8. Tatuaje TAA 2016
Tatuaje/Havana Cellars
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
- Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Length: 6 1/4 x 50
- MSRP: $11.95 (Boxes of 20, $239)
- Release Date: June 13, 2016
- Number of Cigars Released: 4,000 Boxes of 20 (80,000 Total Cigars)
- Original Score: 92
When Pete Johnson released the first Tatuaje TAA 2011 exclusively for members of the Tobacconists Association of America (TAA), it took the cigar world by storm, showing just how good a blend made up of a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper and Nicaraguan tobacco in the binder and filler could be. In fact, while the cigar was not a copy of an previous blends, it was “similar to the styles” of two of Johnson’s most popular releases, namely the Barclay Rex and the Pork Tenderloin.
Fast forward more than half a decade, and while the blend of the 2016 incarnation of the annual release remains the same as five of the six previous years, the vitola—a 6 1/4 x 50 toro—is identical to the version released in 2012. The tasting notes are also similar, with a dominant combination of earth, chocolate cookies and roasted coffee beans along with the signature black pepper on the retrohale that stays pretty consistent throughout the smoke.
While this year’s Tatuaje TAA release did not make it as high on our list as last year’s version—when it took the top spot on this list—it is an excellent blend that is easily one of the best of the year. — Brooks Whittington.
