Ferio Tego Timeless TAA 2022

It has been said that everything old is new again, and I can’t think of a better way than that to explain the Ferio Tego brand.

Ferio Tego—which loosely translates to Strike and Defend from Latin, according to the company website—was founded in 2020 by Michael Herklots and Brendon Scott after they purchased the Nat Sherman brands, brand designs and blends, but not the Nat Sherman name itself, from Altria. Since both Herklots and Scott are former Nat Sherman employees, it was no real surprise when Ferio Tego’s initial portfolio consists mostly of old Nat Sherman brands—using the same blends made at the same factories—but under the Ferio Tego name.

In March, the company announced the first version of Ferio Tego’s Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA) exclusive cigar, a 6 x 50 toro made entirely of Nicaraguan tobaccos and rolled at Plasencia Cigars S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua. In case the packaging did not make the obvious, Ferio Tego has stated the new cigar was inspired by Nat Sherman’s Timeless TAA 2020, which was released in March 2020.

“The 2020 TAA Limited was launched just as the nation went into lock down,” said Herklots in a press release. “So much has happened over these last two years. This year’s Timeless TAA 2022 is largely inspired by the 2020 blend, utilizing very special tobaccos from Nicaragua, filler tobaccos and a binder from the Jalapa region and a wrapper from Esteli. We worked closely with the Plasencias to create complexity and nuance, but also vivaciousness. The result is a blend experience that is savory but also full of life… perfect for 2022 and looking towards a bright future.”

My colleague Charlie Minato explained exactly what the TAA is:

The TAA, which also includes approximately 40 manufacturers, 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.

During the event—which occurred in late March in Cabo San Lucas—the organization holds two selling events, one known as the Dream Machine where the retailers collectively order to secure larger discounts, while the other is a more traditional trade show. Typically, around a dozen manufacturers release new exclusive cigars for the retail members of the organization under the TAA Exclusive Series Program banner. Those manufacturers agree to give a portion of the proceeds to the organization, a minimum of 50 cents per cigar.

This year, a total of 13 different companies announced TAA ESP releases, the same number as last year:

• Asylum
• Crowned Heads
• E.P. Carrillo
• Ferio Tego
• Forged Cigar Co.
• Gurkha
• Illusione
• Joya de Nicaragua
• La Flor Dominicana
• La Palina
• Rocky Patel
• Tatuaje
• Villiger

The Ferio Tego Timeless TAA 2022 has an MSRP of $15 per cigar and is limited to 700 bundles of 10 cigars which began shipping to TAA retailers in late May. 

• Cigar Reviewed: Ferio Tego Timeless TAA 2022
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Plasencia Cigars S.A.
• Wrapper: Nicaragua
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Length: 6 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 50
• Vitola: Toro
• MSRP: $15 (Bundle of 10, $150)
• Release Date: May 2022
• Number of Cigars Released: 700 Bundles of 10 Cigars (7,000 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

There is plenty to love about the Ferio Tego Timeless TAA 2022 from a visual perspective: the wrapper is a mottled milk chocolate color that is both covered in oil and silky smooth to the touch. In addition, there are few smaller veins running up down its length and the cigar is quite spongy when squeezed. The aromas coming from the wrapper are quite aggressive, a combination of espresso beans, leather, earth, hay, manure and generic wood. The foot is slightly less aggressive, but with some different aromas including dark chocolate, cedar and almonds that combine with less obvious barnyard, black pepper and vanilla beans. A straight cut reveals a cold draw that features flavors of extremely strong dark chocolate—reminding me of biting into a 80 percent cocoa bar—roasted espresso beans, salted potato chips, cedar and a touch of cinnamon along with some slight graham cracker sweetness.

Anise and cedar flavors along with black pepper are the only things I taste just after I light the foot of the Ferio Tego. The black pepper and anise slowly recede, but the cedar remains one of the top flavors, joined a creamy peanut note. Secondary flavors of potato chips, leather tack, cinnamon, cocoa nibs and dry hay flit in and out at various points. Black pepper and graham cracker sweetness are both present in large amounts on the retrohale, and while there is still plenty of spice noticeable on my tongue, it continues to fade as the first third burns down. Flavor and body both start out just below medium while the strength level is at mild plus but increasing. All aspects of the construction seem to be working in total harmony right off the bat, with the smoke production, draw and burn all giving me no issues whatsoever on any of the cigars.

A very interesting combination of anise—pulled from what I tasted in the first few puffs—and dark chocolate takes over the top spots in the profile of the Timeless TAA 2022 in the second third, followed by creamy cedar, toasted bread, leather tack, earth, cinnamon, coffee beans and light citrus peel. All three cigars continue to feature some light spice on my tongue, as well as quite a bit of black pepper and graham cracker sweetness on the retrohale. Flavor increases to just over medium, while the body remains at a solid medium and the strength is at a point just over medium. Both the draw and smoke production continue along their excellent paths, but one cigar needs two minor corrections with my lighter just after the halfway point, although the other two cigars are fine in that regard.

Unfortunately, the spice that has been present on my tongue for the first two thirds almost completely dissipates just after the final third of the Ferio Tego begins, while the main flavors have switched to roasted espresso beans and dry hay. Additional flavors of creamy cedar, cinnamon, citrus peel, baker’s spices, cocoa nibs and sourdough bread show themselves at various points while the retrohale features more black pepper and new raisin sweetness. Flavor increases to medium-plus, while the body remains at a solid medium and the strength has increased quite a bit to end at medium-full. Finally, although the smoke production remains copious and the draw on all three cigars continues to be excellent, two cigars each need two quick corrections to keep things on track before the end.

Final Notes

• Ferio Tego boxes use a form of smart packaging from Humidifgroup that incorporates a near-field communication (NFC) chip: when scanned with a phone, the consumer is shown a website that contains cigar information and videos relevant to that specific product. Other companies have recently started including similar technology into their products including Plasencia, Oliva and CigarBlondie.
• According to the company website, Ferio Tego is the Herklots family motto and is found on the Herklots family coat of arms, the art of which was inspired by an image of Hercules striking a Hydra. For what it is worth, when I typed Ferio Tego into Translate.com, it came back with the translation of I Will Hit You.
• All three of my cigars featured a main band on the top and a third band on the bottom that were stuck firmly in place, but the secondary band in the middle was extremely loose.
• The aforementioned three bands take up so much real estate that you are barely getting into the second third by the time the burn line reaches the bottom band.
• At medium, this is easily the strongest cigar I have smoked that is associated with Herklots, and it is honestly not even close. Having said that, the strength was extremely well-integrated into the profile and did a wonderful job of accentuating the positives instead of detracting from the experience.
• Each of the cigars needed at least one correction with my lighter to stay on track, but they were all fairly minor in nature. All three cigars featured excellent draws and plenty of thick smoke.
• The cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time for all three cigars averaged out to one hour and 38 minutes.
• If you would like to purchase any of the Ferio Tego Timeless TAA 2022 cigars, site sponsor Corona Cigar Co. has them for sale on its website here.