Smoked: Tatuaje Nicaragua Reserva Cojonu 2012 Sumatra

Smoked at: Fairfield, Ohio

Tatuaje Nicaragua Reserva Cojonu 2012 Sumatra was one of the highest rated cigars when it was released. It’s a Pete Johnson creation so I am anticipating quite an experience. It’s a box-pressed Nicraguan covered in a medium brown Sumatra wrapper. I have had mixed experiences with Sumatra, but if Pete Johnson thinks it’s a good idea, who am I to question this wisdom on such things?

Mild pepper, cocoa, cream, dark roast coffee, unidentifiable nuttiness (let’s call it mixed nuts), a sweet spice in the cinnamon or nutmeg range and a touch of honey. The second third adds some cream to the coffee and cocoa. Was this blended at Starbuck’s? There are hints of leather and toffee or caramel (hard to distinguish) during the second third, although the coffee has nudged ahead as the more dominant flavor. The retrohale is the mildest I can remember with a cigar. Yes, there is pepper, but it is subdued with aromas of leather and earthiness. In my opinion, it’s medium-full bodied and medium-full strength. Reducing the experience to a single word: Smooth. 3 words: Smooth as silk.

The construction was nearly flawless – nice open cold draw, razor sharp even burn line requiring only one minor touchup, producing volumes of smoke on each puff.

Tatuaje Nicaragua Reserva Cojonu 2012 Sumatra is a masterfully created cigar. This gets 5-plus across the board. If we were playing Jeopardy, this would be the answer in the form of question in the Premium Cigars category – “What is the best cigar I’ve smoke so far this year?” And as much as I love this cigar, I had a fleeting feeling at the finish…how much more could it improve with a little more time in the humidor?