Tatuaje: La Maravilla

[Dr. Stogie Fresh]

STORAGE CONDITIONS: These cigars are "Wet Packed" which means after rolling they are sorted by color and aged for 1-2 weeks then packed into foil bundles of 25 for the rest of the fermentation process, which gives this cigar a unique Tatuaje flavor, but also slows the fermentation process and it prevents oxygen circulation. This is a good thing for those who want to lay these beauties down for a long restful aging. However, if they are to be smoked in the short term, they will need some air to rid themselves of the “sick period” ammonia. So I remove them from their constraint and replace them back into their original wood cabinet for further aging in my coolerdor.

TASTING NOTES: The Maravilla, which means "miracle" or "wonder" in Spanish, is a Punch Punch-sized cigar. The wrapper is a Veso with a red-brown color. It’s oily, and inviting, with the wrapper covering the foot of the cigar, similar to Tatuaje's "Gran Cojonu".

The cigar does not come with a band, which in no way affects its smoking characteristics but, for a collector like myself who likes to catalog all his cigars using their bands and photos of the cigar, it is a minor disappointment. The cigar is a bit soft to the touch yet very supple as it has a consistent “spring” to the body. This would later translate into a perfect draw, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

I cut just the top cap of the triple cap head with my Xikar Rosewood cutter. I have not smoked enough cigars that have a folded over foot so I light it like I do the rest of my smokes... very carefully. As it turns out, the folded foot allows me to get a perfect circular burn around the circumference of the cigar, which then lights cleanly as I put it to draw.

The flavors are immediately sweet and spicy and there is a huge volume of rich smoke emitted from the burning foot. The draw is smooth and easy and the medium gray ash is loose enough that I don’t flirt with a potential “lap dance” and tap off early at about a half-inch.

The second half of the smoke is smooth with no bitterness, which seems odd for a cigar of such youth. Because of the loose draw the cigar tends to burn a bit fast and I have to slow myself down. The complex intense flavors dance across my palate in waves and then resolve gracefully. I enjoy this cigar until it begins to burn my lips and fingers.

This is a medium bodied cigar with full and complex flavors. It is very well balanced, which makes it a joy to smoke and an all around great experience.

Doc

[Zaphod]

Fantastic review!  I have only hada two Tatuajes, and neither one of them impressed me.  But I keep hearing great things about them.  I am going to have to give them another shot.

[Tonto]

Another nice review Doc.

I havn't tried these yet, but I will. I keep hearing good things about them too.

[B-Dub Cigar Ambassador]

I am resisting a box purchase.

[lz6]

Thanks to the kind Doctor, I enjoyed this cigar this evening along with some Cavados after dinner. A very well rolled cigar, oily, with a dark wrapper, triple cappa. Cut with a v cutter and we were off. Perfect draw, tons of smoke, and a flavor I have not had before and can't indentify, tobacco and woodsy with light pepper was it for me while reminding of Cuban tobacco. Enjoyed this cigar very much, had a long nice mellow finish which continues as I write this. 

Thanks Doc!   [smokin2]

[Cigar Penguin]

Thanks for the mini review Lz6,I think most tatuaje's are like that,unable to pinpoint the taste,similar to cubanos but not totally but,yet,totally unique and way different from any non cuban.
I relate these as the closest to cuban flavor you can get in a non cuban......tatuaje's that is.

[Dr. Stogie Fresh]

Glad you liked it. Calvados huh? Now, that's something else I'll have to try. As usual, I sit at the feet of the master and learn.

I am finding that I am becoming a "Pepin whore." They are the most "Cuban" of cigars I've tasted this side of the Island.

Doc