This is Jeremy (@jyow617). I am not Eric. However, Eric has provided me the opportunity to do a guest review on
his site, so I am taking him up on it. My plan is to ruin his reputation as a legitimate review blogger and
ensure that my future site will stand no chance of being taken seriously. Enjoy!
Initial Thoughts
I am definitely a fan of all things Tatuaje/Pete Johnson/Don Pepin. The good thing about them: there
are a ton of cigars to choose from. The bad: there are a ton of cigars to choose from! I have smoked
several of the Cabaiguan cigars and thoroughly enjoy them. When I came across a maduro version of it,
I had to give it a try.
Unlike many of the Tatuaje cigars, these are a regular production cigar (as far as I know). However,
these are not one of his more commonly available cigars; I rarely see them in shops, even ones that
carry a large selection of other Tatuaje offerings.
Looks
This is a rugged-looking cigar, with a semi-veiny, toothy, chocolate-brown wrapper. Despite its rugged
appearance, it looks to be well constructed, with a flush cap, even foot, and no cracks or tears. The
band is the same as the one on the natural; a rustic yellow circle and band, trimmed in black, silver, and
white. There is a black calligraphic “C” in the center with “Cabaiguan” written in small, brick red letters
underneath. It is very classic and classy, sexy even!
Function
This is a smaller cigar, thus, it does not have a substantial heft to it. It feels firm, yet has a nice bit of give
to it. I made a clean cut across the cap and there is no loose tobacco. The cold draw is excellent, almost
perfect. With a cigar this small, I would worry if the draw was anymore open, but this one seems to be
spot on.
Smoking
I always try to light my cigars by only toasting the foot evenly and puffing on it without drawing the
flame into the cigar. That is, when I use my torch lighter, which I did in this case. It definitely cuts down
on the harshness I have experienced on the first few puffs when not doing this. This stick lights up very
quickly and does so evenly. It continues to burn evenly all the way to the nub.
As I noticed on the cold draw, this thing draws perfectly; giving loads of thick smoke, but just the right
amount of resistance. Draw is a major factor in whether I can really enjoy a cigar or not. I expect this
one will be a nice experience. In this case, I was right! The draw remains perfect for the entire time I
smoked it. Thank the tobacco gods (i.e. Don Pepin) for this!
The one blemish on this cigar is the ash. It is quite flaky and loose, matching the rugged appearance
of this cigar. The first ash manages to hang on for almost an inch despite being curvy and loose. In
all honesty though, this doesn’t bother me. I don’t really expect a great ash on a cigar unless the ring
gauge is at least 50.
Flavor
From the first few puffs, I am greeted with pepper, a hint of butter, a touch of caramel, wood, and
nuts. This is a great start! As the first third progresses, the pepper begins to mellow and the caramel
disappears, leaving the wood and adding some earth and a bit cocoa. The finish tastes like almond and
toasted wood, if that makes sense.
During the second third, I ramp up the number of retrohales. When I do, I am left with an almost acidic/
tomato aftertaste. I don’t think I’ve experienced that before! On the draw, the flavor is becoming
savory and creamy. After the ash falls, the pepper that was in the first third comes back, and there is
an addition of some faint floral notes. The wood, cream, and pepper seem to take turns in which one
is the more dominant flavor-a very nice mix indeed! However, as this third comes to an end, the sweet
maduro tobacco flavor I was hoping for begins to surface and mixes nicely with the other notes.
The final third brings more of the notes that were present near the end of the previous one. As it
progresses, the sweet maduro flavor increases, competing with the wood and cream. The pepper
continues to wane, making for a very smooth, flavorful smoking experience. The last few puffs see the
return of the pepper and mostly wood notes, but the sweetness hangs in there too. I smoke it all the
way to a nub!
Would I Buy It Again?
Without a doubt! This was a great cigar!
Is it an Everyday Smoke?
Certainly! I think it would be a good fit for any time of day.
Would I buy a Box?
I, like Eric, usually don’t buy boxes (maybe split one with somebody), but if I did, this one would be
worth it. I do think it would be ideal to buy several and let them rest as they seem to get significantly
better with a few months rest on them.
Conclusion
I highly recommend this cigar to anyone who is a fan of Tatuaje cigars and likes the original or natural
guapos Cabaiguans. This one certainly adds a nice sweetness to it that I didn’t pick up from the natural.
Though this is a small cigar and I tend to smoke fast, I was able to make it last for just over an hour. I
can see this one serving a variety of purposes: a quick smoke, a great choice for coffee first thing in the
morning, or a satisfying after dinner cigar.
Lastly, I do recommend letting these rest for a few months. I smoked one when I first got them, and it
was not quite as good as this one, with about 6 months rest. Even a month was not enough to get it to
this point. They age very well.
And there you have it!
