Review : Tatuaje 2014 Belle Encre Reserva
Cigar Reviewed: Tatuaje Belle Encre Reserva
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: 5 3/8 Inches
Ring Gauge: 48
Vitola: Perfecto
MSRP: $11.00 (Boxes of 22, $242.00)
Date Released: March 13, 2014
Number of Cigars Released: 1,994 Boxes of 22 Cigars (43,868 Total Cigars)
Here at my B&M with NY prices I paid $12.95 a stick
Stored at 68'f / 69% humidity
Prelight feel: The one I have has no large veins visable and wrapper is only slightly rough. No soft spots found and overall has a slightly firm feel, but not to the point where it feels tight.
I start my smoke time as actual time and not including lighting (Im a tad OCD on my toasting and it takes a few minutes to do the way I like it).
Smoke start time: 10:12am
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First third: I really enjoy this first third. The flavor is equal parts cocoa, roasted coffee and black pepper. The retro hale is smooth with not too much pepper as to sting your nose. The first thing that really stands out to me is how clean it leaves my palate. Often when smoking a cigar I have a beverage to keep my palate clean, otherwise I get a heavy feel to my mouth. So far no beverage needed and palate feels light and clean. The burn on this is the second thing that really stands out, its razor sharp.
Second third: Here the flavor picks up a tad with the pepper playing second fiddle to the slightly sweet cocoa flavor and roasted coffee. The mouth is still feeling clean with only now starting to feel a lingering of black pepper and char on the back of my nasal passage. Still no beverage needed. The burn continues to be razor sharp. If you look closely at this next image, look at the lighter tan burn ring just below the ash, it is almost a perfect ring around entire cigar.
http://imagestore.puff.com/2014/07/01/p_4030592_1.jpg
The ash throughout holds to about an inch to inch and a half before falling off. The ash is almost white, and perfect in its tightness to my preference.
http://imagestore.puff.com/2014/07/01/p_4030592_2.jpg
Final third: Flavors are still holding course, with a slight bitterness of coffee coming more into play. At this point I break out the cream soda, and the nubber. Burn still stays cool, and not a single relight needed or touchup. Burn gets a tad uneven but still extremely good for being this far in without a touchup. Smoke is even and pleasant
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Nub: At the point I stop, the cigar is still on its initial light, but Im now getting to much heat close to the lips so I call it good.
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End Smoke time: 12:01pm
Smoke time 1hr 49min.
After smoke feel: The palate is still very clean, I only went thru half a can of cream soda, and only lingering sensation is that of slight pepper on the back of my nasal passage. But not at all uncomfortable. Feeling like I could even smoke another without a break. Where normally when I finish a cigar Im good for a half a day before feeling like another.
My overall rating: 9 out of 10 Based on quality of construction. Hand feel of the wrapper. Sharpness of burn. Color of ash. Flavor of cigar.
Only reason I wouldnt give it a perfect 10 is the sort of one dimension of the flavor profile. It started on its path and continued on it throughout burn, never really straying off or introducing a variety of new flavors.
It doesnt matter if your a Tat fan or not, this cigar is worth a try. If its worth the pricepoint is questionable, but I enjoyed it and would possibly try another when my stash runs out.
