Tatuaje TAA 2022 Expected in November

Tatuaje’s bread and butter approach to TAA releases will return for 2022.

The Tatuaje TAA 2022 will be a 5 3/8 x 52 vitola with a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, double Nicaraguan binders and fillers from Nicaragua. Like previous releases, it will be made by My Father Cigars S.A. in Nicaragua.

It will have an MSRP of $14.50 per cigar and is limited to 1,000 boxes of 20 cigars. Pete Johnson told halfwheel that he expects the Tatuaje TAA 2022 to ship to stores in November. Given that it is a TAA exclusive, it will only be sold at stores that are members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA).

No brand has done more to elevate TAA’s Exclusive Series Program than Tatuaje, which began releasing TAA exclusives in 2011. That cigar was the first of seven releases that used a pretty similar format: Connecticut broadleaf wrapper over Nicaraguan tobaccos and a covered foot.

• Tatuaje TAA 2011 (5 5/8 x 54) — $11 (Box of 20, $220) — 1,500 Boxes of 20 (30,000 Total Cigars)
• Tatuaje TAA 2012 (6 1/4 x 50) — $11 (Box of 20, $220) — 2,500 Boxes of 20 (50,000 Total Cigars)
• Tatuaje 10th Anniversary Grand Chasseur TAA 2013 (6 3/8 x 54) — $11 (Box of 20, $220) — 2,500 boxes of 20 (50,000 Total Cigars)
• Tatuaje TAA 2014 (6 x 52) — $11 (Box of 20, $220) — 2,800 Boxes of 20 (56,000 Total Cigars)
• Tatuaje TAA 2015 (5 5/8 x 54) — $11 (Box of 20, $220) — 3,800 Boxes of 20 (76,000 Total Cigars)
• Tatuaje TAA 2016 (6 1/4 x 50) – $11.95 (Box of 20, $239) – 4,000 Boxes of 20 (80,000 Total Cigars)
• Tatuaje TAA 2017 (6 x 52) — $11.95 (Box of 20, $239) — Not Disclosed
• Tatuaje TAA 50th (5 x 52) — $11.95 (Box of 20, $239) — 2,500 Boxes of 20 Cigars (50,000 Total Cigars)
• Tatuaje TAA 51th (5 x 52) — $11.95 (Box of 20, $239) — 3,000 Boxes of 20 Cigars (60,000 Total Cigars)
• Tatuaje TAA 2020 (5 5/8 x 54) — $11.95 (Box of 20, $239) — 3,000 Boxes of 20 Cigars (60,000 Total Cigars)

However, the last few years have seen a different approach from Tatuaje. In 2019, Johnson used a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, in 2020 it was Ecuadorian Sumatran, and there was no Tatuaje TAA 2021 release.

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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 event—which began Sunday and runs until Thursday 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.

So far, Crowned Heads, Ferio Tego, Forged Cigar Co., Gurkha, La Flor Dominicana, La Palina, Tatuaje and Villiger have announced TAA 2022 releases.

Illusione and Rocky Patel have both told halfwheel that they each have TAA releases for 2022 but that many of the details about the cigars are still being finalized and are subject to change. While both companies announced some of these subject to change details at the TAA Meeting & Convention, we are waiting to publish the details until they are finalized.

Patrick Lagreid contributed to this story.

Update: The original version of this story indicated the TAA Meeting & Convention began “yesterday,” it began on Sunday.