Tatuaje Mummy

The first time we saw The Mummy blend was not actually in the form of The Mummy. Instead, it was in the Little Monsters sampler a few months before the fifth version of the Monster Series formally debuted. The Mummy blend is back again, once again in smaller form, but this time in a slightly larger take of a corona gorda called simply Mummy, part of the Tatuaje Pudgy Monsters.

(Editor’s Note: Rather than rewriting history seven times, we’ve included the same basic history of the Monster Series across all eight reviews.)

Last year, Pete Johnson of Tatuaje began talking about a project known as “fat little monsters,” a take on the 2012 Little Monster samplers, which was a take on the über popular Monster Series. Tatuaje’s origins with monsters dates back to October 2008 when the company released The Frank as part of its Monster Series. The plan was simple, cigars based off of monster characters from films with names, boxes and even some times blends paying homage to each monster’s respective personality. The series has become an annual occurrence, arguably the most anticipated and craze-filled cigar release of each year.

Given the Monster Series name, it should come as no surprise that the cigars themselves are large. As such, in 2012, Johnson created the Little Monsters to allow smokers to see how the first five Monster Series releases performed in a smaller format. Pudgy Monsters, which is the final name for the “fat little monster” idea, share many details with the 2012 project, both are 10-count samplers, the boxes for both are rather similar, both began shipping in June of their respective years and more importantly, both are smaller takes on Pete Johnson’s popular Monster Series.

Five of the Pudgy Monsters share the ring gauge of the original Monster Series release and the length of the Little Monsters.

• Frank (5 5/8 x 49), based on The Frank (7 5/8 x 49) and Frank Jr. (5 5/8 x 44)
• Drac (5 x 52), based on The Drac (6 3/4 x 52) and Lil’ Drac (5 x 48)
• Face (4 3/8 x 56), based on The Face (6 3/8 x 56) and Baby Face (4 3/8 x 50)
• Wolf (5 1/2 x 52), based on The Wolfman (7 1/2 x 52) and Wolfie (5 1/2 x 48)
• Mummy (5 3/4 x 47), based The Mummy (7 3/4 x 47) and Mini Mum (5 3/4 x 42)

Last year, the company released The JV-13 (7 1/2 x 52) based on the character Jason. Johnson’s pudgy take on the JV-13 is Jason, a 5 1/2 x 52 cigar.

Each Pudgy Monster box has one of the aforementioned six cigars. The remaining four cigars are split up between two different 4 x 50 releases, Chuck and Tiff—based on the characters of Chucky and Tiffany from Don Mancini’s Child’s Play films, specifically Bride of Chucky.

With these releases, the Monster Series and its related releases now stand at 19 cigars.

The suggested retail price for each 10-count box is $95. There will be 20,000 boxes, which began shipping in mid-June. Like the Little Monsters, the cigars are expected to be released in multiple shipments.

This is the third time The Mummy blend has been released.

• Cigar Reviewed: Tatuaje Mummy
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown Criollo Estelí
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Size: 5 3/4 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 47
• Vitola: Corona Gorda
• MSRP: $9.50 (Boxes of 10, $95.00)
• Date Released: June 18, 2014
• Number of Cigars Released: 20,000 Boxes of 2 Cigars (40,000 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked for Review: 2

The wrapper of the Mummy isn’t perfect, as we’ve come to expect from the monster series, however it’s not as bad as you would think. Besides a few veins and a small rough section of seam towards the foot the wrapper, it is quite nice looking and has a soft, slightly bumpy and oily feel to it. There is some give through the middle of the cigar, not exactly what I would call soft spots but definitely a little more than I’d like to see. Sweet tobacco, some barnyard and a light leather note make up the aroma coming off the wrapper. The cold draw notes consist of light chocolate, graham cracker, a bit of spice and a touch of a peppery kick.

The first third begins with giant and cloying black pepper notes that hit me strong on the back of my tongue and in the back of my throat. After a few draws the black pepper fades enough to pick out some sweeter notes of cocoa, cedar and some leather. The cold draw was actually a bit tight with the covered foot, but once it burned away the draw opened up to an ideal level. The open draw also allows plenty of smoke that continues streaming out of the cigar long after the draw. Though the ash is holding quite strongly to over an inch it’s a touch flaky. An inch into the cigar the black pepper that was so dominant has almost completely faded away. The cedar, cocoa and leather continue with an added sweet dried fruit note.

The second third continues the overall sweet profile with cedar and dried fruit while a new spice note has joined them in the forefront. The leather and cocoa continue in the background, though they are quite minor at this point. The ash continues to be pretty flaky and the burn has become quite squirrely requiring a few touch ups. A strangely distinct cinnamon roll note has taken over, which is to say specifically notes of cinnamon, creamy vanilla and a light nuttiness. The spice is still there along with the fruit, but the other previous notes are all relegated to the back.

Moving into the final third the burn has evened up significantly, though there are still minor touch ups needed. The cinnamon and vanilla have faded almost as quickly as they showed up and with their fading the cocoa, spice and fruit notes have returned to the forefront. The nuttiness and leather are still in the background, rounding the profile out nicely. A few more touch ups and a relight later I’m almost at the end of the cigar. Luckily the burn issues don’t seem to be affecting the cigar too much, so the cigar ends without getting too harsh or burning too hot.

Final Notes

• The Mummy is the only cigar in the Monster Series to have a preview of sorts released in the form of the Mini Mum. The Chuck and Tiff aren’t considered to be previews since there are no current plans to release them in full sizes.
• The Mummy is the smallest ring gauge in the large format Monster Series to date, and with the Chuck and Tiff at 50 ring gauge, it’s also the smallest ring gauge in the Pudgy Monsters box as well.
• While we’re on the subject of the Chuck and Tiff, back when The Mummy was being released Johnson still was tossing around the idea of next year’s monster series, i.e. 2013, being Chucky and The Bride of Chucky.
• The bands on the Mini Mum and The Mummy appear a little different than the Mummy’s band. The Pudgy Monster version seems to be a different printing process or material and is a little more shiny and almost plastic feeling.
• Johnson recently confirmed the 2014 Monster Series will be known Jekyll with Hyde coming in 2015.
• I love covered feet on cigars – getting a huge blast of the flavor of the wrapper right away sets the whole tone for the cigar’s profile.
• The samples for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time averaged around an hour and 45 minutes.

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