Not to be confused with the smoke of the same name released in 2011, the Tatuaje Tattoo was revived three years later, with an emphasis on creating an affordable cigar with a more premium smoking experience.
For those not in the know, Tatuaje is the Spanish word for “tattoo”. Technically, this means there is a double injection of ink in the name but does this all-new blend from master blender (and founder of the famed Tatuaje line) Pete Johnson leave a lasting mark?
Cigar Specs
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Strength: Medium
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
- Binder: Undisclosed
- Filler: Nicaraguan
- Smoke Time: 60 minutes
- Sizes Available:
How is the cigar constructed?
When I think of a tattoo, I imagine the physically demanding and painstaking process of creativity, symbolism, and unique imagery. The artwork on the 20-count and 50-count boxes draw inspiration from some of Johnson’s own tattoos, which create both a personable and memorable brand.
As for the stick itself, the coffee bean brown wrapper is delightfully oily with minimal veins. I don’t think there is anything more splendid than a perfectly hand-rolled rolled cigar, which is just what this stogie (with its tight invisible seams) is. Finished off in a large double-cap, there’s a touch of light cocoa coming from the Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.
Constructed at the renowned My Father factory in Nicaragua, not much is known about the cigar’s secretive blend, other than it uses a Nicaraguan filler alongside the aforementioned wrapper.
The red cigar band is simple, yet still clearly conveys an artistic link with the Tattoo name in white, etched over the black Tatuaje Tattoo stamp. With a gold trim decorating the edges, the entire design pops and fizzes in tandem with the rich brown shade of the wrapper.
A few words on the cold draw
After I’d clipped the cap, I proceeded with the pre-light draw. Sadly, there wasn’t much to get the juices flowing. Faint hints of cocoa and leather threatened to spark into life, but my tastebuds were otherwise left deserted.
What flavors did I enjoy from the Tatuaje Tattoo?
There were two notable components throughout this smoke. That classic kick of pepper is synonymous with products from Garcia-owned factories, as well as a cocoa element in various forms.
Both the pepper and sweetness that these two brought to the table faded as I burned at speed towards the finish line. This was solely down to the strong earthy presence that came on board in the middle section of my smoke, alongside some sweet wood notes. The earthiness became even more of a dominant force in the final third and performed even better when it was joined by sweet charms of espresso bean and dark chocolate.
Some may see the flavors of the Tatuaje Tattoo as being very one-dimensional, but they’re consistent and complement the cigar’s nostalgic feel.
First third
Thankfully, once lit, the cigar hit the ground running as that trademark Garcia family black pepper blast came out to cause havoc. Once the pepper had retreated, mocha was the principal note, although slight citrus hit brought about some much-needed sweetness.
Second third
At this point, it appeared that my palate was going to be peppered throughout, but this time the pepper notes were more detectable on the retrohale, where it took on herbal spice qualities of warm ginger and saffron.
The mocha had faded away, but the profile had definitely become more earthy, as some cedar and leather notes started to develop.
Final third
Yes, you’ve guessed it. The profile still continued to produce spices (mainly black pepper), but it was the earthiness that had ramped up a couple of notches, and it prevented the sweet notes of espresso and dark chocolate from being too cloying.
How strong is the Tatuaje Tattoo?
The strength of the cigar is medium-bodied, but there were times both in the beginning and conclusion of my burn where it evidently had more fire in its belly.
It would make sense in the rotation of a more experienced cigar handler, but for the price, it’s a great option for a stogie novice eager to press their lips to something a little fuller without breaking the bank.
Final thoughts
A tattoo is a memory, and something we look at to remind us of something or someone. I won’t forget the Tatuaje Tattoo in a hurry. It is intended to be and succeeds as an “everyday smoke” that showcases an enjoyable mix of flavors at just $5 a stick.
Representing exceptional value for such a reliable cigar, it makes complete sense to keep a bunch on hand, so don’t forget to pick up your box of Tatuaje Tattoo cigars from cigars.com today! For more additional information, check out our Tatuaje cigars review below.
