Tatuaje TAA 2020 Scheduled for April (Update)

For the 10th anniversary of Tatuaje TAA releases, the company will be using a different wrapper than any of the first nine releases.

As was announced last year, the Tatuaje TAA 2020 is a 5 5/8 x 54 box-pressed parejo size that uses a Sumatran wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Nicaragua.

It will be priced at $11.95 per cigar and limited to 3,000 boxes of 20 cigars.

Seven of the nine Tatuaje TAAs releases before this have used a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper. One release used an Ecuadorian habano wrapper and last year’s cigar used a Mexican San Andrés wrapper.

Pete Johson, Tatuaje’s owner, told halfwheel that this would be the last year that he produces “this quantity” of TAA releases.

At today’s TAA meeting, a slide indicated that the release will ship in April though—as with many things in life—that could be upended by the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

The TAA is a fairly small group of some of the country’s top tobacconists, about 80 retailers as well as 40 or so 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.

During the convention, the organization hosts two distinct selling events. One is known as the Dream Machine, an optional event where manufacturers offer the entire group of retailers tiered specials and discounts. The more the group collectively agrees to buy, the better the discounts and deals are for every retailer involved. In addition, the week includes a more traditional trade show which oftentimes sees some of the most aggressive discounts of the year.

This year’s meeting was supposed to take place this week but was postponed due to coronavirus and then canceled. Instead, the group met virtually on Wednesday where retailers had the opportunity to place orders.

Some of that buying included at least 14 new exclusives for TAA members from the following manufacturers:

• A.J. Fernandez
• CLE
• Crowned Heads
• Drew Estate
• E.P. Carrillo
• Kristoff
• La Aurora
• La Flor Dominicana
• La Palina
• My Father
• Nat Sherman International
• Rocky Patel
• Tatuaje
• Villiger

Update (March 31, 2020) — Pete Johnson told halfwheel today that the release of this cigar has been pushed back, with the cigars still in Nicaragua. He did not indicate when he expected they would ship.