Tatuaje TAA 2014

In 2011, Pete Johnson crafted a special cigar for retailers who were members of the Tobacconists Association of America (TAA) and attended the group’s annual conference. The cigar, simply known as the Tatuaje TAA, was said to be based on two of Johnson’s most sought after cigars—the Tatuaje Pork Tenderloin and Barclay Rex.

Since then, the Tatuaje TAA has become an annual release, an incentive for the retailers to attend the conference. For those unfamiliar with the group, Patrick Lagreid summed it up quite conscicely a few months ago:

The TAA is a fairly small group of some of the country’s top tobacconists, a group of about 80 retailers (though many have multiple locations) as well as about 40 manufacturers. The association gathers annually to discuss issues facing the industry and retailers, as well as to have its annual trade show, a unique event that works on a group buying format in order to secure exclusive deals for these generally high-volume merchants.

This year’s Tatuaje TAA began shipping a few weeks ago. Johnson describes the 6 x 52 toro as fitting in between the 2011 (5 5/8 x 54) version and the 2012 release, which measured 6 1/4 x 50. Last year, as part of Tatuaje’s 10th anniversary celebration, the company crafted a special size of the Tatuaje Brown Label line for members of the TAA, but this year’s version returns to the Connecticut broadleaf-wrapped blend that consumers have consistently raved over.

• Tatuaje TAA 2011 (5 5/8 x 54) – $11 (Boxes of 20, $220) – 1,500 Boxes of 20 (30,000 Total Cigars)
• Tatuaje TAA 2012 (6 1/4 x 50) – $11 (Boxes of 20, $220) – 2,500 Boxes of 20 (50,000 Total Cigars)
• Tatuaje 10th Anniversary Grand Chasseur TAA 2013 (6 3/8 x 54) – $11 (Boxes of 20, $220) – 2,500 boxes of 20 (50,000 Total Cigars)
• Tatuaje TAA 2014 (6 x 52) — $11 (Boxes of 20, $220) — 2,800 Boxes of 20 (56,000 Total Cigars)

As with the 2011 and 2012 versions, this year’s Tatuaje TAA release features the Tatuaje Exclusive Series band with the TAA logo on the face of the band. It is priced at $11 per cigar and sold in boxes of 20.

Tatuaje was one of six manufacturers that produced special cigars for TAA members only available this year:

• La Flor Dominicana 707
• Padrón 1964 Belicoso
• Padrón 1964 Belicoso Maduro
• H. Upmann Bank Note
• Tatuaje TAA 2014
• Crowned Heads “The Angel’s Anvil”
• My Father 2014 TAA Exclusive

In addition, a handful of cigars are offered to TAA members annually, they include:  ACID Big Bang, Padrón 1964 TAA Toro, Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary TAA and Romeo y Julieta Magnum TAA.

• Cigar Reviewed: Tatuaje TAA 2014
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
• Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Size: 6 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 52
• Vitola: Toro
• MSRP: $11 (Boxes of 20 $220)
• Date Released: Sept. 22, 2014
• Number of Cigars Released: 2,800 Boxes of 20 (56,000 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked for Review: 3

Without a ruler, trying to keep the 2011, 2012 and 2014 versions of the Tatuaje TAA is going to be challenging. It’s the thick Connecticut broadleaf that many Tatuaje fans have become obsessive over, and there’s not a ton of differences from previous versions. I will say the aroma is much sweeter than a lot of broadleaf, there’s some roasted notes that smell like the bottom of a can of mixed nuts and I cannot detect any barnyard. The covered foot of the TAA 2014 is a bit more intriguing with some floral and varnish notes mixed in with the obvious wrapper aroma. From the cold draw I get grains, cocoa, some black pepper and a big bourbon flavor with some acidity that creeps into my nose.

There’s a big earth and bitter cocoa note to start the TAA 2014, but it quickly is surrounded by a sweet floral note and a rich milk chocolate before a spicy barbecue note hits the throat. Once the finish fully kicks in a black pepper places itself in the back of my throat, which contrasts quite nicely with the sweeter flavors. I’m a bit shocked at how tame the cigar begins, medium-plus, although it’s definitely building, albeit slowly. The floral sweetness surrounds a core of woods, cumin, leather and damp grass; while the finish retains the familiar nuttiness, now with some generic woodsy notes, and the black pepper on the throat.

At some point, the strength definitely picks up to the medium-full mark, it’s not surprising at all, but it does fly in the face of my tame comments above. The roasted nuts pick up, as does the sweetness, which deals with the occasionally jalapeño flavor I find mid-tongue. The finish is now a burnt coffee and damp oak, a pretty radical change from the first third, although there’s still some lingering pepper notes in between puffs, along with a tart lemon. The profile of the Tatuaje TAA 2014 is insanely smooth, but it’s also somewhat quick with an accelerated finish.

The strength keeps building, hitting the full mark with about an inch and a half left to go. As for the flavor, it’s very much the flavors I found on the finish of the second third: burnt coffee, wet oak and some pepper—just now up front. The finish of the retrohale shows an occasionally cocoa note, but it’s faded compared to how vibrant the flavors were in the second third. At just over the one inch mark the smooth profile gets harsh and I decide it’s not worth ending on a bad note.

 

Final Notes

• I didn’t mention the construction of the cigar once above. Draws are easy and consistent; the ash built to nice, even, one and a half-inch chunks and the smoke production was good. The TAA 2014 was about as effortless construction-wise as any cigar I’ve smoked lately.
• Johnson has extended the “must be present” to get the cigar to the IPCPR Convention & Trade Show. For Tatuaje, he plans on selling the Halloween Series beginning next year to those retailers that attend the annual trade show. With L’Atelier Imports, his other company, the Extension de la Racine is offered to retailers who place orders at the show.
• Given the complaints regarding retailer attendance at this IPCPR show, these moves make sense.
• The beauty of this cigar is being smooth and vibrant, despite being somewhat full in strength.
• In a world in which almost every manufacturer raises prices at least once every two years, Tatuaje has somewhat quietly bucked the trend. The TAA release has been priced at $11 in all four of its releases.
• I have not been a fan of the Tatuaje Exclusive Series band, with the exception of the TAA releases. While I understand the economics behind using the band, it just doesn’t look particularly great, except here. The TAA logo on the band makes things look complete, whereas the simple text is lost.
• The cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time was one hour and 50 minutes on average.