Tag Archives: tatuaje

August 31, 2025 · 10:12 am

Stolen Throne 919, Tatuaje Cohete Corojo, Howard G Cigars and the Giveaway Winner!

Photo credit Micky Pegg

Here we are, 16 years of writing CigarCraig.com! After all this time I still have to talk myself into going to a cigar shop after work! It’s nothing personal, and I always regret it when I pass up an opportunity, but it’s a struggle for me to leave the comfort and safety of my home smoking lounge! Weird, right? I’m actually an introvert, but I do my best to hide it. Anyway, Thursday evening I visited the Wooden Indian where Lee Marsh from Stolen Throne Cigars was doing an event. I consider Lee to be a friend, and it wouldn’t have been right for him to be in the neighborhood and miss seeing him. I love some of his cigars, add the Castle 919 to that list. I picked up a couple of the new Castle 919 cigars, a Robusto and a Belicoso, the only two sizes offered. Castle 919 has an Habano Claro wrapper, over Nicaraguan binder and fillers, made at the Rojas factory. I smoked the Belicoso, which is 5″ x 54 (the Robusto is 5″ x 50), and was delighted. This has the sugar cane sweetness I enjoy and was really good to the last drop! This may rise to the top of my Stolen Throne list of favorites, although the Crook of the Crown and Three Kingdoms will always rank highly. It was a treat to see Micky Pegg there as well and learn that All Saints Cigars is healthy! It is disappointing that they dropped my favorite size from their lines (Churchill), but glad they are still around! Lee and I stopped by Cigar Mojo – The Grove afterwards where I smoked a Yorktown Fleet Robusto, which is still not my favorite, but growing on me. Lee is deeply hurt that I don’t care for this blend (or the Call to arms).

Friday was my birthday, my whole family (8 of us) went out to a nice dinner. It makes me happy having all of us together. We got home a little late, so it was the perfect time to smoke a 4″ x 50 Tatuaje Cohetes Corojo that I had picked up when I visited Cigar Mojo – The Grove. I should get over there more often, it’s literally a mile from my house, refer back to the first couple sentences of this post. This is the first Cohetes I’ve smoked in the Tatuaje line, it’s curious to me that it exists along with the 4 3/8″ x 52 T110, they are different blends, but similar sizes. This was a really good little smoke. It started out with spice, but an interestingly different spice. Starting with spice is expected, but this was a different flavor. It sweetened slightly as it smoked, and was a really delicious little smoke, that lasted at least an hour for me. Looking forward to the T110 Corojo I picked up as well to see how they compare.

Once again, a Smoke Inn special sucked me in, who can pass up $20 for five cigars delivered to your door in a couple days? This one was two Rocky Patel Cameroons and three Howard G Cameroons. It’s a no-brainer. While I was interested in trying both, the Howard G cigars were my first priority. I think I met Howard at a trade show, it would have been outside the bar in the Venetian, but I don’t recall formal introductions. I’ve been hearing good things, so I wanted to sample the brand, and I like Cameroon, always have. It looks like this is in the Magic Stick line, which also has a Habano and Connecticut. I notice that they also have a Golf themed line which has a Front Nine and Back Nine. I hope Ryan Gallimore (check out the new Cigar Circus site!) is OK with that, as he had a Front Nine and Back Nine in his Swinger Cigars line many years ago. I will be on the lookout for the Magic Stick Habano, but this Cameroon wasn’t bad! It has a raw nuts sort of nuttiness, and I seem to get some kind of nuts flavor from Cameroon. It was a fairly bold flavor, the cigar smoked very nicely.

OK, now to announce a winner in last Sunday’s big giveaway. Apparently I guessed right on what the mystery Freestyle Live cigar was. which surprises me more than anyone. It’s a really good smoke, and I look forward to getting my hands on them when they hit stores. I consulted Google’s random number generator, and 4 was the number, and the number of the counting was 4. This corresponds to Jeff W., who needs to email me his contact information so I can get this out. I’m sure I’ll be able to come up with some more stuff for future giveaways! Thank you all for reading over these last 16 years!

That’s all for now, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Filed under Contest, Events, Review, Stores

Tagged as Cameroon, Castle 919, cigar, cigars, Cohetes, Corojo, Howard G, Stolen Throne, tatuaje

August 3, 2025 · 9:36 am

Hoyo de Monterrey, Devil Crab and Tatuaje Corojo Cigars

A few weeks back I mentioned that I was smoking the new Hoyo de Monterrey Shade while writing, and that I’d report back later. Today is the day. This is the third cigar in the revamped line, the first two were the Oscuro and Rojo, which I talked about back in August of last year. Along with La Gloria, Hoyo de Monterrey is one of the brands I got started on early. The Excalibur No 1 was a special occasion cigar for me, when spending $5 on a cigar was really extravagant. This new Hoyo has a Honduran shade grown wrapper, with Honduran binder and fillers, made at the HATSA factory in Danli, Honduras. I may revisit the Oscuro and the Rojo, but I think this Connecticut is my favorite of the three. It was rich and creamy, well balanced and burned perfectly. My initial impression was that this was a cigar that didn’t really need to be made, It seems that adding a shade cigar to a line is a go to move with General Cigars. This one is really nice, and priced well. It’s funny as I sit here smoking a shade cigar I think about how it’s the last wrapper I go to, but I really like them! This Hoyo is a good one. When I first started this journey, General Cigars sent me a box of Hoyos, and I think I still have one left. That was 15 years ago!

I smoked a West Tampa Cigar Co. Devil Crab a few months ago at the Smoke-Onos when Ricky pretty much made me smoke it, and I had some thoughts, but I wanted to smoke one on a clean palate to validate those thoughts. I can use “validate”, Aganorsa hasn’t protected it somehow, right? Anyway, This is a classic size, 4½” x 60 perfecto. I see the term “double perfecto” bandied about, and that seems redundant to me, a perfecto is a figurado that’s closed at both ends. What would a single perfecto be? Anyway, it’s pretty close to the classic Flying Pig vitola, which Steve Saka resurrected from a late 1800s cigar catalog while working at Drew Estate. I like this shape, it’s a fun smoke. This is made at the Garmendia factory where the White, Black and Red lines are made. This is a very interesting cigar, and I had a very similar experience this time. It smokes well, once you get thought the foot, initially it’s tight, but that’s a typical perfecto trait. To my palate, it has a sweetness, but not a sugary sweetness, more of a saccharine sweetness. It’s a little odd, Certainly worth a try and a decent change of pace. There are other West Tampa cigars I like better.

Finally, I was hunting for something new to me, and I came across the Tatuaje 7th Corojo. This is the fifth cigar in the 7th size, which is a 5 5/8″ x 46 classic Corona Gorda shape. They’ve recently release this as a regular production, along with the Tuxtla in this size. It has a Corojo wrapper grown by the Garcia family in Nicaragua, I assume over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. It’s decently priced around $9.50. I remember feeling extremely extravagant paying that for a Liga Privada when they first hit (double that today!). This was a perfect cigar to unwind with after a very busy Saturday. It has an interesting sourness, not off putting, with a floral overtone. It’s different from what I generally expect from a Tatuaje, but if they all tasted the same, what fun would that be? Perfect construction as always. I should have gotten a Tuxtla too, I haven’t had one in a while, but they will be readily available. Great cigar.

That’s all for today, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as 7th, cigar, cigars, Corojo, Devil Crab, hoyo de monterrey, Shade, tatuaje, West Tampa Tobacco Co.

July 6, 2025 · 10:24 am

Tatuaje, Villiger and Cavalier Geneve Cigars

We’re coming off a holiday weekend that’s had beautiful weather. I spent my weekend running around doing estate stuff, but I did manage to get a few good cigars in. Friday was my wedding anniversary (38), so I had a traditional Padron 1964 Exclusivo Natural from a box that the Padrons gifted me in 2014. I published my first magazine article in Prime Living Magazine (which is, sadly, no more) and featured the Padron 1964 Exclusivo, back when they were really expensive at $12. People say that Padrons don’t age well, I beg to differ, this one was just fine. I also had a Trinidad Vigia that was given to me several years ago, and I’ve been a little concerned about it. The guy that gave it to me didn’t really know me, he was running a shop a few towns over that we more of a shipping operation of cigars to China. There was something weird about the operation, and, to be honest, I don’t think the cigars I bought out of their large walk in humidor were ever charged to my card. I haven’t stopped back, they keep strange hours. The Trinidad was real, had a floral profile that while good, wasn’t really my preference. I capped the day off with a Micallef Firecracker, which was too strong for me for late in the evening! Good stuff, I hope everyone got through the holiday intact.

One of the cigars that my son got me for Father’s Day was a Tatuaje Pork Tenderloin. This is a 5 1/8″ x 52 Robusto Extra that’s made in the My Father Factory in Esteli. It has a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper over Nicaraguan binders and fillers. This is a new cigar this year, at least this version is. I don’t think I’ve smoked any of the Pork Tenderloins before, they’ve always been hard to get. I should get more of these, because they are really good. It captivated me from the first light, with some spice, espresso and sweet earth. There was a cinnamon stretch midway through. I finished it in time for a friend to reach out to me saying he was in the ER, and asking if I could sit with his dogs for a bit. We took care of his dogs and I picked him up at the ER and all was well.

Yesterday I was running around taking are of business, and when I got done I lit up a La Capitana toro from Villiger. This is a reimagining of a La Capitana that was around back in 2013, which was a Nicaraguan puro made in the DR, and a pretty good smoke if I recall. This one has an Ecuador Connecticut wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers. This one was an old school 6″ x 50 Toro. It’s made at the Villiger de Nicaragua (Joya) factory. This was a nice, nutty, medium bodied Connecticut cigar. It was smooth, burned well, although a bit fast, and was a pretty darned good smoke. Villiger is a brand that seems to go unappreciated. The have a lot of good premium cigars. Don’t dismiss their TAA cigars, which are usually very interesting.

I wrapped up the day yesterday with a Cavalier Geneve BII-Viso Jalapa Robusto Gordo. I believe Brian Motola either gave this to me, or it was included in the Cigar Circus swag from my visit to Clearwater back in the beginning of March. This beauty has the gold leaf diamond on the wrapper, with a very thin band, a really nice presentation. This started out spicy, but settled into the expresso thing I like pretty quick. I really enjoyed this cigar, it was super good! The burn and draw were perfect, it was just a really, really good smoke. I’m going to shop for some ore of these at some point. I remember meeting Sebastian at the IPCPR show maybe in 2016? He’s a very cool dude, Brian’s pretty cool as well.

That’s all for today, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as Cavalier, cigar, cigars, Geneve, La Capitana, padron, Pork Tenderloin, tatuaje, trinidad, Villiger

September 15, 2024 · 9:44 am

Brick House TAA, Tatuaje PCA and Villiger TAA Cigars

I stopped by my local Tobacconist Association of America retailer recent;y and picked up a few cigars I hadn’t tried yet. I got a couple TAA Exclusives and a PCA (Premium Cigar Association) exclusive. These are cigars that are only available to members of the respective associations, in the case of the TAA, the members have an annual meeting (usually at a tropical resort ironically outs

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ide of the US (technically they are still in “the Americas”). Selected manufacturers make exclusive cigars, some good, some not so much. I think I selected a couple of the better ones. I started with the Brick House Ciento por Ciento, which translates to 100 percent, and I’m not sure what the significance of this name is without doing more research than I feel like doing. I grabbed this one for three reasons: I typically like Brick House cigars, I hadn’t smoked this one, and it’s almost Bricktoberfest (starts tomorrow, my daughter’s birthday!). I don’t know how long these had been on the retailers shelf, but when I removed the band it had tan lines! The front face of the cigar wrapper leaf was faded, which is odd because the humidor at this shop has no sun exposure. Perhaps they moved them from another store, I don’ t know. It was only one side, kinda like my tan. Anyway, this didn’t seem to have any effect. This is a 6¼” x 54 Toro made in J.C. Newman’s PENSA factory in Esteli, and is a Nicaraguan Puro. The wrapper is from Jalapa and seems a bit lighter than the standard Brickhouse. It has a overall woody profile with a hint of citrus here and there. Good cigar and well priced, as a Brick House should be.

Next up was the Tatuaje PCA 2023, which came out in early 2024, of course. Tatuaje has probably been the best at making TAA Exclusives, and is a very big supporter of the PCA, which is a much larger organization. The point of offering this Exclusive is to get member retailers, and any retailer who isn’t a member is a fool, in my opinion, to physically come to the annual trade show to buy. This PCA exclusive is a 6 3/8″ x 54 Toro, made at the My Father factory in Esteli, and has an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. This was a delicious cigar with. sweet exotic spices throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed smoking this, which isn’t unusual considering I enjoy most Tatuaje cigars I smoke. I may swing back and grab a couple more, although they are on the top end of what I consider well priced, around $15 I think. Great tasting cigar!

I’ve smoked a couple of the Villiger TAA Exclusives, however this one has eluded my notice. Villiger, like they do with a lot of their brands, uses a variety of factories. This was their second year making a TAA Exclusive, and they used the Tabacalera Palma factory in the DR. Their Trill brand was made there, which I don’t think is in their portfolio any longer. Like the B

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rick House, this cigar also had tan lines. I guess they are the opposite of tan lines really, there was some fading on the top face of the wrapper. This was a 6″ x 54 toro with an Ecuador Habano wrapper and Dominican binder and fillers. I’m generally a fan of Villiger cigars, there’s some I like better than others, but they make good cigars. This had a sweet wood profile, not my favorite, but pleasant enough. The cigar burned well and I think it was unter $10, not too bad. As I think about it (read: looked back on my own site), I have smoked the 2020 (E.P. Carrillo) and the 2022 (Espinosa), and I think the 2022 was my favorite. I guess I need to see if I can find the ’23 and ’24 versions if they exist!.

As I write this, I’m enjoying a cigar on my porch. I hate that it will be too chilly soon to do this. I found a Leccia Desnudo in the humidor and, while it isn’t my usual choice for a morning cigar, it’s got a few year age and is a nice, mellow maduro cigar, great with coffee. When these came out back in 2016 we hosted a Desnudo Sunday and did a video, which is here. Everyone remained clothed. That’s all for today, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as 2021, Brick House, Ciento por Ciento, cigar, cigars, J.C.Newman, PCA, TAA, tatuaje, Villiger

August 25, 2024 · 9:51 am

A Cigar Adventure: a Visit to Up Down Cigars and a PCA Event in Chicago

I did something wild this week, for me at least. I attended the Premium Cigar Association‘s Democratic National Convention event at Up Down Cigars in Chicago, IL. I I made the whole trip within a 24 hour window. Here’s how it went down: I flew from Philly to O’Hare on Tuesday, arriving in Chicago around 1PM local time. I walked about 22 miles from the gate to the train that would take me, eventually, to the Blue Line train into the city. The “L” train stop was about 2 miles from the shop, so instead of trying to take a bus, I figured I had time to hoof it. Said bus passed me several times. Anyway, I got to Up Down Cigars around 3:30 for the 6:00 PCA event. Rats, I’ll have to hang around a cigar shop for a couple hours. The staff at this shop is quite knowledgeable and attentive, it’s not a large shop, cabinet humidors around the perimeter (actually fronts for the walk in behind it where the backstock is

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stored), with some cabinets here and there with accessories, pipes and humidors. It’s ra

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ther cramped, by suburban store standards, but fairly typical for a city shop with a long history (The original owner, Diana Silvius, is a legend in the cigar business. Phil Ledbetter is the current owner, an instantly likable guy). I perused the humidors looking for something to fill the time. I was directed to a store exclusive, the Fausto 10/50.

I’m going to pause here to talk about the cigar, the Fausto 10/50. This was made for the 50th anniversary of the shop back in 2013, which was also Tatuaje Cigar‘s 10th anniversary. This is a 6 3/8″ x 42 lonsdale, with an Ecuador Habano Maduro wrapper, and Nicaraguan binder and fillers, made at the My Father Factory in Esteli. This is an exceptional cigar, I smoked two this week, one a the shop and one when I got home. Smaller ring cigars need to be smoked slowly, this is one to be savored, first because over drawing it will make it burn hot and ruin it, second because it has some strength, and in the case of the one I smoked at the shop, I was pacing myself because it had already been a long day and I had a long night ahead of me. It’s a heavy cigar with cocoa and some spice, an absolute bargain at $10.50, although with applicable Chicago taxes it was more like $13.75. I really like the Fausto line, and this was a really good version. I bought 3, smoked two, have one left to savor at a future time!

Back to the trip. Shortly after I arrived at the shop, Boston Jimmie of Stogie Press showed up and we hung out until the event at 6. The PCA hosted events at both political conventions, I was unable to attend the one in Milwaukee for the RNC. The event was held in the patio area behind the store, a maybe 30′ x 50′ tented area. Drew Estate was the cigar sponsor, so I had a Liga Privada No. 9 while there, although there were many choices available. Ben Pearson, the area rep was there. I finally met Josh Habursky who was recently appointed Executive Director after Scott Pearce left to head the Cigar Association of America. Scott was there as well and I had a chance to talk to him a bit. I also got to hang out with my friend Luigi Lucente, the man behind the Cigar Medics Humidimeter, The Baller cigar cutter, and the Guillotina de Saka cigar cutter, among other

Photo Courtesy of Boston Jimmie

clever cigar accessories. I imagine there were somewhere around 100 people there. It was a nice event with various hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer and liquor. After the event Luigi dropped me at the train and I made my way back to O’Hare to await my 6am flight.

They had issued something like 350 free tickets for this event with a waiting list of 200. If everyone had showed up it would have been a disaster. It occurs to me that they should have put a nominal fee on the tickets, which would incentivise people to attend if they really wanted to, and raise some money for the association. I don’t know that any of the Democratic legislators who are key to the cigar industry fight against taxation and regulation were there, I have to think that holding it during the convention hours (and the convention center was 7 miles away, which might take 2 hours in Chicago traffic!) might have deterred their attendance. It was a nice event, I’m glad I put myself through what I did to attend, but I can see how it could have been better. I understand that the Milwaukee event was more elaborate, given the way many in the cigar industry lean politically, I can see where more might have gone into that one. Anyway, good event, great people and a really nice shop. I discovered that walking through a deserted O’Hare was surreal, and I’m too old for pulling all nighters!

That’s all for today, until the next time,

CigarCraig