Cigar Review: Tatuaje Tattoo Caballero

In an unprecedented spark of creativity, Tatuaje, which is Spanish for “Tattoo,” has officially released a brand new habano line: the Tattoo. Originally released on a limited run in 2011, the Tattoo proved to be so popular that Tatuaje decided to re-introduce it into the market permanently a few years later, proudly proclaiming to have changed absolutely nothing since its 2011 limited release. What makes this cigar interesting is that its a cigar that was resurrected solely by the power of popular demand. This isn’t an easy feat for any cigar to accomplish, so let’s see what the people are raving about…

Blend Specifics

Vitola: Robusto
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Dimensions: 5’ x 50”
Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Aesthetics, Construction and Feel

At first glance, the Tattoo is an impressive sight to behold. It’s dark habano wrapper makes it look more like a maduro. The wrapper contrasts effectively with its smooth and leathery wrapper, giving off an aura of edgy sophistication.

However, as I move beyond the gestalt and take a closer look, I find the Tattoo to have arguably the most veiny wrapper I’ve ever seen thus far; every single vein is prominent, with the leaf stems making the wrapper’s look and texture uneven. Fortunately, aesthetics are not what count in the long run. Furthermore, the construction is flawless; the body is sturdy, yet soft like a cushion with no soft spots.

Smoke and Flavor

The first few puffs are solidly good; each puff is spicy, chewy and smooth, and brings forth a voluminous and aromatic smoke cloud, a feat made easy and enjoyable by a well-balanced draw. One problem is made apparent, however; the ash holds its form well, but it is very loose. I learned this the hard way. Fortunately, disposing of the ash is an easy task by virtue of the fact that the Tattoo burns at a comfortably predictable pace and an astonishingly even rate; it never comes close to canoeing throughout the entire smoke, which lasts about an hour-and-a-half.

The flavor is undoubtedly the most pleasant of the Tattoo’s many surprises. There is spice on every single puff, and with every puff comes along a helping of pepper. What’s most interesting about the flavor is the presence of a dark wood flavor that is surprisingly heavy for an habano. Fortunately, the dark taste doesn’t hit the smoker very hard the way a maduro might. This confirms the Tattoo’s habano strength level and offers the smoker a maduro-like flavor without the buzz. As the first quarter of the cigar is cleared, a sortie of other minor flavors pop up in the background to supplement the spice and dark wood, flavors including sugar in the second quarter, leather in the middle and near the final third, and the occasional delightful essence of dark chocolate from the final quarter to the nub.

The Final Verdict

If I could put my entire train of thought into a single abstract sentence, then it would go something like this: The Tatuaje Tattoo is more or less exactly what I expected it to be from the start. It was smooth on the draw, dark in flavor and even on the burn. The people said they wanted a good cigar back for good, and that’s exactly what they’ve got with this. In short, the Tatuaje Tattoo is an elegantly tough smoke that is popular for a wide variety of good reasons, and should be tried at least once. You might not make it your go-to cigar, but you definitely won’t regret smoking it.

Final Grade: A-

Tips for a Perfect Smoke Experience

Fortunately, this habano cigar requires little other than a match to make it good. However, a little red wine is always a good idea when it comes to balancing the medium-bodied smoke with a medium-bodied drink.

Purchase the Tatuaje Tattoo Here