Tatuaje Monster Series 2009 – Drac
Nov 21, 2009 Cigar
Tonight’s review is the Tatuaje Monster Series Drac.
The Tatuaje Drac is the latest Monster Series Halloween release from Pete Johnson. The Monster Series started in 2008 with Pete’s release of the Tatuaje Frank. It’s followed up this year with two sticks, the Boris (Frank Out of Costume ) and the Drac.
The Drac is a 6 2/4 x 52 inch Torpedo and is dressed in a Dracula motif including shellacked black coffin. It has a Habano Maduro wrapper and there are 1,300 boxes of 13 cigars produced. Pete is also inserting 13 “Spooky Tickets” is the boxes for a Willy Wonka style contest in which one winner will recieve a beautiful Ducati Motorcycle. A brilliant marketing tactic and a fantastically fun experience for smokers who were put on a quest to find not just the smokes, but the Spooky Tickets. Brilliant!
And now, on to the review.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Size: 6 3/4 x 52 (Torpedo)
Origin: Most Likely Nicaragua
Wrapper: ??? Habanp Maduro
Binder: ???
Filler: ???
APPEARANCE and CONSTRUCTION – (17 of 20 pts.)
The Drac has a beautiful dark chocolate wrapper and is a Maduro in every way. The wrapper is very brittle however, and will lose a few points for that. In my box there were 2 sticks with cracked wrappers. Being the good guy he is, Pete has offered anyone with damaged cigars to contact Tatuaje and he will do his best to get replacements out to you. It is apparently somewhat of an issue and Pete has responded tremendously to it. The wrapper is very oily and a clean, vein free beauty. The band is at the foot of the stick which is a first I believe for Tatuaje. Overall the construction is pretty good other than the brittle wrapper
SMOKING CHARACTERISTICS – (22 of 25 pts.)
The wrapper has an aroma of sweet mint and spice. My buddy barry over at ACigarSmoker.com nailed it when he said the Tatuaje Boris had an aroma of Valentine’s Day candy heart mints. I found that aroma on both the Boris and the Drac. It’s a sweet mint spice aroma. Very interesting. The stick cut perfectly and had a perfect draw. The burn was perfect throughout the whole smoke. It had a thin burn line and a very light, white ash. Very voluminous smoke and overall wonderful nice burning stick.
FLAVOR – (26 of 30 pts.)
The Drac started with a woody flavor that had a twinge of unsweetened espresso. That flavor carried over from the first to the second third where it picked up a little spice and some strength. The second and final third also added a slight cocoa flavor and a more pronounced wood flavor than in the first third. Overall nice, but not overwhelming flavors.
OVERALL IMPRESSION – (21 of 25 pts.)
Overall I thought this was a good, not great stick. I am a HUGE fan of Pete Johnson’s work and I smoke Tatuaje cigars as much as any other stick in my humi. I found the Drac to be decent but not anything I would seek out other than it desireability as a “rare” or collectible stick. A good smoke, but considering availability and price (MSRP around $13) I would not scour the earth for one unless you are one of those smokers (like me) who is drawn to the harder to find cigars.
TOTAL SCORE – 86
Tags: Boris, Drac, Frank, Halloween, Monster Series, Pete Johnson, Tatuaje
An Important Message from Pete Johnson
A message from Pete Johnson:
I wanted to write everyone a quick note and touch on some of the concerns revolving around the Tatuaje Drac and Tatuaje Boris Halloween cigars. Please understand that these are big concerns of ours also and we want to assure everyone there is an easy solution.
First: The cigars were finished months ago but the box maker in Nicaragua was delayed and was not able to finish both the Drac and Boris boxes until right before the release. Unfortunately for us, this is a themed cigar that needed to arrive at the retailers before October 31st. We in no way were trying to rush production just to move product. A Halloween cigar released after October 31st doesn’t make much sense. Due to the late production of the boxes, the boxes had very little time to air out the paint smell that comes with any lacquered cigar box. Once the cigars were packed, wrapped in cellophane and shipped to our office in California, the box locked in that smell. The boxes were dry but still contained the smell of fresh paint. The only way to avoid this is let the box sit open for a few weeks before packing the cigars in the box. As long as the cigars are out of the box the smell will dissipate and will not affect the flavor of the cigar.
I recommend to everyone that was able to acquire a box, to open the box first to see if they found a spooky ticket and then to remove the cigars and store them in your humidor. The box should be left out of the humidor for a couple of weeks to air out. This smell will go away. I understand that some people want to keep their boxes intact but this is the best way to resolve any questions or concerns about the smell.
Second: A few people have contacted me about broken cigars. This is something that is hard to control due to shipping and the handling of the individual cigars. As far as we know, the cigars did not leave the factory broken in any way but with the delicate nature of the wrapper leaf, it could have been something we missed during the packing stage or something that happened after it left our offices.
I recommend to everyone that was able to acquire cigars, to examine your cigars carefully. If you see any cigars that are broken in any way that you believe will be unsmokable, do not cut, light or smoke them. Please contact us immediately by email and we will arrange replacement cigars with the retailer that you purchased the cigars from. We will only replace them as long as the cigars are complete and we will need to receive the damaged cigars before we can replace them. Unfortunately, we are not able to replace cigars that have been cut, lit or smoked.
Thank you again for you loyal brand support and for enjoying our products. We strive to be perfect in every way for our customers and want to apologize to all that may have concerns with this year’s release.
Sincerely,
Pete Johnson
Tatuaje Cigars Inc.
7518 W Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90046
pete@tatuajecigars.com
Tags: Drac, Halloween, Pete Johnson, Tatuaje
10 Questions with Pete Johnson
May 11, 2009 Interviews
As we kicked around some options for our first interview here at SmokeScore, the same name kept coming up.
There is nobody hotter in the cigar business right now than Pete Johnson. Almost everyone I’ve met in the cigar business has a Pete Johnson story. It almost always involved what a down to earth and friendly guy his is as well as how great his smokes are. Whatever Pete is doing, he certainly has the golden touch. His products are among the most sought after by Cigar smokers. We recently reviewed two Pete Johnson smokes and loved both of them.
Pete currently maintains the following brands:
Tatuaje Series P
Tatuaje Havana VI
Tatuaje Selección del Cazador
Tatuaje Private Reserve
Tatuaje Monster Series
Cabaiguan
La Riqueza
El Triunfador
Ambos Mundos
Nuevitas Jibaro
For all these reasons, we decided that our first interview would be Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars.
And now, 10 Questions with Pete Johnson:
SmokeScore: On our website, we just reviewed the Noella Reserva which we absolutely loved. We are going to be reviewing the Regio reserva next week and I’m really looking forward to that. Can you share with our readers if you have any other one-offs or special releases like those planned in the near future?
Pete Johnson: Don’t really have anything planned, It just kinda comes to me in the middle of the night. I might be doing some small batch items for a few good retailers. We’ll see.
SmokeScore: You and the Pepin family certainly seem to have a chemistry between you that has resulted in some amazing projects. When did you first meet them and did you know right away they were the ones you were looking for?
Pete Johnson: I met Pepin in 2003 and when I met his whole family and saw the love and attention they were giving my first production, I knew I would be with them for a long time. I am very loyal to them. Hard not to be when they make my cigars so special.
SmokeScore: You’ve said many times that you still believe Cuba is the “wheel” in terms of cigar production. With the tensions between The U.S. and Cuba loosening, do you see a day in the near future where you’ll be competing directly with Cuban brands in the U.S. marketplace?
Pete Johnson: I don’t believe we will be seeing that anytime soon.
SmokeScore: How are things coming along with the International distribution project?
Pete Johnson: The international project is coming along great. I just finished the blend and the packaging for a new El Triunfador for international only. I not sure but I’ll probably end up making it for the states also. It’s milder but it still has flavor.
SmokeScore: It seems like everything you’ve touched recently has turned to gold, but I’m sure there has to be some projects that you wish you could have taken back or not gotten started at all. Any you’d like to share?
Pete Johnson: I had one called Nuevitas that I did with another company and they could never produce enough for me. I decided to scrap the line with them and maybe bring it back in the future with Pepin. People are still asking for it.
SmokeScore: What was the last cigar you smoked that made you jealous or say, “Damn, I wish I made that”?
Pete Johnson: The last cigar I smoked like that was one of mine. Seriously I took the band off and I was talking and forgot what I was smoking. I was hanging out with a group and said that some cigar in the group smelled amazing. I realized it was mine. The funny thing was they all were smoking Tatuaje products.
SmokeScore: I’m going to take up the cause started by Doc Stogie Fresh and ask you about manufacturer information. It seems that while the wine industry goes out of its way to inform customers about their products, most cigar manufacturers give little to no information about brands, blends or process. I admire the fact that you even provide box dates on your products. Why do you think that you’re the exception rather than the norm?
Pete Johnson: I just like talking about it. I always wanted to know about all the other cigars when I was first working in the business. I believe that there should be some rules or guidelines that we have to follow. There are some things I won’t tell but most I will.
SmokeScore: I understand you also enjoy a good bottle of wine. What have you been drinking recently?
Pete Johnson: I love anything from Bordeaux. Especially Saint Emilion and Pomerol.
SmokeScore: What’s your stance on cork vs. synthetic vs. screwcap?
Pete Johnson: I like tradition and the old school cork it the way to go. More issues with it but I don’t mind the risk.
SmokeScore: Where do you see Tatuaje in 5 years?
Pete Johnson: I see me still here smoking and still enjoying the industry. The government is trying to destroy us. We as cigar smoker’s have a tough battle but I think we will survive.
Thank you so much, Pete. We appreciate your time and we look forward to more great things from you in the future.
Tags: 10 questions, Pete Johnson
El Triunfador Lancero
Apr 24, 2009 Cigar
Well, good secrets are hard to keep. When word about this small batch release by Pete Johnson hit – the wait was on for this new blend to start shipping. Available in very small quantities – this lancero was created to establish the El Triunfador name from it’s Cuban past. Another old Cuban brand name brought to life again. The papeleta design was taken from the original cuban artwork. For this lancero, the packaging is simple. 25 Cigars are bound by a ribbon and wrapped in wax paper inside a simple, vertical box with a slide top. Padded inside, at the top and bottom for shipping – these pigtail lanceros are safe and ready to enjoy.
According to Pete, this blend is for the lancero only. If El Triunfador is turned into an entire brand – the blend and packaging will change for the other sizes. Just released in Sept. 2008 – this vitola is available at only a few vendors and will continue to be made “in small quantities here and there”.
With a naturally dark, Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and all Nicaraguan filler the El Triunfador is similar in blend to the Cabiguan Maduro cigars now available.
Now, on to the review.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Size: 7.5 x 38 (Lancero)
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
APPEARANCE and CONSTRUCTION -
The El Triunfadoris a very pretty lancero. It’s an ultra dark brown broadleaf wrapper. The wrapper is very toothy to the touch with a super oily sheen. It has a traditional pigtail at the cap and looks to be well constructed. No soft spots or mistakes anywhere on the body. All in all a really nice looking presentation.
SMOKING CHARACTERISTICS –
Right off the bat, the wrapper has a sweet earthy aroma. Not too intense, but just enough to get you interested. The foot had a similar, but more intense aroma. I used my usual punch on the cigar and it cit perfectly. The draw was perfect. Not always a given for lanceros. The cold draw had a light spice with a sweet tobacco flavor. The lancero lit beautifully and maintained an even burn for 75% of the smoke. I had one instance in the first third and then again in the final third where I needed a light touch up, but nothing to complain about. The El Triunfador gave off a large volume of dense smoke that seemed to linger for a little while before fading.
FLAVOR –
Flavor is where this cigar really impresses. From the first puffs, I got a range of flavors that really impressed me. It started with a sweet spice that quickly transitioned into a rich espresso or mocha type flavor. At the midway point it turned a little chocolaty but kept that light spice in the background. The final third introduced some woody flavors that transitioned nicely from the chocolate and spice. I know it sounds like a lot, but trust me, there was a lot of complexity in this.
OVERALL IMPRESSION –
The El Triunfador really impressed me. I generally like Pete Johnson’s cigars, but this particular blend hit me the right way. I found it to be incredibly complex and satisfying. The transition of flavors throughout the smoke made me want to savor it and smoke it much slower. This could easily be one of the best non-cuban lanceros I’ve ever had. If you have any interest in this vitola at all, or if you enjoy cigars with a range of complex flavors, run out and get some of these now. You won’t be sorry.
TOTAL SCORE – 96
Tags: Broadleaf Maduro, Cuban Brand, El Trinufador, lancero, Pete Johnson, Tatuaje
Tatuaje Noella Reserva
Apr 18, 2009 Cigar
These Tatuaje Noellas cigars are a special release, marked with the “Reserva” seal on the box. They are the same size and blend as regular release Tatuaje Noellas, but they use a specially selected oscuro (dark/black) aged ligero wrapper normally reserved for the Cojonu 2003/2006 cigars.
Even though the wrapper is the same aged ligero leaf as the normal Cojonu 2003/2006 wrapper, it was fermented a bit longer than normal, and selected for its color to be especially dark. The leaves that were used for the Noellas Oscuros was too small to be used as a wrapper for the Cojonu 2003/2006, so a special limited release of ~200 boxes of these Noellas cigars was created. The “Reserva” label is meant to make it clear that this is not how Noellas normally come.
This special production should be available through most Tatuaje vendors.
Pete Johnson has said that the Noella Reserva is “like a little Frank” meaning the blend and wrapper are similar to his 2008 Monster release “The Frank”. All the Tobacco used in the Tatuaje Cigars are 1st Generation Cuban Seed, Grown in Nicaragua. The Cigars are rolled in classic Cuban Tradition by Eight Master Rollers in Little Havana Miami, FL U.S.A. Headed by Maestro Tobaquero Jose Garcia the cigars are rolled with a beautiful Cuban Triple Cap and are Medium to Full in flavor.
On to the review.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Size: 5 1/8″ x 42
Origin: Miami, FL
Wrapper: Nicaraguan aged ligero oscuro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
APPEARANCE and CONSTRUCTION -
The wrapper is a dark chocolate color. Several shades darker than the original release Noella and noticably different when the two are placed side by side. The triple cap on mine was a bit uneven, but nothing to worry too much about. In fact, the entire cigar has a very rustic look to it. Wrapper is very toothy.
SMOKING CHARACTERISTICS -
There was some faint earth aromas coming off the wrapper, but the foot had an intense nose of sweet spice. Even with the thin ring gauge, I decided to use a punch cut on this beauty. I had a great draw with just enough resistance. The cold draw had flavors of earth and sweet tobacco. The Tat Noella Reserva lit beautifully and evenly. I had no burn problems at any point during the smoke. It gave off a good amount of smoke on the draw and kept a thin, even burn line throughout. No complains at all in that department.
FLAVOR -
Wow is the first thing that came to mind. I’ve had the regular Noella release many times and I like that cigar very much. This is a different ballgame. Right from the onset, there are full flavors of dark chocolate, earth and a light spice that all marry together beautifully. The dark chocolate flavor actually intensified at about the halfway point and turned into an interesting bittersweet, burnt chocolate flavor. Hard to pinpoint, but it reminded me of something like a burnt caramel or burnt sugar taste. Sweet with a slight bitterness at the end. The smoke finished with a very pleasant espresso flavor that lingered on the palate for quite a while. Amazing flavors for this little guy.
OVERALL IMPRESSION -
This was quite a surprise. I really enjoy Pete Johnson’s smokes and I’ve had many Noella’s in the past. This was a different animal however. The Reserva has a richness and a spectrum of interesting flavors that really took me by surprise. I also enjoyed the fact that the cigar was medium-full bodied and remained so throughout. The body didn’t overwhelm the amazing flavors at any point. I know these are limited, but if you have your chance to grab some, do so. I got mine from a great guy named Kurt at Twins Smoke Shop in NH. He has them by the box only on the site, but if you call, tell him Tony from LeafandGrape.com sent you and he’ll sell you a fiver or less. Don’t pass this one up.
TOTAL SCORE – 96
Tags: Broadleaf, Frank, Miami, Nicaragua, Noella, Pepin Garcia, Pete Johnson, Tatuaje
