Tatuaje Miami Tan FF

In November of 2009, Pete Johnson shipped Dan Welsh of New Havana Cigars  a batch of 6 3/4 x 49 torpedoes that were originally slated to be the Tatuaje Cojonu 2009, which measures 6 3/4 x 48. The slightly more than 2,000 cigars were eventually labeled Tatuaje Miami FF, starting the somewhat sporadic Tatuaje FF series at New Havana Cigars.

Pete Johnson gave the history on the original FF in a post on botl.org in December of 2010:

FYI, Dan had the info in the description saying they were Cojonu 2009 FF’s and I asked him to remove it because I didn’t want him to use the Cojonu name. He was not trying to make people think they are Dracs. They are not even close to the same size and the Dracs are made in Nicaragua not Miami. Dan and I are part of a short list that don’t believe in making up some fake story and fooling the customer just to sell a cigar.

These are Factory Firsts that happen to be Factory F&@kups due to the ring gauge. I am glad the factory caught it but these are in no way seconds in quality or flavor. These are still a Cojonu just a small batch in a new ring gauge. Seeing that Noellas are $8.00 per stick this is a steal for a Miami made product of its quality.

To date, there have been four Tatuaje FFs:

• Tatuaje Miami FF (6 3/4 x 49) — November 2009 — 90 Bundles of 25 Cigars (2,250 Total Cigars)
• Tatuaje Miami Gran FF  (6 1/2 x 58) — June 2010 — 70 Bundles of 13 Cigars (910 Total Cigars)
• Tatuaje Capa FF (5 5/8 x 47-48) — November 2011 — 50 Bundles of 25 Cigars (1,250 Total Cigars)
• Tatuaje Miami Tan FF (7 5/8 x 52) — March 2012 — 28 Bundles of 25 Cigars (700 Total Cigars)

The description of the Tatuaje Miami Tan FF from New Havana Cigars goes as follows:

Tatuaje Miami Tan FF Bundle of 25 – 7 5/8 x ??

When the My Father factory in Miami sees a discrepancy – you might ask yourself how.   These bundles of 25 production sticks were pulled out in Miami for being ‘a size too big’.  Normally a 7 5/8 x 49 Prominentes (Double Corona) – these sticks are a bit larger ring gauge due to the molds used – so they were pulled.

I saw them at our stop in Miami on our way to Nicaragua and asked Janny if I could smoke one and after lighting it up asked “You have more of these?  I’ll take them!”  She said there were more and we could talk to Pete about them.

A few weeks later and they are here – 28 bundles of 25 beautiful sticks.

Here’s your chance to score a classic at a great discount and take advantage of some incredible quality control in Miami.

Normally $12/stick – these are available at $8/stick or $180 for a bundle of 25.

Act fast – when they’re gone – they are gone!

• Cigar Reviewed: Tatuaje Miami Tan FF
• Country of Origin: USA
• Factory: El Rey de Los Habanos
• Wrapper: Habano Ecuador
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Size: 7 5/8 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 52
• Vitola: Double Corona
• MSRP: $8.00 (Bundles of 25, $180.00)
• Release Date: March 2012
• Number of Cigars Released: 28 Bundles of 25 Cigars (700 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked for Review: 3

The pre-light aroma of the Tatuaje Miami Tan FF has notes of graham cracker and spice. A mild sweetness balances out the touch of pepper, though the overall intensity of the pre-light notes varied from medium to in-your-face. The cold draw is easy with just the faintest note of graham cracker sweetness followed by a bit of cinnamon, nutmeg and other baking spices.

The first third of the Miami Tan FF starts with a rich, warm smoke that is loaded with freshly baked wheat bread that provides a medium to full body easy to jump right into. It’s a full-bodied smoke that is medium in strength with lots of flavor to engage your palate right from the get go.

In the second third, the flavor picks up a bit with a note of beef jerky adding depth to the flavor profile. The flavor profile is very well rounded through the first half with no overt sharpness or harshness. While it wanders a bit and evokes different memories–at one point fresh baked pretzels, at another grilled chicken–the flavor doesn’t make massive steps one way or the other. The smoke is plentiful, the burn line is sharp and the ash holds strong — an incredibly well constructed cigar.

The spice picks up in final third – a sharper, more pronounced note of pepper comes out in the final inches adding a bit of edge to an otherwise smooth and consistent smoke. Notes of pretzel come through in the final puffs, which are smooth and easy and easily warrant taking the Tatuaje Miami Tan FF down to the fingertips.

Final Notes

• There really wasn’t a moment I didn’t enjoy the Tatuaje Miami Tan FF. If this is what a F&@kup tastes like, let me never be right.
• The Tainos vitola has been considered one of the mellower and more balanced sizes in the Selección de Cazador line and the Miami Tan FF further reinforces that point. The Double Corona size seems to bring everything that’s great about the blend into perfect harmony as opposed to certain elements shining brighter in the other sizes.
• You’re probably trying to figure out just what these cigars were supposed to be. Well, in his BOTL.org post, Pete more or less confirmed that the Miami FF were supposed to be Cojonu 2009, while the Miami Gran FF is the Gran Cojonu and the Miami Tan FFs were supposed to be Selección de Cazador Tainos. The only cigar that hasn’t been confirmed, or at least very explicitly implied as to what it is, is the Capa FF; most will guess the 7th Capa Especial, but given how many Corona Gordas Tatuaje makes, it’s bit more difficult.
• The Selección de Cazador Tainos, which normally retail for $12 per stick, were offered at $8 per cigar under the Miami Tan FF name. The discounts on the other FFs have been similar.
• I give Pete Johnson and Dan Welsh a lot of credit for being honest about the origins of these cigars.
• The word Tainos, which these cigars would be had it not been for the size issues, comes from the name of the indigenous people Christopher Columbus encountered in the new world. The name means good or noble, both fitting descriptions for this cigar.
• When Pete says these are “in no way seconds in quality or flavor,” he’s spot on.
• Final smoking time is just under two hours.

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, the G-League's Valley Suns, and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.