TX Duo - Tatuaje Bride of Mardi Gras

[Çnote]

Cap'n smoked something else, but I had a dream that implied I should smoke this.

I'm really not sure exactly what this is or how much I should talk about it. I did get them from @5thStarChicago, maybe he'll remind me.

I lit this with nothing to do, and then my phone exploded, so my normally vague notes are even more impressionist.

Let's start by saying: this is a -great- cigar.

It started with a distinct but pleasant sourness on the palate with a nuance of fresh soft leather. This led into the flavor of a mixed nut butter, like almond / cashew / brazil, but without any profound nut flavor. The texture is all cream, but without any sweetness. This chugs along neatly at a soft mild until 1/2 way and then it goes full flavor real quick. The cream fades and the nutiness becomes more toasted. I am reminded of Rob's 'mongrel in a dinner jacket' description.

At about the band, this turns directly into a rich aromatic nub, extraordinarily reminiscent of something like HdM Epi1, all cream and spice, but without the CC sweetness and twang.

I recently moved and my cigars were easily more than half of my belongings. I'm on a pretty hard buying freeze just due to the sheer amount on hand vs the amount I've been smoking. That being said, I'll probably be getting a bundle of these they are so good.

@Capn_Jackson I'm very much looking forward to your thoughts.

For those of you who want to play along, Cap'n smoked an RyJ Cazzie and I was supposed to smoke one. I will in the next couple of days, feel free to smoke a Cazzie and post your review with us!

[Capn_Jackson]

I’m late on this one, sorry everyone. Bride of Mardi Gras!

Smooth wrapper, little to no tooth. Very light shade, the color of soft blonde leather. After a straight cut, the cold draw gives me hay, peanut shell, and a little bit of salt. Something sweet there too, not sure what it is.

Pepper big-time in the nose, on light up. Some grassy flavors, or maybe wheat. A little sweetness again that I can’t quite place. Agave, maybe. There’s also a distinct wet cardboard, which hopefully goes away quickly.

After a few minutes, pepper fades away, there is absolutely no trace of wet cardboard, thankfully, and flavors liven up significantly. Going on, I’m getting mostly lots of rich prunes and cream. A great, bright honey note on the tip-tongue of the finish. Very NC DNA, with high-octane flavor notes. Thick, syrupy mouthfeel. Lots of coffee on the plate, as well. Medium roast with steamed milk.

Construction is superb so far. Great draw, solid ash, and a mostly-straight burn line with just one small wave.

Before reaching the second third, some slightly sweet pecan works its way in. I’m noticing that after the heavy, syrupy opening, this is mellowing out some for a nice, more refined smoke. Still a very NC vibe, though.

Going into the second third, syrup is back and I’m glad. Flavors were muted for just a few minutes before that transition. This moves onto a nice coffee with caramel creamer, but still thick, rich texture. Eventually, a hint of cumin and ancho chili. Nothing extreme, more earthy than spicy.

Around the midpoint, getting a whiff of Snickers bar, along with lots of coffee and cedar. Right now, this seems much more like a CC than at any point so far. Not that it’s trying purposefully to imitate that, just what I’m observing. The texture has become a lot more dry and crisp, and strength seems to creep above medium for the first time in this stick. Up until the last third, all coffee and cedar, but done very nicely.

To start the last act, coffee and cedar hold on but they’re joined by toasted marshmallow. Tangy campfire wood, too. Flashbacks to camping in my childhood, mingled scents of coffee and marshmallows, warmed over a fire pit in the forest. After awhile, some bittersweet orange liquor creeps in. Not quite Cointreau, at least not at first. Less floral, much more earthy. Closer to the end, this stick settles into coffee and nuts. Cashew, or hazelnut maybe. 

I’m confident giving this an 89. Not much complexity in the last half, although flavors were more akin to my usual. The first third ended much more rich than the other two. The prunes and cream from that first act never really returned, and this cigar finished with less blast of flavor, but with more elegant nuances. Long smoke, two and a half hours for me.

Thanks for the smoke, @Çnote!

[Çnote]

We never smoke the same NCs.