November 27, 2023 Brooks Whittington Cigars,  Limited Edition,  Nicaragua,  Reviews,  Tatuaje

Tatuaje The Face Redux 3

In 2008, Tatuaje released The Frank, a cigar named after the Frankenstein character from Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein. The cigar was the first in a series—appropriately known as the Monster Series—which now includes more than 80 different cigars that have been released over the past 15 years.

The original plan, or at least an early plan was for 13 different cigars, each based on a different character from a horror novel or film. In 2008, there was The Frank, in 2009, The Drac, in 2010, The Face, and in 2011, The Wolfman. In 2012, things began to deviate. Tatuaje released the Little Monsters, a sampler that contained smaller cigars that used the same blends as the first four Monster Series releases, as well as the upcoming fifth one, The Mummy.

Over the years, Tatuaje has released the 13 full-size Monsters, six different Monster Series samplers, as well as two additional Advent Calendars that contained a variety of Monster Series cigars. In 2019, Tatuaje released the final two of the 13 planned full-size Monster Series cigars, which begged the question what it would do with the Monster Series going forward. As had been talked about over the years, the plan was to revisit the larger cigars, many of which were released and sold out before some of Tatuaje’s current fans started smoking cigars.

In October 2021, Tatuaje released The Frank Redux 1 in October 2021, which was followed by The Drac Redux 2 in October of last year. According to Pete Johnson, founder of Tatuaje, the Redux cigars will be the same size and vitolas as the original versions, but the blends may not be exactly the same. So far, the Redux cigars have gone in an order of how the cigars were released, meaning 2023 would be the year for a sophomore release of The Face, a cigar named after the monster Leatherface from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie series. On paper, it is also made with the same blend of a Mexican San Andrés wrapper covering Nicaraguan tobacco in both the binder and filler. Like the original, it features a covered foot.

Patrick Lagreid went through the history of The Face in his story about the Redux 3 version:

Tatuaje’s The Face became recognizable for using a jaggedly cut piece of Ecuadorian Connecticut tobacco to serve as the band, a nod to the movie monster Leatherface from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series, who was known for wearing a mask made of a person’s skin. Like its Monster Series predecessors, The Frank and The Drac, it came in boxes designed to look like coffins, complete with red paint splattered on them to mimic the look of blood. Only 13 retailers would get those dress boxes, which were limited to 666 individually numbered pieces, while a more traditional 10-count box was also created for widespread release. In total, 21,658 cigars were released for The Face.

The Face was also notable for being the first modern movie monster to be selected for Tatuaje’s Monster Series line, as Frankenstein and Dracula, both classic movie monsters, served as the inspiration for the first two releases in the series.

Tatuaje produced 5,000 boxes of 13 The Face Redux 3—a total of 65,000 cigars—of those 5,000 boxes, 700 are individually numbered, while the other 4,300 are not. Pricing is set at $13 per cigar and $169 per box, regardless of whether it is numbered or not.

Note: The following shows the various Tatuaje The Face vitolas. Some of these cigars may have been released after this post was originally published. The list was last updated on Nov. 27, 2023.

This is the eighth version of The Face:

  1. Tatuaje The Face (6 3/8 x 56) — October 2010 — 666 Dress Boxes of 13 Cigars & 1,300 Plain Boxes of 10 Cigars (21,658 Total Cigars)
  2. Tatuaje Baby Face (4 3/8 x 50) — June 2012 — 10,000 Samplers of 2 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  3. Tatuaje Face (4 3/8 x 56) — June 2014 — 20,000 Samplers of 1 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  4. Tatuaje Skinny Face (6 x 38) — April 2016 — 10,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar & 400 Boxes of 25 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  5. Tatuaje Skinny Cazadores Face (6 3/8 x 43) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  6. Tatuaje Skinny Lanceros Face (7 1/2 x 38) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  7. Tatuaje Monster Mash Face (4 7/8 x 56) — September 2021 — 13,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar (13,000 Total Cigars)
  8. Tatuaje The Face Redux 3 (6 3/8 x 56) — October 2023 — 5,000 Boxes of 13 Cigars (65,000 Total Cigars)
89 Overall Score

There were a number of surprises with the newest incarnation of The Face, especially when compared to the original version: the Redux 3 is not nearly as strong, does not burn for nearly as long, and features a profile that is quite a bit more aggressive in the first half. In addition, I remember the original The Face having more sweetness—especially in the first third—and while I only had to touch it up once, the burn line was never close to razor-sharp for the entirety of the one-and-a-half hour smoking time. I enjoyed this cigar quite a bit at this point in its life, but I think some time in the humidor will make a huge difference; tone down the aggressiveness in the first third and bring forth more sweetness that I feel is just under the surface.

  1. Tatuaje The Frank (7 5/8 x 49) — October 2008 — 666 Dress Boxes of 13 Cigars (8,658 Total Cigars)
  2. Tatuaje The Drac (6 3/4 x 52) — October 2009 — 1,300 Dress Boxes of 13 Cigars (16,900 Total Cigars)
  3. Tatuaje The Face (6 3/8 x 56) — October 2010 — 666 Dress Boxes of 13 Cigars & 1,300 Plain Boxes of 10 Cigars (21,658 Total Cigars)
  4. Tatuaje The Wolfman (7 1/2 x 52) — October 2011 — 666 Dress Boxes of 13 Cigars & 1,300 Plain Boxes of 10 Cigars (21,658 Total Cigars)
  5. Tatuaje Frank Jr. (5 5/8 x 44) — June 2012 — 10,000 Samplers of 2 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  6. Tatuaje Lil’ Drac (5 x 48) — June 2012 — 10,000 Samplers of 2 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  7. Tatuaje Baby Face (4 3/8 x 50) — June 2012 — 10,000 Samplers of 2 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  8. Tatuaje Wolfie (5 1/2 x 48) — June 2012 — 10,000 Samplers of 2 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  9. Tatuaje Mini Mum (5 3/4 x 42) — June 2012 — 10,000 Samplers of 2 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  10. Tatuaje The Mummy (7 3/4 x 47) — October 2012 — 666 Dress Boxes of 13 Cigars & 3,100 Plain Boxes of 10 Cigars (39,658 Total Cigars)
  11. Tatuaje The JV13 (7 1/2 x 52) — October 2013 — 666 Dress Boxes of 13 Cigars & 4,500 Plain Boxes of 10 Cigars (53,658 Total Cigars)
  12. Tatuaje Frank (5 5/8 x 49) — June 2014 — 20,000 Samplers of 1 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  13. Tatuaje Drac (5 x 52) — June 2014 — 20,000 Samplers of 1 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  14. Tatuaje Face (4 3/8 x 56) — June 2014 — 20,000 Samplers of 1 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  15. Tatuaje Wolf (5 1/2 x 52) — June 2014 — 20,000 Samplers of 1 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  16. Tatuaje Mummy (5 3/4 x 47) — June 2014 — 20,000 Samplers of 1 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  17. Tatuaje Jason (5 1/2 x 52) — June 2014 — 20,000 Samplers of 1 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  18. Tatuaje Chuck (4 x 50) — June 2014 — 20,000 Samplers of 2 Cigars (40,000 Total Cigars)
  19. Tatuaje Tiff (4 x 50) — June 2014 — 20,000 Samplers of 2 Cigars (40,000 Total Cigars)
  20. Tatuaje The Jekyll (7 x 49) — October 2014 — 666 Dress Boxes of 13 Cigars & 4,500 Plain Boxes of 10 Cigars (53,658 Total Cigars)
  21. Tatuaje The Hyde (7 x 49) — October 2015 — 666 Dress Boxes of 13 Cigars & 4,500 Plain Boxes of 10 Cigars (53,658 Total Cigars)
  22. Tatuaje Skinny Frank (6 x 38) — April 2016 — 10,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar & 400 Boxes of 25 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  23. Tatuaje Skinny Drac (6 x 38) — April 2016 — 10,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar & 400 Boxes of 25 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  24. Tatuaje Skinny Face (6 x 38) — April 2016 — 10,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar & 400 Boxes of 25 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  25. Tatuaje Skinny Wolf (6 x 38) — April 2016 — 10,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar & 400 Boxes of 25 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  26. Tatuaje Skinny Mummy (6 x 38) — April 2016 — 10,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar & 400 Boxes of 25 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  27. Tatuaje Skinny Jason (6 x 38) — April 2016 — 10,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar & 400 Boxes of 25 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  28. Tatuaje Skinny Jekyll (6 x 38) — April 2016 — 10,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar & 400 Boxes of 25 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  29. Tatuaje Skinny Hyde (6 x 38) — April 2016 — 10,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar & 400 Boxes of 25 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  30. Tatuaje Skinny Chuck (6 x 38) — April 2016 — 10,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar & 400 Boxes of 25 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  31. Tatuaje Skinny Tiff (6 x 38) — April 2016 — 10,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar & 400 Boxes of 25 Cigars (20,000 Total Cigars)
  32. Tatuaje The Krueger (7 1/4 x 48) — October 2016 — 666 Dress Boxes of 13 Cigars & 5,000 Plain Boxes of 10 Cigars (58,658 Total Cigars)
  33. Tatuaje Skinny Cazadores Frank (6 3/8 x 43) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  34. Tatuaje Skinny Cazadores Drac (6 3/8 x 43) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  35. Tatuaje Skinny Cazadores Face (6 3/8 x 43) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  36. Tatuaje Skinny Cazadores Wolf (6 3/8 x 43) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  37. Tatuaje Skinny Cazadores Mummy (6 3/8 x 43) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  38. Tatuaje Skinny Cazadores Jason (6 3/8 x 43) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  39. Tatuaje Skinny Cazadores Jekyll (6 3/8 x 43) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  40. Tatuaje Skinny Cazadores Hyde (6 3/8 x 43) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  41. Tatuaje Skinny Cazadores Chuck (6 3/8 x 43) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  42. Tatuaje Skinny Cazadores Tiff (6 3/8 x 43) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  43. Tatuaje Skinny Lanceros Frank (7 1/2 x 38) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  44. Tatuaje Skinny Lanceros Drac (7 1/2 x 38) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  45. Tatuaje Skinny Lanceros Face (7 1/2 x 38) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  46. Tatuaje Skinny Lanceros Wolf (7 1/2 x 38) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  47. Tatuaje Skinny Lanceros Mummy (7 1/2 x 38) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  48. Tatuaje Skinny Lanceros Jason (7 1/2 x 38) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  49. Tatuaje Skinny Lanceros Jekyll (7 1/2 x 38) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  50. Tatuaje Skinny Lanceros Hyde (7 1/2 x 38) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  51. Tatuaje Skinny Lanceros Chuck (7 1/2 x 38) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  52. Tatuaje Skinny Lanceros Tiff (7 1/2 x 38) — May 2017 — Regular Production
  53. Tatuaje The Michael (6 1/2 x 52) — October 2017 — 666 Dress Boxes of 13 Cigars & 4,500 Plain Boxes of 10 Cigars (53,658 Total Cigars)
  54. Tatuaje The Chuck (5 7/8 x 52) — October 2019 — 700 Boxes of 13 Cigars & 2,190 Boxes of 10 Cigars (31,000 Total Cigars)
  55. Tatuaje The Tiff (5 7/8 x 52) — October 2019 — 700 Boxes of 13 Cigars & 2,190 Boxes of 10 Cigars (31,000 Total Cigars)
  56. Tatuaje The Bride (7 1/8 x 49) — October 2018 — 666 Dress Boxes of 13 Cigars & 4,500 Plain Boxes of 10 Cigars (53,658 Total Cigars)
  57. Tatuaje MBS FK (4 x 50) — June 2020 — 1,800 Bundles of 10 Cigars (18,000 Total Cigars)
  58. Tatuaje Monster Mash Frank (6 1/8 x 49) — September 2021 — 13,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar (13,000 Total Cigars)
  59. Tatuaje Monster Mash Drac (5 1/4 x 52) — September 2021 — 13,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar (13,000 Total Cigars)
  60. Tatuaje Monster Mash Face (4 7/8 x 56) — September 2021 — 13,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar (13,000 Total Cigars)
  61. Tatuaje Monster Mash Wolf (6 x 52) — September 2021 — 13,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar (13,000 Total Cigars)
  62. Tatuaje Monster Mash Mummy (6 1/4 x 47) — September 2021 — 13,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar (13,000 Total Cigars)
  63. Tatuaje Monster Mash Jason (6 x 52) — September 2021 — 13,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar (13,000 Total Cigars)
  64. Tatuaje Monster Mash Jekyll (5 1/2 x 49) — September 2021 — 13,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar (13,000 Total Cigars)
  65. Tatuaje Monster Mash Hyde (5 1/2 x 49) — September 2021 — 13,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar (13,000 Total Cigars)
  66. Tatuaje Monster Mash Krueger (5 3/8 x 48) — September 2021 — 13,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar (13,000 Total Cigars)
  67. Tatuaje Monster Mash Michael (5 x 52) — September 2021 — 13,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar (13,000 Total Cigars)
  68. Tatuaje Monster Mash Chuck (4 3/8 x 52) — September 2021 — 13,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar (13,000 Total Cigars)
  69. Tatuaje Monster Mash Tiff (4 3/8 x 52) — September 2021 — 13,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar (13,000 Total Cigars)
  70. Tatuaje Monster Mash Bride (5 5/8 x 49) — September 2021 — 13,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar (13,000 Total Cigars)
  71. Tatuaje Monster Mash Creature (5 5/8 x 49) — September 2021 — 13,000 Samplers of 1 Cigar (13,000 Total Cigars)
  72. Tatuaje The Frank Redux (2021) (7 5/8 x 49) — October 2021 — 5,000 Boxes of 13 Cigars (65,000 Total Cigars)
  73. Tatuaje The Drac Redux 2 (6 3/4 x 52) — October 2022 — 4,000 Boxes of 13 Cigars (52,000 Total Cigars)
  74. Tatuaje Advent Calendar 2021 Frank (4 1/2 x 46) — October 2022 — 5,000 Boxes of 1 Cigar (5,000 Total Cigars)
  75. Tatuaje Advent Calendar 2021 Wolf (4 1/2 x 46) — October 2022 — 5,000 Boxes of 1 Cigar (5,000 Total Cigars)
  76. Tatuaje Advent Calendar 2022 Mummy (4 1/2 x 46) — October 2022 — 5,000 Boxes of 1 Cigar (5,000 Total Cigars)
  77. Tatuaje Advent Calendar 2021 Chuck (4 1/2 x 46) — October 2022 — 5,000 Boxes of 1 Cigar (5,000 Total Cigars)
  78. Tatuaje Advent Calendar 2021 Tiff (4 1/2 x 46) — October 2022 — 5,000 Boxes of 1 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
  79. Tatuaje Advent Calendar 2022 Jekyll (4 1/2 x 46) — October 2022 — 5,000 Boxes of 1 Cigar (5,000 Total Cigars)
  80. Tatuaje Advent Calendar 2022 Hyde (4 1/2 x 46) — October 2022 — 5,000 Boxes of 1 Cigar (5,000 Total Cigars)
  81. Tatuaje Advent Calendar 2021 Krueger (4 1/2 x 46) — October 2022 — 5,000 Boxes of 1 Cigar (5,000 Total Cigars)
  82. Tatuaje Advent Calendar 2022 Michael (4 1/2 x 46) — October 2022 — 5,000 Boxes of 1 Cigar (5,000 Total Cigars)
  83. Tatuaje Advent Calendar 2022 Bride (4 1/2 x 46) — October 2022 — 5,000 Boxes of 1 Cigar (5,000 Total Cigars)
  84. Tatuaje The Face Redux 3 (6 3/8 x 56) — September 2023 — 5,000 Boxes of 13 Cigars (65,000 Total Cigars)
89 Overall Score

There were a number of surprises with the newest incarnation of The Face, especially when compared to the original version: the Redux 3 is not nearly as strong, does not burn for nearly as long, and features a profile that is quite a bit more aggressive in the first half. In addition, I remember the original The Face having more sweetness—especially in the first third—and while I only had to touch it up once, the burn line was never close to razor-sharp for the entirety of the one-and-a-half hour smoking time. I enjoyed this cigar quite a bit at this point in its life, but I think some time in the humidor will make a huge difference; tone down the aggressiveness in the first third and bring forth more sweetness that I feel is just under the surface.

  • Cigar Reviewed: Tatuaje The Face Redux 3
  • Country of Origin: Nicaragua
  • Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
  • Wrapper: Mexico (San Andrés)
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Length: 6 3/8 inches
  • Ring Gauge: 56
  • Vitola: Toro Gordo
  • MSRP: $13 (Box of $13, $169)
  • Release Date: September 2023
  • Number of Cigars Released: 5,000 Boxes of 13 Cigars (65,000 Total Cigars)
  • Number of Cigars Smoked For Redux: 1

Editor’s Note: This is one of the rare cases when we are doing a redux review of a new version of a cigar and not of an aged sample of a cigar we have already reviewed. — Charlie Minato.

From a visual perspective, The Face Redux 3 is an overwhelming cigar: it looks a bit larger than what it is labeled as—I would have pegged it as a 58 ring gauge if I did not know better—but it feels lighter than I expected when held in my hand. The wrapper is an imposing dark brown color that has a tinge of red in the sunlight and it feels like leathery parchment as I run my finger up and down its length. In addition, there are plenty of prominent veins and the cigar is just short of rock hard when squeezed. Aromas from the wrapper include a hay note that is both strong and sweet, followed by earthiness, generic nuttiness, raisin sweetness and cinnamon. Notes from the foot start with earth and cedar along with dry hay, nuts and milk chocolate sweetness. Finally, after a straight cut, the cold draw brings flavors of rich and powdery cocoa nibs, peanuts, straw, leather and light raisins.

A massive kick of spice, pepper and bitter espresso starts The Face Redux 3 off immediately, and while the spice remains a major player in the profile, the pepper calms down quickly. This allows a combination of gritty earth and rich dark chocolate to take over as the main flavor, followed by secondary notes of cedar, toasted bread, lemongrass, leather, and cinnamon. In addition, there is quite a bit of black pepper and raisin sweetness on the retrohale, the latter of which seems to be getting stronger as the first half burns down. Flavor ends the first half at medium-full, while both the strength and body hit a point just over medium and a solid medium, respectively. After a straight cut, the draw is a bit looser than I would like—albeit still easily smokable—and there is a copious amount of thick smoke emanating from the foot, but the burn line is wavy for the entire half, and I am forced to correct it with my lighter twice to avoid larger issues.

Both the spice and the black pepper have noticeably receded as the second half of The Face Redux 3 begins, making the profile creamier and less aggressive compared to the first third. A new and interesting combination of peanut butter and charred meat takes over the top spot. Additional flavors of bitter espresso, gritty earth, citrus peel, sourdough bread, dark chocolate and cinnamon flit in and out, and I notice a very slight mineral saltiness on my lips that lasts for about three puffs before it disappears for good. There is slightly less black pepper on the retrohale, but the amount of raisin sweetness has increased dramatically. Flavor easily passes into full territory around the start of the final third, while the body increases to medium-plus and the strength hits medium-plus before I put the nub down with about an inch remaining after a surprisingly short one hour and 31 minutes of smoking time. Thankfully, the overall construction has fewer of the issues that plagued the first half: the draw has tightened up nicely, there is never a dearth of smoke and the burn line—while never razor sharp or even close to it—does not need any additional attention from my lighter.

89 Overall Score

There were a number of surprises with the newest incarnation of The Face, especially when compared to the original version: the Redux 3 is not nearly as strong, does not burn for nearly as long, and features a profile that is quite a bit more aggressive in the first half. In addition, I remember the original The Face having more sweetness—especially in the first third—and while I only had to touch it up once, the burn line was never close to razor-sharp for the entirety of the one-and-a-half hour smoking time. I enjoyed this cigar quite a bit at this point in its life, but I think some time in the humidor will make a huge difference; tone down the aggressiveness in the first third and bring forth more sweetness that I feel is just under the surface.

My Father Cigars S.A. Nicaragua Tatuaje Tatuaje Monster Series Tatuaje The Face Tatuaje The Face Redux 3 Toro Gordo
Avatar photo

Brooks Whittington

I have been smoking cigars for over eight years. A documentary wedding photographer by trade, I spent seven years as a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star Telegram. I started the cigar blog SmokingStogie in 2008 after realizing that there was a need for a cigar blog with better photographs and more in-depth information about each release. SmokingStogie quickly became one of the more influential cigar blogs on the internet, known for reviewing preproduction, prerelease, rare, extremely hard-to-find and expensive cigars. I am a co-founder of halfwheel and now serve as an editor for halfwheel.

Related Posts