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Tatuaje Black Pre-Jar Release

Kingantz

Growing too fast.
Joined
Oct 6, 2007
Messages
7,648
It is warm out today, temperature gauge showing right at 92F with the humidity 41%. Fortunately the wind is blowing with some fairly strong gusts that feel really good. While the wife and baby girl play in the pool, I sit down in the shade of the porch to put fire to a pre-jar release Tat Black. The wrapper is a medium, dull brown with not much by way of oil and what looks like slight marbling throughout, a couple of prominent veins are present and look like patchwork. Holding the cigar in the hand, the weight seems a little on the heavy side and is quite firm when squeezed. I punch the cap at first and find the draw is very tight with very little air flow coming through, so I go ahead and clip a good piece off the head and still, the draw is overly tight. However, I’m hoping that once lit the draw will open a bit more.

I put fire to the uncircumcised foot and the loose pieces fall away as I blow on the forming embers. Once satisfied with the burn, I take a few puffs to try and get smoke flowing, and then take a long, hard draw. There was just enough good smoke coming through to get a nice blast of pepper spice and feel the medium to full strength. I’m not too happy with how hard I have to draw to get smoke through; however again it is working well enough I suppose. The flavor coming through seems to be a bit muted, not a rich smoke, however still delicious and quite smooth on the palate with a semi-lasting finish.

A third in and the burn is sharp with a medium to dark gray ash forming that is compact in layers. The draw is still tight; however it does seem to be opening up a bit more as I do not have to draw quite as hard. The strong, pepper spice has long since mellowed and in perfect balance with the medium to almost full strength smoke. Flavors still aren’t what I would expect, however are definitely not bad at all. Tastes of earth, wood, and a hint of vanilla with a familiar sweetness are left on the palate after exhaling.

Halfway through and into the final third, the burn continues to be razor sharp with a compact ash forming that holds strong until tapped off. The spice and strength are working perfectly well together with the smoke smooth over the palate with flavors that have intensified, now quite rich and delicious. The only issue with this cigar was the overly tight draw that seemed to get better around the halfway mark, but then tightened up again towards the end, almost to the point of being plugged at one point. However, with slow, long, hard draws I was able to get smoke through and did finish it up.

06-06-10TatPrejarRel001.jpg

06-06-10TatPrejarRel002.jpg
 
I had 2 of these pre-jar release that jfields sent me and I loved them.

BTW, do you ever use anything but a punch?
 
I had 2 of these pre-jar release that jfields sent me and I loved them.

BTW, do you ever use anything but a punch?

I use a Palio on torps/belis, but other than that I punch all my smokes unless I feel clipping may help the draw at times.
 
I had 2 of these pre-jar release that jfields sent me and I loved them.

BTW, do you ever use anything but a punch?

I use a Palio on torps/belis, but other than that I punch all my smokes unless I feel clipping may help the draw at times.
I have about 15 of these left and I must say, IMHO these rival the best cigars I've ever smoked, including CC. So far (tap tap), I've never had a tight draw or bad burn.
 
Thanks for the review. I only have like 8 left

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
 
Thanks for the review.

I have one in the humidor waiting to be smoked. I should do that soon i guess. always hesitant to smoke a cigar that i probably will not be able to replace.
 
Mmmm.....Almost a perfect cigar IMO! Shame this one had to have a tight draw Greg.

I have only one bundle of 24 left. I'm torn between not opening and the teachings of Infinity.
 
Mmmm.....Almost a perfect cigar IMO! Shame this one had to have a tight draw Greg.

I have only one bundle of 24 left. I'm torn between not opening and the teachings of Infinity.

Yes I would agree! The are great cigars. Sorry for the tight draw. I would also say in the NC relm these are top 3 for me. I only have about 5 left :(.

Jim
 
Yeah man, bummer about the draw. There is nothing I hate more. I probably would have pitched it.
 
These are really my style of tatuaje! I have 2 left and one bundle still sealed. Must resist opening that baby :) G1
 
Are these really notably different from the later releases (Jar)? To be totally honest i haven't been impressed by the jar release for the money at all, not that they have been bad smokes just mediocre compared to other cigars I can get for the same money.
 
Are these really notably different from the later releases (Jar)? To be totally honest i haven't been impressed by the jar release for the money at all, not that they have been bad smokes just mediocre compared to other cigars I can get for the same money.

Interesting. I've been worried about how these would age. I had one a couple of months ago that paled in comparison to when I first stocked up.

I need to sample another this weekend.
 
Another fantastic review! Thanks for all the effort you put into these, Gregg. I love your photography as much as your narratives. I've learned so much just by reading your reviews.

:thumbs:
 
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