While I liked the overall flavors centered around leather, cocoa, dried red pepper spice, cedar and faint anise, I didn't like how drying the mouthfeel was. And by the time the cigar got to the final third where the cedar got bitter, it was salt added to the wound. As such, this Cohiba Serie M Reserva Plata is a pass for me.
The Tatuaje Escasos H had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around toasted cedar and dry earth. While the flavor profile was smooth with lower strength, the dry earth kind of dampened the other flavors, which I believe didn't allow it to shine as it could have. Not a cigar that really excites me and not something I'd likely to return to.
The Angel Cuesta Shade Toro is a good cigar. The draw and burn were perfect from start to finish. It doesn’t have a lot of transitioning, but it has a lovely profile and nice bit of depth. It is on the lighter side of the spectrum, but the wrapper helps in gravitating the blend and the presentation. The honey, cedar, cream and tobacco were very good from start to finish, I just wish it had a little more as a cigar.
Although this was a very small part of the cigar (first inch), the amount of chestnut sweetness and creaminess was awesome. Small part but due to the amazeballsness, worth mentioning. But past that, the profile took a downturn, and by the time it reached the second third, there was no stopping the mediocrity. There are better Connecticut shades out there that can be found for ~$5-10 cheaper. It's such a shame the J.C. Newman Tampa Smokers Toro couldn't capture the first inch experience for longer.
I found the Tatuaje PJ 50th Toro Especial to be a good representation of Tatuaje but a deviation of the typical brand. The flavors showed both richness, depth and cohesiveness without being aggressive (sort of like the wisdom and knowledge you get being older). While I hate the ridiculous price point, I need to give props to the tasty smoking experience. Someone please buy me more.
The Cohiba Serie M Reserva Azul is a lovely cigar and a fantastic addition to the Serie M portfolio. The Dominican Corojo wrapper balances out the Nicaraguan tobacco, and produces a nice flavor profile of warm spices, leather, tobacco and wood. The blend really takes the brand in a different direction while also delivering a premium cigar experience. It has that premium Dominican Cohiba quality, which is what the brand needs. It’s a cigar that smokes great right now but will also age wonderfully.
The Southern Draw Decennium started out with some interesting and medium-full bodied flavor combinations through the first third. As the cigar progressed, the flavor profile remained pleasant and consistently over the medium mark, but it wasn't as engaging for me as the start. It's difficult to determine whether the draw performance impacted the overall flavor performance, but I think I'd want to revisit the cigar to see if a Decennium with a good draw imparted more complex flavors for the final two thirds.
The El Titan de Bronze Redemption Corona had a lot of flavor components through each third and I found the first third was the most cohesive in terms of how they balanced each other. I enjoyed reviewing the El Titan de Bronze Redemption Corona, and I think the price point is around the normal point for the market in 2024. I could see myself smoking this again, and I would recommend this to anyone looking for a more full bodied cigar experience.
Summary words that come to mind are raw, heavy, unapologetic. The profile had a deepness in dirt grit, torched cedar and red pepper spice that pressed forward from start to finish. I would have enjoyed some more softer notes to taper all the earth heaviness. I can see guys liking this, but this Tatuaje 20th RL22 just isn't for me.
The Tatuaje 20th EL22 is a lovely cigar that I look forward to smoking again when it is warmer. Great summer cigar. Balanced with a nice selection of flavors, but not over the top. Medium in strength and body. Not overly complex, or showing a ton of transitioning, but a nice flavor profile throughout.