Tatuaje La Verite Vintage 2009 Robusto (5x50)

I am a recently lost disciple of Pete Johnson.  I used to go out of my way to get my hands on his smokes.  I would search high and low, no price was too high, I just couldn't get enough of them.  I still can't get enough of the Tat Reds and Browns, and I also love Cabaiguan, Triunfador and La Riqueza.  Recent releases just haven't been very good though, and I find that disturbing, so I have left the Pete Johnson fold, at least in terms of new releases.

This is not a new release, but it is a cigar that I had not smoked or reviewed before so it is new to me.  It presents well, the wrapper is silky and shows little veining.  The bandwork and overall presentation is sophisticated, but understated and classy.  The cigar appears to be constructed well, I can't find any issues when I inspect it.  The pre light draw is full of wheat, bread and cedar.  The pre light aroma is also wheaty and full of cedar notes.

The cigar opens with a splendid array of flavor that is both complex and deep.  There are some nice flavors here; bread, wheat, cedar, spice and citrus.  The interplay between all of these flavors is excellent early on and this cigar is really ramping up my expectations at this point.  I am being transferred back to the halcyon days of early Pete offerings, when every cigar was nearly a masterpiece.  At the back of the palate the smoke is heavy and lingers sweetly on the palate with a brush of vanilla flavors that has some white pepper kick to it.  The draw is a bit tight here, but I am thinking it will open up as the smoke progresses.  The burn is rock solid, nary a run or issue.

The first half of the cigar is excellent, though some of the early promise is gone.  The profile settles into a more simple array of wheat and cedar, but the depth is still nice.  At the back of the palate the vanilla flavor becomes muted and the pepper notes really take over to provide a kick to a profile that really needs it in the opening half.  This is a very pleasant experience up to this point, and I am thinking I may need to get some more of these.  The draw opens slightly, but it is still not where I want it to be.  The burn stays solid to this point.

The final half of this smoke really brings it home.  The profile morphs into a dizzying array of flavor and complexity that is seldom experienced in a cigar.  The core profile shows notes of vanilla, cedar and pepper.  This mixes together in levels of complexity that are mind blowing.  At the back of the palate there are some very fine notes of wheat and some light caramel flavor comes through here as well.  This combination of flavor is unique and, in my opinion, fantastic.  The draw opens even further and in the final third is exactly where I want it.  The burn stays solid throughout.

The finish luxuriates the palate with vanilla and cedar flavors well into the night.

Appearance- 91 elegant
Taste- 92 a very nice palate that lost some zip in the first half
Construction- 90 some early tightness in the draw hurts the score
Strength- 93 a very nice medium
Overall- 91.25 a very nice smoking experience

El Martillo 2009

I was unable to find much information about the lineage of this cigar, but it appears that it is something due to be released soon. The cigar is big, dark and oily. The wrapper has no flaws and the veining is slight, the cigar is beautiful to look at. The construction appears to be solid, and a quick roll through the fingers shows no signs of any issues. The pre light aroma is distinctly of raisins. The pre light draw is sweet and has notes of tobacco, earth and hard candy.

The cigar begins with notes of rich tobacco, earth and a light sweetness. The draw is acceptable and the burn is sharp. The first inch of the cigar maintains the above profile and burn characteristics.

At just past the one third point the profile develops with notes of dark wood, earth and straight blasts of rich tobacco. There is a slightly dirty or ashy flavor that is sneaking onto the back of the palate and I am worried about some nasty aftertaste on the finish. The draw and the burn are holding up well, but there is some labor in both, it almost seems as if the cigar is moist.

The final half of the cigar continues to show notes of wood, earth and tobacco. The ashy notes have become prominent and they are detracting from the overall experience. The burn and draw continue to be laborious, and are getting more so, the closer to the end of the smoke I progress.

The finish is short and dirty, with ashy flavors and a muddy undertone.

Appearance- 92 an excellent looking cigar
Taste- 77 the ashy notes in the profile and the muddy finish hurt the score
Construction- 79 some burn and draw issues caused labor to produce a pleasing amount of smoke
Strength- 83 a full offering that did not compliment the profile well
Overall- 82.75 not very good, saved by the appearance score

La Escepcion 2009

This is an extension of the Hoyo De Monterrey line for 2009, it will only be available for a limited time. The cigar presents with a dark natural wrapper that is nearly a maduro in color. The pre light aroma is earthy and has a tone of light wood. The pre light draw is of tobacco and earth. An examination of the cigar leads me to conclude that it is well made.

The cigar opens with a profile of tobacco and earth, there is a slightly bitter note at the back of the palate that is off putting. The burn is developing well and the cigar produces ample smoke through a fine draw. The first third of the cigar progresses in the same fashion.

After the first third, but before the halfway point, there is a profile change. The core develops a nice solid leathery note with hints of tobacco and earth at the back of the palate and through the nose. There is still a bitter note present that is trying to be peppery, but it is coming up short. The construction, draw and burn all hold together well.

The final half maintains a core of leathery, earthy notes. There are hints of tobacco in the background, but the bitter note persists through to the end.

The finish is acceptable and smacks of tobacco and leather.

Appearance- 91 an attractive cigar
Taste- 83 bitter notes detract from the profile. More depth and complexity would definitely be a plus
Construction- 93 excellent draw and burn
Strength- 85 a sold medium/full presentation, but it does not compliment the profile well
Overall- 88 an acceptable smoke, but the taste (some would argue the most important component) is lacking