Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is medium brown in the middle and darker towards the foot and head as the color change is distinct with the wrap and makes the seams easily visible even though they are smooth. There is a network of fine slightly raised veins present and the wrapper folds over the foot to completely enclose it. The pointed head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. The band is white with gold lettering and artwork and designates the company and line names. The aroma from the wrapper and closed foot is wood, dark chocolate and a faint white pepper. The pre-light draw provides a light creamy leather with a very mild spiciness on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Tatuaje 15th Anniversary Habano Rosado Oscuro Belicoso Fino has a gorgeous Colorado Red wrapper. Major veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll uniform and head finished off with a deep cap. Aromas from the wrapper give dank barnyard and cedar. Aromas from the foot give cherry cordials, white pepper and cedar. Cold draw tells plums, cedar and hay.

First Third

The cigar begins with wood, intense cinnamon and light creaminess. A quarter inch in, the cream transitions to mustiness and the cinnamon is still fairly intense. At a half inch in, a walnut note joins in with the wood, intense cinnamon and mustiness. At three quarters of an inch in, the cinnamon mellows quite a bit. The retrohale has the cinnamon up front that carries a decent zing with some mustiness and walnut behind it. At an inch and a quarter, some cream rejoins the profile and creates an interesting mix with the mustiness. The retrohale is now musty wood and walnut with just a faint cinnamon. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

First Third

The cigar has a nice body (almost medium-full ) to it. Bolder and rustic flavors of cayenne pepper, white pepper, minerals, sharp oak and cream. Retrohaling has the cayenne pepper kicked up a notch as well as minerals. The finish is a long and lingering oak. Strength is medium nearing medium-full.

Second Third

As the second third begins, some bitterness joins in with the walnut to go along with the wood and mustiness/creaminess combination. The cinnamon has dropped out of the profile. At a half inch in, the bitterness has increased in combination with the walnut while the wood is up front and the cream has dropped from the mustiness. At an inch and a quarter, the bitterness has mellowed slightly. The retrohale brings wood, mustiness and a mild version of the bitter walnut. The strength in this third bumped up to medium.

Second Third

The second third’s profile at times becomes creamier, which especially matches the medium bodied profile quite well. Other than that, the core flavors are still intact: cayenne pepper, white pepper, sharp oak. Strength is still in between medium to medium-full.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the profile is musty wood and bitter walnut. At a half inch in, the walnut transitions to a dry earthiness, but the bitterness remains. At three quarters of an inch in, a slight mintiness joins the profile. The retrohale carries musty wood and some mintiness. As the cigar comes to a close, the bitterness has dropped out and the profile is musty wood and dry earthiness. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Final Third

The last third loses out on some complexities. The profile is namely dominated by sharp oak and minerals. Unfortunately, the creamy aspects of the cigar is essentially gone. Body is still medium and strength moves to a consistent medium-full.

Burn

The burn line was slightly wavy the whole way. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Burn

Burn performance was overall solid. The only let down was a couple touch-ups required. Other than that, plenty of smoke production, cool burn, rock solid ashes.

Draw

The draw had the perfect amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with wood, cream and cinnamon and some mustiness joined in pretty quickly. A walnut note came in and as the cigar progressed, some bitterness joined and then finished with musty wood and dry earth. Construction was very good and just allowed me to focus on flavors. The strength was right around medium the whole way. While the cigar carried the unique walnut note that I don’t typically get, the overall profile was fairly average and not what I would associate with an Anniversary cigar. The price point is quite high and would be a detriment to me revisiting this along with the average experience. If you’re a Tatuaje fan it’s something worth trying. I would be interested in trying the Claro variant to see what differences it may provide.

Draw

The perfect and ideal draw resistance.

Overall

Based on the pre-light experience, I was excited to smoke this cigar at the time. Colorado Red wrapper with pre-light notes such as cherry cordials, plums, cedar and hay? That’s a solid start. But for me, the pre-light experience rarely conveys to the actual smoking experience. In terms of the actual smoking experience, overall, I enjoyed the profile Tatuaje 15th Anniversary Habano Rosado Oscuro Belicoso Fino. Bolder, more rustic notes of cayenne pepper, white pepper, minerals, sharp oak and cream. It was a solid recipe until the last third in which some complexities fell off. Not typically the type of cigar that reminds me of Tatuaje but one worth checking out.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.00

Cost/Point

$3.17

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.72

Cost/Point

$2.83

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Tatuaje 15th Anniversary Habano Rosado Oscuro Belicoso Fino