Tatuaje Havana Cazadores Reserva Broadleaf

During the 2016 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show, Tatuaje Cigars showed off what is easily one of the largest releases the company has ever attempted, at least in terms of physical size.

The release in question is the Tatuaje Reserva Broadleaf Collection, a massive 100-count box containing a Connecticut broadleaf-wrapped version of 10 previously released vitolas in the company’s Seleccion de Cazador line that retails for a whopping $1,200. The collection incorporates 10 cigars from “Brown Label” line: the six HUNTER sizes, the recently released K222, the Reserva SW, the Reserva J21 and the Cojonu 2003 Reserva. There are 10 cigars of each release included in the box with each blend carrying the same MSRP as its original counterpart.

Originally, the plan was to release 5,000 boxes—or 500,000 total cigars—but that changed in February, when Tatuaje announced it would be drastically cutting the number of the larger boxes in order to sell 10-count boxes that each contain the same 10 Connecticut broadleaf-wrapped cigars.

 

The cigars included in the Tatuaje Reserva Broadleaf Collection are:

• Tatuaje Havana Cazadores Reserva Broadleaf (6 3/8 x 43) — $11 (Boxes of 10. $110)
• Tatuaje Unicos Reserva Broadleaf (6 1/8 x 52) — $12 (Boxes of 10, $120)
• Tatuaje Noellas Reserva Broadleaf (5 1/8 x 42) — $9 (Boxes of 10, $90)
• Tatuaje Tainos Reserva Broadleaf (7 5/8 x 49) — $13 (Boxes of 10, $130)
• Tatuaje Especiales Reserva Broadleaf (7 1/2 x 38) — $11 (Boxes of 10, $110)
• Tatuaje Regios Reserva Broadleaf (5 1/2 x 50) — $11 (Boxes of 10, $110)
• Tatuaje Reserva SW Broadleaf (7 x 47) — $13 (Boxes of 10, $130)
• Tatuaje Reserva J21 Broadleaf (5 x 50) — $12 (Boxes of 10, $120)
• Tatuaje Reserva K222 Broadleaf (5 7/8 x 52) — $14 (Boxes of 10, $140)
• Tatuaje Cojonu 2003 Reserva Broadleaf (6 1/2 x 52) — $14 (Boxes of 10, $140)

• Cigar Reviewed: Tatuaje Havana Cazadores Reserva Broadleaf
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
• Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Length: 6 3/8 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 43
• Vitola: Corona Gorda
• MSRP: $11 (Boxes of 10. $110)
• Release Date: Feb. 14, 2017
• Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

As with the rest of the cigars in the box, the Tatuaje Havana Cazadores Reserva Broadleaf is covered in an dark, rustic brown wrapper that is sandpaper rough to the touch. There are multiple veins running up and down the length, but none of them are overly annoying, and the cigar is a bit spongy when squeezed. Aroma from the wrapper is a combination of earth, manure, creamy oak, dark cocoa nibs, black pepper, and vanilla sweetness, while the cold draw brings flavors of a huge creamy oak, leather, gritty earth, peanuts and the same vanilla sweetness from the cold draw.

Starting out, the Tatuaje Havana Cazadores Reserva Broadleaf features a very obvious and dominant gritty earth note carried over from both the aroma and cold draw, interspersed with lesser flavors of creamy oak, anise, barnyard, hay, fresh brewed coffee, cocoa nibs and leather. A slight cake batter sweetness is noticeable on the finish, while there is a significant black pepper on the retrohale that already seems to be getting weaker as the first third burns down. The draw is fantastic after a simple straight cut, the burn is razor sharp and the smoke production is massive off of the foot. Strength-wise, the Tatuaje starts off fairly mild, but ends up close to the medium mark by the time the first time comes to a close.

The cake batter sweetness that was noticeable during the first third seems to dissipate quite a bit in the second third of the Tatuaje Havana Cazadores Reserva Broadleaf, becoming even more of a complementary note that combines with the earth and leather notes that are coming right behind. Other flavors of cocoa nibs, black pepper, coffee beans, hay and creamy oak flit in and out, and a touch of a metallic note on the finish that reaches its peak at the halfway point before beginning to decline. Construction-wise, the draw continues to impress, and while I have to correct the burn once, it was never in any danger of getting out of control. The overall strength easily hits the medium mark by the end of the second third, but seems to be fairly content to stay at that level.

Thankfully, the metallic note from second third is long gone by the time the final third of the Havana Cazadores Reserva Broadleaf begins. However, for the most part, the dominant flavors continue to be a very distinct earth and leather combination along with other notes of fresh coffee grounds, creamy oak, barnyard, anise, black pepper and a touch of dark fruit sweetness that are obvious at different points. The burn has evened up nicely and the draw continues to impress, and although the strength does increase slightly compared to the second third, it barely makes it past the medium mark before settling down for good, when I put the nub down with less than an inch to go.

Final Notes

• While there was sweetness throughout the blend—mostly a faint cake batter note—it was never strong enough to really affect the profile all that much.
• The packaging on these is gorgeous.
• The metallic note in the second third was present in all three samples, but it was never an overwhelming flavor by any means, and dissipated fairly quickly. That being said, it did cause a bit of an issue in the overall balance.
• Although the basic profile on all three samples was very similar, there were some inconsistencies: one was noticeably sweeter on the palate, one was more muted and the last one had significantly more pepper on the retohale.
• Having said the above, construction for all of the cigars was quite good overall, with all three needing a couple of touchups.
• Tatuaje advertises on halfwheel.
• The cigars smoked for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• The final smoking time for all three samples averaged one hour and 21 minutes.
• If you would like to purchase any of the Tatuaje Reserva Broadleaf Collection, site sponsors Atlantic Cigar, Corona Cigar Co. and Elite Cigar Cafe (972.661.9136) all have various vitolas and configurations in stock.