Tatuaje Reserva Sir Winston - Unknown (CRW)*

[sho671]

This was my first Tatuaje I've smoked and was expecting great things, but unfortunately it ended up being far from great. I bought this as a single add on to an order earlier this year in February. I tend to smoke robustos and coronas based on their smoke times, but a Churchill review weekend was a perfect time to go bigger. The disappointment started with the draw. I used a straight cutter for the first two cuts as the draw was slightly tighter than I prefer. The draw didn't change after the second straight cut so I went with a deep V cut. Prior to this, every time I've resorted to a deep V due to draw issues, it would do the trick, but not this time; the draw remained a little tight. The next remedy I tried was the PerfecDraw tool. I was able to pull out a vein, but the draw just wouldn't change. I was out of ideas, so I lit the cigar and started to smoke. The disappointment continued with the smoke production as it was fairly low, which was expected. The draw and smoke production weren't great, but they weren't abysmal, unlike the cigar's taste/flavor. I was ready to pull out some epic tasting notes and sound like a pro with a flavor wheel on hand to cross reference, but I got next to nothing. The entire cigar was bland. I think I had the most fleeting touch of cocoa in the last third and a slight bit of pepper on a retrohale, but otherwise I seemed to be puffing fresh air through a straw. It was one of the most boring and unenjoyable cigar I have ever smoked. And the fact that it was a Churchill that smoked longer than I am used to made it even worse. The only positive ting I can say about the cigar was it's burn line was pretty good. I do have a few other Tatuajes that I'm not too eager to try, but I'm hoping that they are better than this dud.

0 on my 0/1 scale.

[Goodfortune]

Nice review! Sorry to hear it didn’t live up to expectations. 

[Doctorossi]

I've never had one anywhere near as poor as you describe, but I've always been distinctly underwhelmed by this cigar. When you have a better one, you can definitely appreciate some of the "Sir Winston-esque" characteristics that mssrs. Johnson and Garcia really do manage to pull out of it, but they're working in Nicaraguan tobacco, so the whole is not quite the sum of those parts the way it is with Cuban. Nothing against Nicaraguan leaf- this just doesn't play to its strengths. You know... Arnold Schwarzenegger is probably not the first choice to play Hamlet.

Yeah, I've never been a big fan of the Reserva SW, but the Reserva J21, on the other hand... that's an all-timer for me (one of the 3 NCs in my top 10).

[djrey]

Shame it didn't live up to expectations. Tatuaje was my go to brand before I got into CC. For me they certainly have never been bland. Usually the opposite coming in at full spice. However, since I discovered FOH I haven't bought another Tat since and am never excited to smoke my remaining stash. 

[havanaclub]

Surprised as that is generally a really good cigar.


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[JoeyBones777]

That is one of my favorite Tatuaje though it is one of the lightest Tatuaje it usually has good flavor and complexity. Unfortunately, it sounds like yours was overpacked. Construction issues are quite rare for them.

[sho671]

12 hours ago, Doctorossi said:

I've never had one anywhere near as poor as you describe, but I've always been distinctly underwhelmed by this cigar. When you have a better one, you can definitely appreciate some of the "Sir Winston-esque" characteristics that mssrs. Johnson and Garcia really do manage to pull out of it, but they're working in Nicaraguan tobacco, so the whole is not quite the sum of those parts the way it is with Cuban. Nothing against Nicaraguan leaf- this just doesn't play to its strengths. You know... Arnold Schwarzenegger is probably not the first choice to play Hamlet.

Yeah, I've never been a big fan of the Reserva SW, but the Reserva J21, on the other hand... that's an all-timer for me (one of the 3 NCs in my top 10).

I'll be adding one or two more to future orders to make sure this one was just a dud. I'll probably grab some Reserva J21s too.

10 hours ago, djrey said:

Shame it didn't live up to expectations. Tatuaje was my go to brand before I got into CC. For me they certainly have never been bland. Usually the opposite coming in at full spice. However, since I discovered FOH I haven't bought another Tat since and am never excited to smoke my remaining stash. 

Spice is what I was expecting and pretty much got nothing. I jokingly thought that I had COVID, but I had no issues tasting my breakfast, lunch or dinner that day.

1 hour ago, havanaclub said:

Surprised as that is generally a really good cigar.

I was hoping for better, but I'll definitely have to try another one or two in the future.

[havanaclub]

Just avoid the ones that say “broadleaf” under the reserva lettering. It was the first thing I did when I zoomed into your picture wondering if you had the crappy BL version.
You have to watch for the J21 reserva. The regular one uses a high priming habano wrapper and will only say reserva.
The one that says broadleaf under reserva is not even close to as good as the original.


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[djrey]

Certainly don’t give up on the brand. Though I prefer CC to Tats they are still a great cigar and Pete knows his stuff. I’d recommend getting some brown label and laying a few down for a few years. They come out quite nice. Noellas is a great size. I actually have a 2015 box still sealed I’m about to crack open ? I’ll report back! 

[BuzzArd]

1 hour ago, havanaclub said:

Just avoid the ones that say “broadleaf” under the reserva lettering. It was the first thing I did when I zoomed into your picture wondering if you had the crappy BL version.
You have to watch for the J21 reserva. The regular one uses a high priming habano wrapper and will only say reserva.
The one that says broadleaf under reserva is not even close to as good as the original.


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The Reserva line should all be Connecticut (Ecuador?) broadleaf.  

[havanaclub]

The Reserva line should all be Connecticut (Ecuador?) broadleaf.  

No sir. The exception is the SW reserva and the J21 reserva.
But the remainder of the reserva line is BL. Pete Johnson later changed the bands to help distinguish the BL ones by putting broadleaf under the reserva.
But still the j21 and SW will still have the standard reserva band.


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[BuzzArd]

10 minutes ago, havanaclub said:

No sir. The exception is the SW reserva and the J21 reserva.
But the remainder of the reserva line is BL. Pete Johnson later changed the bands to help distinguish the BL ones by putting broadleaf under the reserva.
But still the j21 and SW will still have the standard reserva band.


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Gotcha.  I was gonna txt him tomorrow to ask.  LOL

I have some of a Reserva box left from 2012.  Don’t recall the size, but not Churchill’s. They’ve been really good lately. 

Too bad the above was a disappointment. 
 

[havanaclub]

Gotcha.  I was gonna txt him tomorrow to ask.  LOL
I have some of a Reserva box left from 2012.  Don’t recall the size, but not Churchill’s. They’ve been really good lately. 
Too bad the above was a disappointment. 
 

Absolutely, Pete will tell you.

Those 12-13 BL are outstanding. His best BL batch.
That looks like a Regios reserva or the 7th (CG size). Excellent cigars. And would be BL


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[BuzzArd]

7 minutes ago, havanaclub said:

Absolutely, Pete will tell you.

Those 12-13 BL are outstanding. His best BL batch.
That looks like a Regios reserva or the 7th (CG size). Excellent cigars. And would be BL


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It’s a Regios. Was during an event here in 2015. He was surprised I’d scrounged and come up with a 2012 box.
 

 “Damn!   Where the hell was that hiding??”

[ElLoboLoco]

Problem with the draw you say?

1. Get a Perfect Draw gizmo. Pays for itself quickly.

2. Maybe it was a cuban cigar is disguise. Lol

[sho671]

5 minutes ago, ElLoboLoco said:

Problem with the draw you say?

1. Get a Perfect Draw gizmo. Pays for itself quickly.

2. Maybe it was a cuban cigar is disguise. Lol

I have a PerfecDraw and I used it, as I noted above, without any improvement in the draw of this particular cigar. It has helped others though.

[ElLoboLoco]

I didn’t catch that, so sorry. Must have been a really bad cigar if the Perfect Draw can’t save the day.  

I have smoked a fair number of Tatuaje cigars over the years and construction has never been an issue. Except an uneven burn here and there. 

[prshah25]

I had one lying in my humidor since 2010 . Smoked it this summer and it was ok. These don’t age as well as a CC. 

[Reverb]

The SW Maduro was a fantastic stick, but I only ever got to smoke one of them.


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[Cairo]

19 hours ago, BuzzArd said:

 “Damn!   Where the hell was that hiding??”

You reminded me that I had an old Petite Tatuaje cab lying around here somewhere.

I found it--2006--maybe a third of the smokes remaining.    The aroma when I opened it was amazing--how did I forget about these?

(senior moment is the right answer  ?  )