Cigar review / Tatuaje red label tubo

Pre-light sniff yielded some obvious cedar notes, most likely attributed to the removal of this beauty from the tube that it comes packaged in.

The appearance of this cigar is less rustic than its twin brother the black tube.

The foot is clipped even and clean.

The wrapper is a darker more even color than the tubo negro, with some medium vienage and tooth present.

The roll is even although on this particular cigar not very tight it gives way to light compression.  Its not a loosey goosey by any means but not firm.

Pre-light draw gives some leather and cedar.

Initial light draw is leathery and as was expected, spicey.

Some sweetness on the lips is noteable, pepper on the tongue.

Nose hale at the onset gives some spice but nothing overwhelming

About an inch into this cigar and the noteable flavors are leather, earth and slight pepper.

The draw is smooth and the burn although not razor sharp is very even.  The ash released after and inch but was light grey with some black spots at this point.  

Of note here is that although the draw is smooth, not an extreme amount of full smoke, a bit weak in this area.

2 inches into this cigar review and the flavor has evolved a bit to a more black coffee.  The spicey notes are minimal but present.

This cigar needs a prettyconsistent puff to maintain ignition, if left unattended for even a minute it seems to want to go out.

Im picking up some chocolate notes along with the coffee and the spice has diminished to almost nothing.  The finish is creamy at this point and very enjoyable. Body is medium to full and there is the nice mild sweetness on the lips which has been present from the start. The burn has become more uneven but no touch up at this point, about half way.

And just like that from one puff to the next, BAMM! spice! and smoke! lots of smoke.  Good pepper flavor on the tongue and when nose haled, its almost like a different stogie was placed into my mouth. To go along with the pepper more cream in the finish, very nice transition at the half way mark.  Im removing the band to get to the last leg of this cigar review.

The spicey peppery flavor has built up to a very nice level as has the creamyness of the finish.  The burn evened out all on its own and the smoke is now full and thick.  Nothing like a good “back end” to keep this guy interested and happy.

Now at the bottom third, pepper lingers in the lips and tip of the tongue along with the sweet notes. Nose hale delivers just the right amount of spice.

Some leather has returned to mix it up with the pepper and chocolate/cocoa.

The change up from the first half to the the second has been very good.  Its a shame this cigar wasnt performing from the beginning but I wont take anything away from this back end, its developed into a real winner.  Can’t put it down good!

Summing it up:

Construction: The appearance is beautiful, this torpedo looks great, the roll was medium firm.

Draw: smooth but yielded less than adequate smoke at the beginning, then gave way at the back half to a great amount of smoke.

Burn: good , some running was evident but no touch ups required, and again it evened out at the back half.

Flavors:  evolved , leather, earth. pepper with  creamy finish to start.  Coffee, Chocolate/cocoa jumped in later and pepper built up and stayed strong to the end.

Strength : above average

Body: medium to full

Overall: very good cigar, I have yet to try a bad Tatuaje, they seem to have their finger on the pulse of blending top notch cigars.

Price: about 11.00 bucks a stick, very doable

Tags: cigar, tatuaje tubo rojo