Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a light golden brown and has some dark spots along some of the veins. The seams are easily visible due to the light color of the wrapper but they are smooth. The head is finished off with a very well applied triple cap. The strip band looks very nice in the color combination of black, gold and white. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of hay and a cat urine/ammonia aroma. The foot provides a mix of hay and wood along with a mild white pepper spice. The pre-light draw brings a mix of hay and creamy leather along with a mild spice on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Tatuaje Negociant Monopole No. 3 isn’t the most attractive Connecticut shade wrapper I’ve seen. It’s unrefined, pale light caramel look could look better. Overall construction looks and feels well done as major veins are well pressed, seams tight, a looser bunch and roll and a well applied thick cap. Aromas from the wrapper give cedar and barnyard. Aromas from the foot tell white pepper, rich roasted nuts and cedar. Cold draw gives cedar shavings, hay and light white pepper spice.

First Third

The cigar begins with a mix of light and creamy wood along with mild black pepper. At a quarter inch in, a hay note joins the profile. At three quarters of an inch in, the hay is replaced by a bready note that pairs well with the creamy wood and mild black pepper. The retrohale provides a mix of wood and bready notes. As the third comes to a close, the wood and bread are up front with the cream not far behind and the back pepper a supporting note in the background. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

First Third

The first third’s flavor profile is a familiar one given the nature of a Connecticut shade wrapped cigar. Notes of dried nuts, creamed bread, cedar, hay and slightly overemphasized bitterness off the Equadorian Connecticut wrapper. Retrohaling brings spice (black pepper) into the profile while at the same time having deeper dried nuts. The finish is a mixture of bitterness and dry wood. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the wood becomes more defined as oak and is still paired up with the bread along with the cream and mild black pepper. At a half inch in, the cream drops out of the profile leaving the oak and now toasted bread up front while the black pepper is now very faint in the background. At an inch in, a slight bit of cream rejoins the profile. The retrohale is oak with toasted bread and a slight cream in the background. As the third comes to a close, some mustiness joins in with the cream in the background while the oak and toasted bread remain up front. The strength in this third has bumped up to medium.

Second Third

The second third picks up vegetable notes in addition to the same notes of dried nuts, creamed bread, cedar and excessive bitterness. The vegetable notes carries forth especially on the finish with the pre-existing bitterness and dry wood. Strength and body remains medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the cream drops way back leaving just a bit of mustiness to coincide with the oak and toasted bread. At a quarter inch in, some bitterness joins up with the oak and lessens the toasted bread note. At an inch in, a slight sweetness joins the profile of slightly bitter oak while the toasted bread note in barely detectable. This is the profile the cigar finishes with. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Final Third

The last third shows the continuation of wood bitterness increasing, largely sitting heavy on the finish. The other notes of vegetables, cream and cedar are all still intact, but the bitterness is what is most noticeable. The best part of this third is the retrohale, showing no bitterness and instead, showing black pepper spice and increased roasted nuts. Strength and body finishes medium.

Burn

The burn line was slightly wavy the entire way but never needed any attention. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Burn

Overall burn performance was very good. Aside from a re-light, the burn had no issues providing an even burn, sturdy ashes and a cool burning temperature.

Draw

The draw had just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

This is a cigar that had a nice mellow flavor profile along with medium strength. Retrohaling is important when smoking this cigar as it brings a lot of the flavors out more than you would get typically. Construction was fantastic, so no attention was needed there. This was an enjoyable experience and one that would be approachable for most smokers. While the price point is just North of $10, it provides a lengthy smoking time, so you do get your money’s worth. This would be a great morning cigar and one that I think would pair very well with coffee. I’m looking forward to smoking this again in that exact pairing scenario.

Draw

The draw was perfect. The ideal airflow.

Overall

As mentioned within the first third’s notes, this cigar tastes like a familiar Equadorian Connecticut wrapped cigar with cream, nuts and minimal spice. One of my key benchmarks of a very good Connecticut shade cigar is gauging the bitterness levels. In this instance, the bitterness was present from the first draw and gradually increased as the cigar progressed. Nothing too overbearing until the last third, but it could use less bitterness in the profile. Nothing too great or bad about the cigar, just one of the many ones out there that tastes like this.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.72

Cost/Point

$1.64

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.72

Cost/Point

$1.64

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Tatuaje Negociant Monopole No. 3