Sunday, July 22, 2012

Viaje TNT 2012

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo '99
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan

This cigar definitely looks like a stick of dynamite. There was a nice long wick that extended down from the cap to about the middle of the cigar. The wrapper leaf was very smooth with a nice oily shine to it. This cigar also had a closed foot with excess wrapper leaf. The cigar itself was solid throughout with no veins. The cigar was a medium shade of brown. Due to the closed foot it was easy to get an even burn from the start.

As I lit this cigar up I got some very strong wood and pepper notes. After a few puffs the profile really smoothed out. The cigar becomes pretty leathery after about a half inch. As the leather picked up, the smoke became much smoother and creamier. There was also a very nice combination of pepper and oak still sitting on my palate.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Tatuaje Mini Mum (Little Monsters)

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown Criollo
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan

The Mini Mum is the only cigar out of the Little Monsters set that has yet to have the "Original Release" available. So in my eyes, I am considering this cigar more of a test sample to what is to come.

This cigar has a medium brown wrapper that looks flawless. The cigar itself has a closed foot that is covered with excess wrapper leaf. The cap is perfectly flush and made up of three separate layers. There are a couple thin veins running through this cigar, but none are a worry to me. The cigar is smooth and solid throughout. The foot is slightly softer though. There is a very earthy and grassy smell coming from this cigar.

As soon as I lit this cigar up there was a very smooth combination of peppery spice and woody tones. There was a slightly sweet undertone that popped out every few puffs. After about a half inch the pepper flavor mellows out a leaves a very sweet earthy base. My palate was coated with a smooth and creamy combination of flavors.

Tatuaje Wolfie (Little Monsters)

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan

This is the only Little Monster in which I have reviewed the original release. I reviewed The Wolfman a few months ago.

The wrapper on this cigar is a medium to dark shade of brown. Like the Wolfman, this cigar is also a box pressed torpedo. This cigar's foot isn't as "shaggy" as the Wolfman, but it is a shaggy foot nonetheless. The wrapper is very smooth and oily. This cigar is very solid throughout. I'm actually surprised that it is this solid given that it is box pressed. There is one thin vein running through the wrapper but nothing to worry about. Also the smell coming from this cigar is a combination of chocolate and earth.

As soon as this cigar was lit up I got some very strong pepper notes. There was also a strong coffee flavor that started to build up. The earth and wood tones slowly built up as this cigar moved past the shaggy foot and hit the wrapper. The bitter coffee notes started to become more prominent as this cigar progressed.

Tatuaje Baby Face (Little Monsters)

Wrapper: San Andres Mexican Maduro
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan

This cigar has two separate leaves used for the wrapper. The main leaf is the San Andres Mexican Maduro which is a medium to dark brown. There is also a light brown, most likely Connecticut, leaf that makes up the "Face" of this cigar (reference to Leatherface). This cigar isn't quite a torpedo, but there is a pointed cap.

The cap is made up of 3 layers that were all perfectly flush. The foot on this cigar is covered with excess wrapper leaf. The cigar itself is very oily with only a couple veins running through it. The cigar is solid throughout and gave off a very sweet smell.

Once I lit this cigar up, I knew I was in for a treat. There was a strong leather flavor right away, which was actually expected. There was a light spice that formed quickly as well. After I smoked through the first half inch some wood and earth tones picked up. By an inch in the pepper picked up and complimented the earthy tones perfectly. The combination of earth and leather coated my palate completely.