper is on 15 of the sticks, while 1 features a Connecticut share which might be the wrapper used in 2012.

Cigar: Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition 2011
Size: 6.5 x 52 (Toro)
Wrapper: Connecticut Brodleaf, Viso Priming.
Binder: Pelo de Oro (Nicaragua)
Filler: Nicaragua (Cuban Seed)
Strength: Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 2

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition

Appearance and Construction: The Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition 2011 wrapper has the appearance of rich chocolate. Slightly toothy, a few small veins and a fair amount of oils gives this cigar a classic appearance. Perhaps it is due to the lower priming, but this Connectict Broadleaf has a nice color about it, and it really stands out. The roll is perfect right down to the cap. In the hand, the cigar feels a little light although there are no soft spots on this stick. The foot does seem a bit loose compared to other cigars in the regular release. There is a dual band system in place, with the traditional band above a second one with denoting that this is a Limited Edition.

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition Foot

Flavor & Notes: The foot of the JG RE LE, has a sweet chocolate like aroma to the nose with a nice amount of Nicaraguan spice present as well. The cold draw had a slight hint of spice, but the focal point was a dried fruit like taste about it. Intriguing to say the least, but definitely enjoyable. When you light up a Garcia cigar you expect that trademark spice, and as repetitive as it is I find it to be enjoyable as well.  A sweetness developed about an inch into the stick that bordered on cinnamon and some anise. In the second third of the cigar, the complexity begins to show with some of the dried fruit we tasted on the cold draw. The focal point was a nice strong coffee of the Cuban variety with continued anise and the addition of some leather. The last third of the cigar was some continued coffee notes that took more of an espresso like taste, with some wood and leather. The finish was long and enjoyable leaving me wanting another.

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition First 3rd

Smoking Characteristics: The cigar had a nice crisp burn-line even though it burned at a slight angle. Could this have been user error, sure I guess. The medium gray ash held for about 1.5″ at a time, and the draw was perfect. The aroma of the cigar was enjoyable as the cigar produced an abundance of smoke. In the 1 hour and 30 minutes it took me to smoke this cigar it never went out once on me which is always a good thing.

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition Second 3rd

Conclusion: Limited Edition cigars how I love and hate thee. I love how companies put to use some of the limited quantity tobacco and make a really good cigar. I hate how the price makes these cigars over-priced in a tax burdened state like New York, where these were $22.00. I also dislike how I will like a cigar so much only to have it disappear off the market. I totally loved this cigar, and despite the price tag I do not feel like I was ripped off. Definitely box worthy in my eyes.

Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial Limited Edition Last 3rd

Rating: 93
Price: $16.00 each, $230.99 a box @ Uptown Cigar Company

The Core Maduro joins the Natural which was released earlier this year. Those along with the New Wave Connecticut are the only cigars from the company in regular production, but the other cigars have been met with much fanfare. The Elencos is produced in limited numbers as is the Short Run. The latter changes blends from year to year while the former doesn’t have enough of the components to produce year round. Also due later this year is the Limited Edition 2011.

In the creation of the Maduro line, Ernest Perez Carrillo toyed with a few variations of the maduro wrapper before settling on broadleaf grown in the Connecticut River Valley in 2008-2009. He chose it over Mexican Maduro and Brazilian Maduro, but personally I hope Mr. Carrillo revisits the Brazilian variety in the future as it is one of my favorite wrappers.

The cigars which will retail from $5.25 to $9.30 before local taxes are available in the following sizes:

• No. 4 (5 .5 x 42)
• Encantos (4 7/8 x 50)
• Regalias Real (5 5/8 x 46)
• Club 52 (5 7/8 bx 52)
• Churchill Especial (7 1/8 x 49)
• Predilectos (6 1/8 x 52 – Torpedo)
• Golosos (6.25 x 60)
• Monumentos (7 3/8 x 56)

Cigar: EP Carrillo Maduro
Size: 5 7/8 bx 52 (Toro / Club 52)
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Ecuador Sumatra
Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

EP Carrillo Core Maduro

Appearance and Construction: Looking at the Broadleaf wrapper on the EP Carrillo Maduro there are some differences in contrast. One has to wonder leaf was wet and massaged before being applied. The cigar is well rolled with a nice cap placement. Under close inspection there is some tooth to the stick, and some light oils. The foot of the cigar is a bit spongy but there are no soft spots to be found. The band of the cigar is the classic EP Carrillo variation with colors of red, gold, yellow, beige and black.

EP Carrillo Core Maduro Foot

Flavor & Notes: The foot of the cigar has an abundance of rich molasses to the nose and some pepper as well which is heavenly to say the least. One the third and fourth inhale I pick up notes of manure which is one of the best compliments one can pay a cigar. Once the cigar is clipped the cold draw serves up notes  dark chocolate and a sweetness which reminds me of a jelly ring. In the background there are notes of earth and cedar. If the prelight ritual is right I am in for a very complex smoke. The first third of the cigar has notes of coffee and dark chocolate with something sweet tries to fight for recognition. Just before the 2nd third is reached the sweetness becomes a subtle cherry that compliments the other notes well.  As the second third of the cigar progresses the cherry sweetness becomes stronger giving this cigar a classic maduro profile. In the background there is shortbread (thanks Stogimus Prime and Jerry Cruz for helping me put that into words) with coffee on the finish. The last third becomes slightly bitter but not over powering, as there is still a faint cherry that slowly gives way to leather that lingers on the finish.

EP Carrillo Core Maduro First 3rd

Smoking Characteristics: A well constructed smoke that burns really well and stood lit from start to finish. The medium to dark color ash holds on well with minimal flake. The first ash fell off about half way through while resting in the ashtray and the next ash remained until past the band. The draw ideal with just enough resistance to keep it burning slow. The aroma of the smoke was woody and it complimented the notes well.

EP Carrillo Core Maduro Second 3rd

Conclusion: The cigar industry has lost its way when it comes to Maduro cigars as they are no longer the sweet smoke they traditionally were. Lately, it has become all about strength and it has scared a lot of people away from the cigar. EP Carrillo attempts the right the ship with the maduro and I worry that it will get lost among smokers of today. Those who liked what a maduro had to offer have moved away and they might be scared to pick this cigar up. Those who love the strength will find fault in the smoke. This however is one for the ages and is as classic as they come. Easily in the running for cigar of the year the EP Carrillo Maduro is as timeless as they come.

EP Carrillo Core Maduro Last 3rd

Rating: 94
Price: $6.45

First up is the CAO OSA Sol, which features a proprietary wrapper cultivated in Hondurs in Olancho’s San Augustin valley. The cigar is is the first release for CAO under the auspices of General Cigar.

I recently had the chance to have dinner at Club Macanudo with Victoria McKee who is the Director of Public Relations for General along with Rick Rodriguez from CAO. Rick who is in charge of new product development had an in depth conversation with acigarsmoker.com about the methods of aging and fermentation that CAO used in the past. He assured me that CAO under General would remain faithful to those methods. I walked away with an education in 3 hours that made me appreciate cigars and the brand  as I was really intrigued by the subject. I had my doubts about the future of CAO but I am confident that they are headed in the right direction. Of course tasting the new cigar will be key to making a decision as a consumer.

The blending process began with the Olancho San Augustin wrapper from the 2008 crop. Ideal climatic conditions that year led to the expression of essential oils on the leaf. When processed, the natural oils contributed to the cigar’s uniquely robust, earthy flavor and full-bodied aroma. The medium bodied cigar will have a Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran filler. Allegedly, the result is a provocative taste that celebrates the nuances of Olancho San Agustin tobacco.

Ed McKenna, CAO’s senior brand manager, commented,

“We created CAO OSA Sol in the CAO tradition of developing exciting new tastes and eye-catching packaging. Considering the cigar’s distinctive flavor and accessible price, we’re confident that it will appeal to a wide range of discerning premium cigar enthusiasts.”

The stick is set to debut at retail in September, and will be available in 3 sizes, each in boxes of 25.

• Lot 50 (5” x 50) will have an MSRP of $5.75 per cigar, or $143.75 per box.
• Lot 54 (6” x 54) will have an MSRP of $6.25 per cigar, or $156.25 per box.
• Lot 58 (6 ½” x 58) will have an MSRP of $6.75 per cigar, or $168.75 per box.

The OSA Sol comes in a box that pays homage to CAO’s tradition of innovative package design by highlighting the San Agustin region.  The box’s eye catching color scheme celebrates the whitewashed curing barns located on the very farm where the tobaccos were cured.

It is safe to say our appetite has been wet, and we eagerly wait for our chances to light one up.

The first is the Jaime Garcia Limited Edition, which I am sure you have heard about by now. According to Jose Ortega the Vice President of Sales for My Father Cigars, “We are proud to announce the 1^st Limited Edition release from the master blender Jaime Garcia under the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial name.”

The cigars will be released in boxes of 16, and what makes them a must buy for me is the fact, that 1 of the 16 will be a Connecticut Wrapper featuring the blend for the 2012 edition of the limited release.

According to Jose Ortega, it is very different from the regular Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial. It has several types of Cuban seed tobacco including the Pelo de Oro.

Wrapper: Broadleaf Viso
Binder and Filler: Variation of Cuban seeds including two leaves of Pelo de Oro)
Size: 6 ½ X 52 Toro
Strength: Full Body, Full Flavor

MSRP: Around 16.00 before local taxes.

Jaime Garcia Limited Edition 2011

The other release slated for the trade show is the My Father Le Bijou Torpedo Box Pressed. The cigars feature a Habano Oscuso Oscuro with filler and binder from Nicaragua.  Thes wiill measure at 6 1/8 x 52 and come 23 in a box. Once again according to the Vice President of Sales for My Father Cigars, Jose Ortega “Customers have been asking us for a box pressed and we couldn’t think of a more fitting brand/blend than the Le Bijou to release this gem in.” The cigars will be a regular production.

My Father Le Bijou Torpedo Box Pressed

We will be sure to offer our thoughts on these as soon as we get out hands on them…

Today’s review is of El Credito, El Perrito War of Flavors. According to the press release, “The cigar’s distinctive name is derived from a term coined at the El Credito® Cigar Factory in Santiago, DR.  El Perrito (translation: little dog) was created by two cigar factory supervisors (Robert Batista and Juan Almonte) who brought their concept for a small, powerhouse cigar to El Credito’s Michael Giannini (director of marketing) and Yuri Guillen (director of manufacturing). The supervisors came to Michael and Yuri, raving about how they made the cigars and describing the taste experience as a battle of flavors in the mouth. Michael and Yuri sampled the prototypes and the rest, as they say, is history.”

Let’s hope the “little dog” isn’t a dog rocket….

Cigar: El Perrito
Size: 5.5 x 38
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: 2 Leaves, 1 Nicaraguan, 1 Dominican
Strength: Full
Number Smoked: 5

El Perrito "War of Flavors"

Appearance and Construction: The El Perrito War of Flavors is entirely hand-crafted and is made without the use of any molds, which is quite clear when looking at it. Each cigar of the 5 samples I smoked looked different with the exception of the size. The result is a finished product that looks like what Clint Eastwood smoked in The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. Adorning this smoke is a red and white band that states El Credito, which is the factory in the Dominican Republic that produces these. Despite that the El Perrito only uses a total of 4 tobacco leaves, it has a nice weight to it.

Flavors & Notes: Despite being pre-cut I cut off another 1/8th of an inch to be sure and the pre-light draw was slightly sweet and floral. Off of the wrapper I didn’t get much to the nose that was worthy of making a note of. As I listened to the Ecstasy of the Gold (the theme to the aforementioned Eastwood movie) I lit up the small cigar and was pleasantly surprised. The cigar has some noted of cedar and spice that is complimented by a slight creaminess. I debated if I should break the cigar down into thirds but it does change a bit. In the second third the cigar is more cedar and spice. The creaminess comes and goes but it loses the battle at times with a beat down. In the last third the strength kicks it up a notch with a nice little nicotine kick while occasionally continuing to tease with a creamy edge.

Smoking Characteristics: Despite being one ugly duckling of a cigar it burned really well. The light color ash held on similar to that of a lancero. The draw was perfect and the cigar had a nice aroma to it. For a little cigar it definitely held its ground with the more traditional sizes.

Conclusion: Sometimes I look for a cigar that will get my to my business partners house, which is 30 minute drive in the AM. I look for another cigar on the ride home which is late at night and takes about 20 minutes. This cigar is perfect for both occasions. The “little dog” is definitely not a dog rocket, and is very good little smoke. It has a nice traditional flavor profile with a bit of a kick toward the end. The only complaint is the same one my good friend Jerry Cruz over at Stogie Review had. The band states El Credito, yet the cigar is called El Perrito which is confusing to say the least. Sign me up for a cab of 50 though, as this cigar is perfect for when time is limited.

Rating: 89
Price: $2.50 / $125.00

The cigar’s distinctive name is derived from a term coined at the El Credito® Cigar Factory in Santiago, DR.  El Perrito (translation: little dog) was created by two cigar factory supervisors (Robert Batista and Juan Almonte) who brought their concept for a small, powerhouse cigar to El Credito’s Michael Giannini (director of marketing) and Yuri Guillen (director of manufacturing). The supervisors came to Michael and Yuri, raving about how they made the cigars and describing the taste experience as a battle of flavors in the mouth. Michael and Yuri sampled the prototypes and the rest, as they say, is history.

According to Michael Giannini, “El Perrito is a prime example of how Team La Gloria operates. We’ve empowered all of our employees, from rollers and bunchers to supervisors, to bring forth ideas for new products. When Yuri and I were approached with the concept of an entirely handmade cigar with incredible flavor, we almost instantly became excited. El Perrito continues our platform of innovation by allowing us to bring a unique and value-priced offering to market and we’re confident it will be a fast favorite among premium cigar consumers.”

Handcrafted with two filler leaves (Nicaraguan and Dominican), bound with Connecticut Broadleaf and wrapped with Ecuadoran Habano, El Perrito cigars are shaped entirely by hand, using the index finger to achieve a torpedo-like head.

Sized expressly to maximize the flavor of the blend, the 5 1/2” x 38 cigar is bundled and packed in a rustic wooden box which hints at the cigar’s humble beginnings. El Perrito War of Flavors is currently debuting at tobacco shops across the U.S. for a suggested retail price of just $2.50 per cigar, or for $125.00 for a 50-count, boxed bundle.

El Credito El Perrito War of Flavors continues the tradition of innovation that has garnered acclaim for Team La Gloria, the new product development team for La Gloria and El Credito cigars.

About La Gloria Cubana

La Gloria Cubana cigars are produced by General Cigar Co. Inc., a division of Scandinavian Tobacco Group, which manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium market. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar’s skilled artisans produce Macanudo®, Cohiba®,  La Gloria Cubana, Punch®, CAO, Partagas®, Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur® and several other leading premium brands in the company’s Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan factories. In addition, the company cultivates proprietary tobacco which is used exclusively in its blends. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide and also exports select products to 62 countries. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com.

® La Gloria Cubana, El Credito, Macanudo, Cohiba, Punch, Partagas, Hoyo de Monterrey, Excalibur and Club Macanudo are registered trademarks of General Cigar Co. Inc.

# # #

La Casita Criolla which translate to “The Creole Cottage” is made up of 100% Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco. This can cause some confusion which Pete cleared up some via his Facebook page some months ago, “Okay guys. To clear this up. Not all broadleaf is dark. The wrapper will be but the binders and fillers are made up of broadleaf tobacco also. When Jaime buys broadleaf, he buys in hopes to get good dark juicy wrapper, some medium color wrapper like La Riqueza and good binder but the other leaf that doesn’t make those grades is sorted by size and texture for filler. Again not every leaf will look like the wrapper. It’s all 100% USA Conn. Broadleaf. Jaime also buys all primings of broadleaf. Seco, Viso and Ligero. This is also how we are able to sort the filler to do the blend on the cigar. ” The Jaime he refers to is Jaime Garcia of My Father Cigars, who produces the cigars to Pete’s specifications.

Is this cigar an instant classic, will it be the American muscle that collectors crave?

Cigar: La Casita Criolla
Size: 6.5 x 48
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Connecticut Broadleaf
Strength: Medium/Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 1

La Casita Criolla by Tatuaje

Appearance and Construction: The wrapper on the La Casita Criolla is a nice dark and oily Broadleaf wrapper that has some medium-sized veins. The stick is well rolled with a well placed cap. The is some slight tooth present and the are no soft spots on this stick that feels a little light in the hand. The band which reminds one of Henry Clay is simplistic at first appearance but there are some nice little details present that give it character.

The foot of the La Casita Criolla by Tatuaje

Flavor & Notes: Prior to cutting the foot serves up notes of cedar and nuts with a sweetness to the nose. While the draw serves up some more sweetness with hints of nuts. My initial impression is that this cigar brings something different to the table then other Tatuaje smokes. Once the cigar is lit it becomes evident that this is a flavor bomb of epic proportions. The initial notes were a touch of anise, and nuts as I slowly worked into the first third of the cigar. As we progress into the first third there are some notes of anise that tease as the nuts become the focal point with a chocolate sweetness on the finish. In the second third some warm spices begin to develop with a touch of cinnamon and cloves over a canvas of nuts. A sweetness remains, but it isn’t defined like in the first third. In the final third some nicely defined anise returns as the focal point with some spice through the. The cigar has a nice finish that leaves me feeling satisfied.

The first third of the La Casita Criolla by Tatuaje

Smoking Characteristics: A perfect burning cigar with a straight burn line and thin carbon line. The light color ash was a bit weak on this pre-release stick but thankfully I didn’t burn a hole in my shirt which is my modus operandi as of late. The cigar produced a nice amount of smoke with a delicious aroma. The draw was as good as the come with the right amount of resistance.

The second third of the La Casita Criolla by Tatuaje

Conclusion: I only smoked one sample of this and Pete had mentioned they weren’t strong but I would classify it as on the fuller side of medium. I experienced a slight nicotine kick, and being that I only smoked one sample I am not sure if it was me, or the cigar. Regardless, I was skeptical of an all broadleaf stick but this thing delivers. Loaded with flavors and extremely tasty, but don’t take my word for it. I tweeted I got a sample of this last night and Pete commented that him and Dion from illusione were smoking one. A little later Dion added, “that thing was freakin’ tasty.” Definitely box worthy and on my to buy list once released. Without a doubt this is a definite cigar of the year candidate.

The final third of the La Casita Criolla by Tatuaje

Rating: 95
Price: $7.00 MSRP

Disclaimer: My good friend Danny D. of Tobacco Plaza was down at the Nicaraguan Cigar Festival where he obtained this cigar and gifted me with one.

Edit: Since this review I have gone through a box plus of these and still stand by the initial review. This folks will be the Cigar of the Year if things continue as they have.

• New Sizes
• New Blends
• Connecticut Broadleaf

Watch the video and hear it for yourself!