Craig Mac
BoM 4/10 7/11 12/14
Figured I would swing by the bar for dinner and a smoke tonight, might as well do a mini review along with it. Tonight I am smoking the new Tatuaje Noella Reserva. The story with the Noella Reserva cigar is that in 2006 the brown label Noella was released with an Oscuro wrapper, at the time it had no secondary band and was rolled in Miami. In 2009, it was once again released, this time with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and secondary "Reserva" band. The 09 version was rolled in Miami as well and featured what many have called "the best Broadleaf Pepin ever had". This 2013 version is rolled in Nicaragua like the 7th and Petite Cazadores are.
I have smoked through multiple boxes of the 09 and would easily consider it my favorite cigar, I have smoked more 09 NR's than any other single cigar. Now on to the smoke...
I pulled the cigar out of my jacket pocket and the secondary band was trying its best to fall off, so I went ahead and pulled it. Prelight, I get some hay and a hint of that "Pepin pepper". Draw is good, time to light up.
First third I am getting a little hay, spice and a bit of that Broadleaf grittiness. It's kind of funny, after spending last week in Nicaragua, I am picking up some very similar notes I did after smoking My Father cigars for 4 days. The primary note being that of what I call the "Esteli barnyard". This cigar has a very My Father profile to it.
Second third, more of the first. Pepper has lightened and the hay/spice is still prevalent. Draw is great and burn is rock solid for a cigar ROTT.
Final third is continuing along the same lines, cigar didn't seem to waver from the time it was lit. Cigar has a nice long finish to it and in a good way had me sipping away at my beverage of choice the entire time.
To conclude, this is not the same cigar as the 09, not even close. There was truly something special about that first batch of Broadleaf used with the 09 Noella Reserva and the OR El Triunfador. It had a sweetness to it and the wrapper definitely was more distinct. I am not saying this isn't a good cigar, just hard to compare it to it's predecessor. I think I will lay the remaining cigars I have down for some rest in hopes that barnyard will fade and the broadleaf will shine through.
Thanks for reading, see you soon on a barstool near you.
I have smoked through multiple boxes of the 09 and would easily consider it my favorite cigar, I have smoked more 09 NR's than any other single cigar. Now on to the smoke...
I pulled the cigar out of my jacket pocket and the secondary band was trying its best to fall off, so I went ahead and pulled it. Prelight, I get some hay and a hint of that "Pepin pepper". Draw is good, time to light up.
First third I am getting a little hay, spice and a bit of that Broadleaf grittiness. It's kind of funny, after spending last week in Nicaragua, I am picking up some very similar notes I did after smoking My Father cigars for 4 days. The primary note being that of what I call the "Esteli barnyard". This cigar has a very My Father profile to it.
Second third, more of the first. Pepper has lightened and the hay/spice is still prevalent. Draw is great and burn is rock solid for a cigar ROTT.
Final third is continuing along the same lines, cigar didn't seem to waver from the time it was lit. Cigar has a nice long finish to it and in a good way had me sipping away at my beverage of choice the entire time.
To conclude, this is not the same cigar as the 09, not even close. There was truly something special about that first batch of Broadleaf used with the 09 Noella Reserva and the OR El Triunfador. It had a sweetness to it and the wrapper definitely was more distinct. I am not saying this isn't a good cigar, just hard to compare it to it's predecessor. I think I will lay the remaining cigars I have down for some rest in hopes that barnyard will fade and the broadleaf will shine through.
Thanks for reading, see you soon on a barstool near you.
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