The People's Review of the Tatuaje Verocu Red Tubo

FINALLY THE CHAMP HAS COME BACK TO THE B&B BLOG! Yeah I realize it's been a long while since I did a review (different things happening plus the brutally cold weather of the DMV prevented previous attempts) but I finally had the chance to get one done for all The Champ's fans so without further ado...LET'S DO THIS!

This review is for the Tatuaje Verocu Red Tubo, another creation from the combo of Pete Johnson and Jose "Don" Pepin Garcia. This cigar also came in a Black tubo as well; I tried the Black tubo in late December on a trip to the Humidour and I really enjoyed that cigar and I was looking forward to giving this cigar a go. Here are the specs of this stick:

• Vitola: 6 1/8" x 52 torpedo
• Strength: Full
• Filler: Nicaraguan Cuban Seed
• Binder: Nicaraguan Cuban Seed
• Wrapper: 1999 Nicaraguan Corojo

Pre-light Draw & Construction

We get right into it and take the cigar from its red tubo and right away you become somewhat enamoured with the dark color of the corojo wrapper. There are some visible veins but nothing that would cause any issues. A little squeeze shows that the tobacco is packed tight and is quite firm with very little give. Give this cigar a little snip with my cutter and the draw is quite good given the fact the cigar is quite packed. The cold draw produced a nice sweet flavor mixed in with a little earthiness so let's get it lit and see what we get!

First Third

Right off the bat after getting this cigar lit is the amount of smoke produced; a lot of white, creamy smoke. It starts off with loads of spice, something I always come to expect from a Nicaraguan puro and/or a cigar with corojo tobacco in it, along with a mix of earth tones and a slight hint of black coffee. The spice is very prominent on the retrohale and on the back of the throat along with the earthiness we got from the cold draw. As I continue the cigar the coffee flavor is starting to creep up a little more really creating an interesting yet pleasurable mixture. One thing to note: I'm not a huge fan of an overly earthy cigar and can never really enjoy it but this cigar has the perfect amount of earth tones mixed in with the spice and coffee that even I can enjoy! =) The construction on this cigar is ridiculously good...burn is very even and the ash is very solid with a whitish-grey color (even my g/f marveled at how good the ash was =]). This is most certainly a full-bodied cigar - feeling a strong nic buzz right now from smoking about 2" of this cigar (BTW I'm a full-bodied cigar fanatic so this cigar is perfect so far!) And just as I'm ready to move into the halfway point I just got a small hit of something sweet almost like ginger or cinnamon...very nice!

Halfway Point

Moving on to the halfway point and the spice has faded quite a bit and I'm still tasting the coffee and earth tones. Burn is still fairly even and the ash is still holding firm and solid (TD SAINTS ON A FLEA FLICKER! Sorry I'm watching the Saints/Cardnials game...very entertaining!) This cigar is still producing a lot of creamy smoke while remaining cool and smooth. Still tasting some earth tones w/ some coffee and ginger notes plus a burnt tobacco flavor. The spice is starting to come back a little bit and the strength of this cigar has not wavered as I'm still feeling a nic buzz!

End of the line

Now moving on to the end of this cigar and I'm still tasting that burnt tobacco flavor w/ a small amount of spice (not as strong as I anticipated or experienced at the start). Construction on this cigar is borderline phenominal...still burning evenly and the ash is still solid. Now I'm getting some sweetness on the pallet (can't quite put my finger on what it is but it's good) and it's starting to mix in with a flavor of walnuts and earth notes as I reach the end of this cigar. The cigar is still burning cool as I get to the end and the flavors are just so pleasant it's a shame that it's the end!

Verdict:

After smoking this cigar I think the verdict is pretty obvious...EPIC WIN!! This cigar is indeed a full-bodied cigar smoker's cigar...plenty of flavor with a strong kick to it to keep you awake and interested...I highly recommend this cigar! It is well worth the price for either a single or a box from your local B&M; one very important note: before smoking this cigar make sure you have a very full meal on your stomach...I had 3 slices of pizza prior to smoking this cigar and was able to barely stand up straight LOL! That's all for now...I shall be back again for another review but until that time keep lighting up those fine cigars and let the smoke take you away...cheers and enjoy!

THE CHAMP

Tabacos Baez Serie SF

I picked up this cigar several months ago during a run to John B. Hayes Tobacconist in Fairfax, VA. At a price tag of about $3, I could not resist giving this Don Pepin creation a shot. It is a mix of Cuban-seed Nicaraguan long filler and mixed short filler in a Nicaraguan habano wrapper.

Vitola: Robusto
Size: 50 x 5"
MSRP: $3 (approx.)
Construction: Very firm to the touch with one or two veins on the wrapper, but otherwise clean.

Pre-light aroma: Rich tobacco and barnyard hay
Pre-light draw: Rich tobacco with a hint of milk chocolate
Tonight I am pairing the cigar with a Leffe blond ale.

1st third: Upon lighting the cigar and taking the first few puffs I am not getting a really strong flavor on my palate initially, but there is a hint of pepper on the retrohale. The cigar is medium-bodied but not overpowering. The ash is white and solid but starting to bend at just over an inch & a half. Dominant flavor is rich tobacco but not heavy. From a strength standpoint I am not experiencing a pronounced nicotine kick.

2nd third: The burn is fairly even with no need for a touch-up. The pepper note has graduated to more of a pleasant spice. The cigar is still holding in the medium-bodied range with little or no noticeable strength. Approaching the band the strength is begins to intensify but it's not beyond a medium range.

Final third: The burn still even. The flavors have been consistent throughout with tobacco, spice, & pepper. A slight leathery flavor creeps in toward the nub. Unfortunately, the wrapper cracked just past the band.

Final thoughts: With a price tag around $3 a stick, this is a very solid "budget" cigar. The flavors are consistent throughout and the strength is in the mild to medium range. Aside from the wrapper cracking at the end, this is a decent smoke that I would love to have as an everyday cigar and will definitely re-visit. The total burn time was 1 hr 8 min. I give it 3.5 out of 5 sticks.

As always, fly straight and fly high.

-Da Byrdman-

Tatuaje Havana VI Hermosos

Let me start by saying that Tatuaje cigars are virtually impossible to get in my immediate area.  I am not sure what it is about them, but retailers in my locality (read that to mean 40 mile radius) are not carrying them.  I had only tried one Tatuaje Havana VI previously (the Angeles) and it was pretty good, but I wanted something different during a very rare trip to Leesburg on a lunch break at work.  I decided to pick up the Hermosos although it still sat in my humidor for the better part of two and a half months until now.

Size:  46 x 5 5/8 (Corona Gorda)
Wrapper:  Nicaragua
Binder:  Nicaragua
Filler:  Nicaragua

Pre-light Inspection:  This Nicaraguan gem is the brainchild of the dynamic duo of Pete Johnson and Jose "Pepin" Garcia.  It has a deliciously chocolate brown wrapper with slight mottling and one predominant vein that runs throughout.  The triple seam cap is flawless and the cigar is firm but not stiff to the touch.  The pre-light aroma of the cigar is a delightful mixture of sweet tobacco and barnyard hay.  The pre-light draw is a good flavor balance of semi-sweet tobacco notes and dried fruit.

First third:  Upon lighting the cigar, I am noticing that the draw is a little firm for my liking; however, the resting smoke is steady.  The cigar is producing a fair amount of smoke with each puff but not an abundance of smoke which may partly be due to the draw and more likely due to the smaller ring gauge.  The burn is a little off but the ash is firm and gray.  The flavor is in the medium body range while the strength is hovering somewhere between mild and medium with no spice or pepper on the retrohale.  So far the dominant flavor is like espresso/coffee and toast with the hint of dried fruit on the finish (very tasty).  Toward the end of the first third, the espresso note begins to fade while the toasted woodiness builds.  The dried fruit note is still lingering on the finish.  Incidentally, the burn issue I experienced in the beginning has now corrected itself.

Second third:  The cigar has now moved into the medium to full flavor range while the strength is more into the medium range.  The dominant flavors are leather, toast, and dried fruit in that order.  The burn is even at this point and the draw is freer than at the outset.  The cigar is really beginning to open up and is producing more smoke which is adding to the intensity of the flavors.  With each draw, I am getting a thick, syrupy flavor that has the body and feel of molasses but not nearly as sweet.  It is surprisingly pleasant.

Final third:  Progressing toward the end of the cigar, this is where the surprises begin.  The texture on my palate with each puff is creamy almost buttery while the leather, toasted wood, & dried fruit flavors continue to trade jabs with each other and my palate.  Each puff calls one of the three to the forefront.  The body has picked up just slightly although I would not call it full, but a hint of pepper is now present on the finish and in the retrohale (NICE!).  Throughout this cigar, the flavors have been building like an orchestra coming to a crescendo, and now the cigar is hitting on all cylinders with something for all of my senses.  The aroma of the resting smoke has the sweet smokiness of burning wood.  The dried fruit on the finish is being exchanged for a much stronger note of pepper that has really gotten my attention.

Upon finishing this cigar, the flavors made we really want to sip some cognac just to keep that dried fruit note going.  Overall, the cigar was perfectly balance and well-rounded yet very complex with the changes in flavor and strength intensity building from the beginning to the end.  The cigar seemed to remain in the lower medium range for strength until the final third, but it was definitely flavorful.  I would definitely add this cigar to my list of enjoyable smokes and I am left dumbfounded as to why my local tobacconists will not carry these in their shops.  Guys, if you're reading, GET WITH THE PROGRAM!!!

Verdict:  4 out of 5 smokes

Fly straight and fly high . . .
-Da Byrdman-