The Tatuaje Cojonú 2018, a new 5 5/8 x 54 robusto extra that gets a soft box press, is on its way to stores today. It marks the release of the second of the two “lost years” of 2015 and 2018, when cigars were originally planned to be released but were not.
The Tatuaje Cojonú series was launched in 2003 and gets its name from a shortened form of the Spanish word cojonudo, a Cuban slang word that means ballsy, a reference to the strength of the line’s blend that uses an Ecuadorian habano wrapper and Nicaraguan binders and fillers. The line was created with a plan to release a new installment every three years. In 2012, when the Tatuaje Cojonú was released with three wrapper variations—the Ecuadorian habano of the original and then an Ecuadorian Sumatra and Connecticut broadleaf—that was meant to be the last of the series, according to marketing materials from the company.
Note: The following shows the various Tatuaje Cojonú releases over the years. Some of these cigars may have been released after this post was initially published. The list was last updated on Aug. 16, 2023.
- Tatuaje Cojonú 2003 (6 1/2 x 52) — 2003 — Regular Production
- Tatuaje Gran Cojonú (6 1/2 x 60) — 2005 — Regular Production
- Tatuaje Cojonú 2006 (5 1/2 x 52) — 2006 — Regular Production
- Tatuaje Cojonú 2009 (6 3/4 x 48) — 2009 — Regular Production
- Tatuaje Gran Cojonú Reserva (6 1/2 x 60) — 2011 — Limited Production
- Tatuaje Cojonú 2012 (6 1/2 x 52) — 2012 — Regular Production
- Tatuaje Cojonú 2012 Capa Especial (6 1/2 x 52) — 2012 — Regular Production
- Tatuaje Cojonú 2012 Reserva (6 1/2 x 52) — 2012 — Regular Production
- Tatuaje Cojonú 2003 Reserva Broadleaf (6 1/2 x 52) — 2017 — 5,000 (Boxes of 10 Cigars, 50,000 Total Cigars)
- Tatuaje Gran Cojonú Series A (5 x 60) — 2019 — Limited Production
- Tatuaje Cojonú 2003 Series L (4 x 50) — 2019 — Limited Production
- Tatuaje Cojonú 2021 (7 x 58) — 2021 — Regular Production
- Tatuaje Cojonú 2015 (5 x 55) — 2022 — Regular Production
- Tatuaje Cojonú 2018 (5 5/8 x 54) — 2023 — Regular Production
But in 2021, a new Cojonú was released, leading to conversations about the “lost years” of 2015 and 2018. At the 2022 PCA Convention & Trade Show, the company announced the Cojonú 2015, shipping the cigar to stores in October 2022. At PCA 2022, Pete Johnson hinted that a 2018 version was in the works, but didn’t commit to a release date. In late April, Johnson posted photos of the Cojonú 2018 to Tatuaje’s social media accounts, teasing the cigar ahead of its scheduled release in the second half of May.
The Tatuaje Cojonú 2018 is priced at $13.50 per cigar and is presented in boxes of 21 cigars, which are priced at $283.50. The cigars are made by My Father Cigars S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua.
Images courtesy of Tatuaje.
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 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.
