My Drac review...

[Poriggity]

Ok, so for anyone that follows me on Twitter, or any number of the cigar forums knows that I was not happy with the way the Drac/Boris rolled out. I had mentioned I was boycotting Tatuaje, and a few retailers, simply because of the way things had been going down, with price gouging, and a few other things. I am writing this review, because I simply felt it necessary. I bought 3 dracs and 3 Boris, just because I stumbled upon them. I started smoking the Drac with an open mind, simply because I enjoyed most Tatuaje's, and being as limited as this cigar is, I really wanted to keep an open mind regarding this cigar. Let's see how it went!

Pre-Light: The first thing I noticed was that this particular cigar that I photographed was rolled pretty well, although it felt a little soft as I ran my fingers down the length of it. I clipped the torpedo shaped head, and took a pre-light draw. The first thing I noticed was that it was I got a little bit of fruity taste, with a little bit of peppermint like taste on the finish. I clipped this cigar with my trusty Palio, and lit it up with the ever so trusty, Ronson Jetlite.



1/3: As I toasted up this cigar, and took a few puffs, the first thing I noticed was that I was getting a little bit of a blast of a candy/peppermint flavor, along with some white peppery spice. The draw was pretty much effortless, and the smoke was billowing nicely. The finish on this cigar was heavy, and very long. The taste of fruity/peppermint held on to my tongue like it didn't want to let go. At this point, the peppermint/fruity flavor is not a bad flavor, but overall not something I enjoy usually. As I finish up the first portion of this cigar, some of the typical Tatuaje peppery flavors were ones that I was enjoying, but this taste of fruit/peppermint on the finish was not all that great.



2/3: As I moved on to the second portion of this cigar, the burn was starting to canoe, and I attempted to correct it. At this point, I am not really happy with the way the burn is moving along, but as long as I am getting the nice Tatuaje peppery spice flavors, I will keep smoking. I was still getting a consistent peppermint flavor. The smoke was billowing really nicely, and the smoke smelled great. The burn just would NOT correct itself, and before I got to the last portion of the cigar, I had to correct the burn 2-3 times. One of my biggest pet peeves on any cigar is one that won't burn at least FAIRLY straight. This cigar didn't burn worth a crap. It kept wanting to canoe, and I made SURE that I lit it correctly. At this point, I am getting frustrated with it, but I keep with it, just because I want to see if there are any changes coming.



3/3: As I finish up this cigar, I got more of the typical Tatuaje spice, which came on stronger than the last couple sections. The peppermint flavors and finish started to die down a bit, and I was starting to really enjoy this cigars flavors, with the diminishing of the peppermint flavors. The smoke is billowing great, and the burn seems to have straightened itself out quite a bit.



Overall Impression: Ok, so as many of you have noticed, I mentioned I was boycotting Tatuaje and a few retailers because of the way they handled the Drac/Boris rollout. I am using this review to say a couple things. As I sat here smoking this cigar, I realized one thing. Pete did what he could to release this Limited Edition cigar, and make it fair. I, however, did not agree with the way a number of retailers handled the release, and gouged people. That being said, I decided I won't be boycotting Tatuaje products, as Pete still makes great sticks that are not Limited Edition, and he has said himself that there were problems with this release, and he is working to correct it for next year. I will be boycotting certain retailers though, that had bogus ways of "allowing" people to get the Drac/Boris.

Ok, now, since that disclaimer is over, on to the impression of this cigar. Overall, this cigar is not one for me. I did get some flavors that I enjoyed, and the typical Tatuaje spice was there, but the peppermint/fruity flavors were not good at all. I have one more that I will let sit until next halloween, and we'll see how it does next year. This semi fresh Drac, however, was not something I will hunt out anymore of this year.

Smoke Em If you Got Em, Buy Em if You Don't!

Full Review with pics here:

http://www.cigarchoice.net/?p=302
Scott

 

[Stew]

Ive seen a lot of burn issues in early reviews of the Drac. Im guessing that they just haven't had enough time to settle.

 

[Patrick B]

I experienced some burn issues as well but I think it's due to these being young and a little wet. Glad to see a well-written and honest review whether you liked the stick or not. Thanks, Scott!

 

[BrooksW]

Ive seen a lot of burn issues in early reviews of the Drac. Im guessing that they just haven't had enough time to settle.

Yep, and some taste issues as well (from being too wet)...

The Prerelease I smoked had NO problems, either with burn, draw or taste...but I left it in my vino (at 65/65) for two weeks before touching it...

FWIW...

~brooks

 

[pfm721]

It's been said a bunch. They are too wet out of the box. Need time to rest. Burn issues will fix themselves at that point.

 

[weskimad]

Thanks for the review. Sometimes I think I'm wacky, but I won't touch a cigar for at least 3 months. I have enough cigars stored at conditions I set with some decent age on them to jump right into a new cigar, especially considering the limited amount of these cigars floating around.

 

[Poriggity]

It's been said a bunch. They are too wet out of the box. Need time to rest. Burn issues will fix themselves at that point.

I agree that rest may fix the burn issues, but I don't know how much it would do for the flavor issues. I have put one away and will smoke it next halloween to see how I like it. Again, this was just an honest review. I try not to pull any punches. I paid full retail+ on each of the boris and drac as well. I will be putting up a halloween review of the Boris today...
Scott

 

[BagfullofPings]

I agree that rest may fix the burn issues, but I don't know how much it would do for the flavor issues. I have put one away and will smoke it next halloween to see how I like it. Again, this was just an honest review. I try not to pull any punches. I paid full retail+ on each of the boris and drac as well. I will be putting up a halloween review of the Boris today...
Scott

You smoked it yesterday, hurry up with the Boris review Scott.

I didn't catch the fruity or peppermint notes. I'm a little worried about you....mint? Have you been hanging out with David from the shop? A couple of years ago he claimed he tasted notes of mint chocolate chip ice cream while reviewing a cigar. As I told you the other day, my Drac had notes of spice and lacquer.

Jason

 

[Poriggity]

You smoked it yesterday, hurry up with the Boris review Scott.

I didn't catch the fruity or peppermint notes. I'm a little worried about you....mint? Have you been hanging out with David from the shop? A couple of years ago he claimed he tasted notes of mint chocolate chip ice cream while reviewing a cigar. As I told you the other day, my Drac had notes of spice and lacquer.

Jason

I smoked two of them and got that peppermint on the finish with both. Don't know if it was just me or what, but thats what I got out of them both. Wasn't that impressive to me. I'll start working on that Boris review now.
Scott

 

[Speedbump]

the honest review is great and i agree i with the retailers screwing the people that just want to smoke good cigars. i do not think that Pete would approve. thanks and i can't wait to see your boris review

 

[t_ron99]

+ 1 for burn issue. I had it too.

 

[njstone]

Thanks for the review!

For some reason I have to keep saying this about these sticks, not sure why, but making a decision on whether or not you like a cigar based on ONE OTT STICK is just silly, imvho.

The fact that these have had no humi time is clearly the reason for the bad burn. And how many of us have smoked a stick OTT and then again two months later to find a completely different cigar? That happens to me all the time, which us why I seldom smoke cigars until they've sat for at least a month (I will make an exception tonight). A little time can do a TON for the flavor of a cigar, and Ive found this to be especially true with Tats, which almost aways need 3-4 months a the very least IMO, and Tats' flavors often change dramatically because the tobacco is aged very little compared to over makers. I had an El Triunfador after a month, didn't think it had much flavor and was only ok--just had one with 1-year of age and it's totally different and awesome.

Maybe I'm just a fanboy who wants to stick up for Tats, idk, and this is nothing against the OP at all--you experienced what you experienced. But I just think the whole "one OTT stick review" concept that everyone is doing is kind of crazy.

 

[krulos]

Thanks for the review. I have just one Drac and was debating whether or not to smoke it for Halloween. After reading this I've decided to let it sit until at least New Year's or Christmas.

 

[Poriggity]

I smoked two, back to back before the review. Both had burn issues. They were not fresh off the truck either. My local shop has had them sitting in thier humidor for about a week and a half or so... I bought and smoked these at my local shop. So.. In short, its not a one stick review, and they were not OTT.
Scott

Thanks for the review!

For some reason I have to keep saying this about these sticks, not sure why, but making a decision on whether or not you like a cigar based on ONE OTT STICK is just silly, imvho.

The fact that these have had no humi time is clearly the reason for the bad burn. And how many of us have smoked a stick OTT and then again two months later to find a completely different cigar? That happens to me all the time, which us why I seldom smoke cigars until they've sat for at least a month (I will make an exception tonight). A little time can do a TON for the flavor of a cigar, and Ive found this to be especially true with Tats, which almost aways need 3-4 months a the very least IMO, and Tats' flavors often change dramatically because the tobacco is aged very little compared to over makers. I had an El Triunfador after a month, didn't think it had much flavor and was only ok--just had one with 1-year of age and it's totally different and awesome.

Maybe I'm just a fanboy who wants to stick up for Tats, idk, and this is nothing against the OP at all--you experienced what you experienced. But I just think the whole "one OTT stick review" concept that everyone is doing is kind of crazy.

 

[stroke]

Thanks for the review. I have just one Drac and was debating whether or not to smoke it for Halloween. After reading this I've decided to let it sit until at least New Year's or Christmas.

I was hoping you wouldn't because I want to hold off too! Was just thinking about that before I read your post!

 

[njstone]

I smoked two, back to back before the review. Both had burn issues. They were not fresh off the truck either. My local shop has had them sitting in thier humidor for about a week and a half or so... I bought and smoked these at my local shop. So.. In short, its not a one stick review, and they were not OTT.
Scott

No offense at all, but I disagree. A 2nd stick smoked immediately after the first is always going to be a sub-par experience compared to a 1st-stick of the day as pretty much anyone's palate is far from fresh immediately after smoking a cigar (unless you've been smoking for many years and have a very sophisticated palate). And a week or so is still OTT as far as I'm concerned. Even 2-3 weeks after travel is still sketchy for most sticks. Cigars take a VERY long time to shed excess moisture (I personally think that's why sticks that have been in a well-kept humi for a long time tend to burn so awesome compared to more recent acquisitions of the same cigar). And when you're talking about Tats, they are notorious for shipping wet. Heck, the box of Dracs I just got in the mail today is so wet that I literally CANNOT OPEN IT! :rolling:

Anyway, not saying you didn't taste what you tasted. I'm just saying that if you wait a few months and smoke a couple more Dracs, you may find you have a completely different opinion.

 

[BagfullofPings]

Thanks for the review!

For some reason I have to keep saying this about these sticks, not sure why, but making a decision on whether or not you like a cigar based on ONE OTT STICK is just silly, imvho.

The fact that these have had no humi time is clearly the reason for the bad burn. And how many of us have smoked a stick OTT and then again two months later to find a completely different cigar? That happens to me all the time, which us why I seldom smoke cigars until they've sat for at least a month (I will make an exception tonight).

Maybe I'm just a fanboy who wants to stick up for Tats, idk, and this is nothing against the OP at all--you experienced what you experienced. But I just think the whole "one OTT stick review" concept that everyone is doing is kind of crazy.

IMO, you are too biased on this issue. Most of the seasoned cigar smokers on a site like this know how to store a cigar, and the benefits of doing so.

Both of the cigars (Drac's and Boris's) were shipped 70 miles down the road from Pete's office. Basically overnight delivery. The store where I bought my Drac was 120 miles from Pete's office. Again overnight delivery. I have not talked to Scott about the burn of the Boris, but mine was PERFECT. On top of that, my local shop had not received a shipment of Tat's in almost two month's. It's shipment was back ordered until boxes were available. In addition to the Boris, I smoked a Cojonu 03 and a Regios. The taste and the draw were amazing...I pulled the first cigar out of each box. I'm a cigar smoker and I smoke cigars that are both fresh and aged. For the most part, the burn is the burn unless a cigar is excessively wet and the taste is the taste IMO...unless you age it for a long period of time. The Drac was not excessively wet. If it would have been excessively wet, I would have dry boxed it for 24 hours, or I would not have purchased the Drac from that retailer. I have three retailers on the list within 45 minutes on my house, so I was not worried about it. :dunno:

 

[Poriggity]

IMO, you are too biased on this issue. Most of the seasoned cigar smokers on a site like this know how to store a cigar, and the benefits of doing so.

Both of the cigars (Drac's and Boris's) were shipped 70 miles down the road from Pete's office. Basically overnight delivery. The store where I bought my Drac was 120 miles from Pete's office. Again overnight delivery. I have not talked to Scott about the burn of the Boris, but mine was PERFECT. On top of that, my local shop had not received a shipment of Tat's in almost two month's. It's shipment was back ordered until boxes were available. In addition to the Boris, I smoked a Cojonu 03 and a Regios. The taste and the draw were amazing...I pulled the first cigar out of each box. I'm a cigar smoker and I smoke cigars that are both fresh and aged. For the most part, the burn is the burn unless a cigar is excessively wet and the taste is the taste IMO...unless you age it for a long period of time. The Drac was not excessively wet. If it would have been excessively wet, I would have dry boxed it for 24 hours, or I would not have purchased the Drac from that retailer. I have three retailers on the list within 45 minutes on my house, so I was not worried about it. :dunno:

Couldn't have said it much better myself. Thank you sir. Don't know where you picked up your Drac's from Jason, but I picked mine up from Tim at the Humidor. The Boris burnt great, the Drac burnt like crap, and he got both of them in at the exact same time, and they are sitting in the same humidor.
Scott

 

[njstone]

IMO, you are too biased on this issue. Most of the seasoned cigar smokers on a site like this know how to store a cigar, and the benefits of doing so.

Both of the cigars (Drac's and Boris's) were shipped 70 miles down the road from Pete's office. Basically overnight delivery. The store where I bought my Drac was 120 miles from Pete's office. Again overnight delivery. I have not talked to Scott about the burn of the Boris, but mine was PERFECT. On top of that, my local shop had not received a shipment of Tat's in almost two month's. It's shipment was back ordered until boxes were available. In addition to the Boris, I smoked a Cojonu 03 and a Regios. The taste and the draw were amazing...I pulled the first cigar out of each box. I'm a cigar smoker and I smoke cigars that are both fresh and aged. For the most part, the burn is the burn unless a cigar is excessively wet and the taste is the taste IMO...unless you age it for a long period of time. The Drac was not excessively wet. If it would have been excessively wet, I would have dry boxed it for 24 hours, or I would not have purchased the Drac from that retailer. I have three retailers on the list within 45 minutes on my house, so I was not worried about it. :dunno:

Fine points on the shipping issue. But nonetheless, the Drac is a VERY young cigar. I guess that's my main point, I'm not trying to argue or anything. Pete said they were shipping young due to the deadline of a specific date, and that people would just have to age them if they wanted to. Then you factor in that even that Tats that he thinks are not too young to ship (regular brown label, El T, La Ricky, etc.) are in the opinions of many people too fresh to smoke out of the box--ammonia and metallic flavors, some harshness, etc. But with some age those things disappear and the true flavors and characters of the sticks come out. (I also find the regular line Padrons kinda blah until they're over a year old ... and after a few years they're really amazing cigars, imo).

So all I'm saying is I think the Drac is too young. Maybe think of it like a Cuban, lol. I think many Tat fans will find it to be a great cigar, in a while. If you disagree, cool beans. That's why we all smoke so many sticks and hang out here to talk about it. Some loved the T110 out of the box, others were nearly killed. Those that loved it OTT might hate it in a year when it mellows out, and those that almost died at first might love it in a year, lol. That's one of the fun things about this hobby, how one person can get something totally different than another out of the same product.

 

[Poriggity]

I do agree, the Drac probably did get shipped young. I would think that KNOWING when he was going to release this, and having at least a year to prepare, they shouldn't ship "young". That being said, I've got one I will hold on to and smoke it in a year or so to see how it does.
Scott