Tatuaje Pudgy Drac Review

10/24/2014

Cigar: Tatuaje Pudgy Monster, Drac
Size: Belicoso, 5.0”x52
MSRP: $9.50
Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Maduro
Origin: Nicaragua

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Prelight: Another clever move making the Drac a (short) belicoso, symbolizing a fang from the most famous of the vampires. The cap seems very well made, and the wrapper is oily and smooth, except a few minor veins. The wrapper puts off a nice floral scent, with a little bit of spice that could be cinnamon. The foot however, smells like creamy dark chocolate. The cold draw has a great pull, and tastes faintly of earth.

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1/3: I was expecting some serious pepper from this cigar, given the track record for these Pudgies. However, I am initially hit with earthiness, followed closely by sweet cream. Really sweet cream. And I love it. Then, some pepper does start to emerge, but not a black pepper. It’s more like those red pepper flakes you get at a pizza parlor. If this wasn’t enough, cedar also appeared in the profile as the sweet cream lessened. Needless to say, the first third was quite complex and delicious.

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2/3: The cream continues to diminish, leaving mostly cedar and red pepper. I think I taste mint for one puff, but at the next it is gone. The cedar continues to grow and I start to miss the cream. I let the cigar sit for a bit, almost to the point of going out, and voila! The cream returned. (Note to self: smoke slower.) The ash is great, lasting a third at a time, and the burn line is straight.

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3/3: The cream is completely gone now, and I can’t bring it back. All I taste is strong, dusty cedar. For the whole final third. Kind of anticlimactic.

Overall: I really enjoyed the first half of the cigar; it was complex, evolving, cool-burning and immaculately constructed. The second half petered out. This experience definitely makes me want to try a full-sized Drac, in hopes that the first half would last longer. I still would recommend this cigar, despite the lack-luster ending. Great flavors and construction. Another clever and delicious cigar from Tatuaje.