Tatuaje 7th

I used to think the Tatuaje 7th series was a line unto itself. I’ve been smoking them for years but only recently did some research on them since I just picked up a 5er of the 7th San Andres and was curious what made the cigar a “7th.” What I discovered is that the Tatuaje 7th Series is part of the Seleccíon de Cazador (aka Brown Label) line and specifically the Seleccíon de Cazador – Nicaragua set (the other is Miami). And wanchile there are different wrappers from cigar to cigar in the 7th series, from what I’ve come to understand, the 7th refers to a vitola; that is, 5 5/8 X 46, a corona.

There are five cigars in the 7th series:

1. Habano (Natural)
2. Capa Especial Sumatra
3. Reserva Broadleaf
4. Corojo
5. Tuxtla San Andrés

I’ve had them all except for the Corojo which was just released this year (I’ve got a box resting right now). Out of all of them though, my favorite is the Habano. It is the most basic of the entire 7th series, using all Nic guts and an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. On the surface, yeah, ho-hum, been there done that. But there is a unique woodiness – like teakwood – in the aroma and smoke that gives the cigar a vibrancy that I find utterly pleasing. I always liken it to perusing the furniture section of a Cost+ store where they sell a lot of teakwood furniture. It’s an exotic, tropical smell that takes me to the islands.

As for the series itself, I love the size of the cigar. At 5 5/8 X 46, one might think that corona size would be a quick smoke. But it’s not. It’s a real slow burner. The earliest I’ve ever finished one is a little over an hour and half. I just finished smoking the cigar shown in the picture (Tuxtla San Andres), and it took me two hours to finish!

And though the smoke could be considered medium in body, make no mistake, 7th series smokes are full strength. According to the Tatuaje website, “Blended in the style of the flavorful yet Medium Bodied Cuban Cigars. Cigars are rolled in Nicaragua using select Nicaraguan tobaccos and classic cuban blending with a beautiful Cuban triple-cap.” The 7th reminds me of smoking a Cuban Montecristo #4. That cigar is super smooth with a medium body, but that masks an underlying strength. It’s magnificent! That’s the experience I get with a 7th.

What amazes me the most about the 7th is that it doesn’t fly on anyone’s radar. In the online forums I participate in, I seem to be the only one who mentions these. There’s so much focus on the Monster and others from the Brown Label line – especially the USA sticks. But very little mention of the 7th. It makes them difficult to find sometimes requiring a bit of research. But they’re worth it!