Although posting much later than I wanted, here are the results from Santa's Small Group Review 2013. ( http://www.botl.org/community/forum...6-Santa-s-Small-Group-Review!?highlight=small )
The cigar is the Tatuaje 10th Anniversary Belle Encre, and our panel this year was: flyboy, JKlavins, and skullnbones.
Here they are, in no particular order:
JKlavins
Pre-light: a sense of some dirt and cocoa, no huge veins, medium oiliness and a slightly toothsome wrapper.
Very well made, no soft spots, and a slightly sweet smell. The cold draw had cocoa and some slight cedar.
1/3: Slight dull pepper and some woody cedar notes with some uncerlying cocoa that will be sure to arrive later.
The retrohale has strong cedar, with an aftertaste of a nice fresh cabin in the summertime. The pepper backed off and there is a
nice non-cedar dull Oak woodiness lingering. A really nice burn line after a bit off wobbling and a nice solid white ash.
2/3: A little bit of coffee and cocoa combined, no pepper but there is a nice earthiness. The ash is incredible, and there
is a nice mocha aftertaste picking up a little more cedar. It seems like a little bit of (not because of the season) Christmas-like
spices show up with a touch of leather.
3/3: The spices picked up, and everything along with the coffee and leather intensified. A lot more cocoa. Got a little bit of tar
gathering in the V cut so I clipped a little more with a guillotine, purged and solved that problem. The flavors stayed strong,
with a hint of molasses towards the end.
Overall I really enjoyed this cigar, and I would definitely get another if I see one at a B&M. Great smoke, good flavors, and I look
forward to trying the other vitolas from this line!
Smoke time: 1hour 26 minutes
Rating 8.7 out of 10
skullnbones
Construction & Appearance: Beautifully applied triple cap. The wrapper is a wonderful shade of dark brown, no major veins and a fair bit of tooth. Band is very regal looking.
Pre-Light: Wrapper smells of chocolate and hay, an lots of it. This come through on a cold draw as well.
1st Third: The first few draws were packed with the flavor of fresh ground coffee with a hint of cedar. This quickly died away and gave way to what I can only describe as an old and musty taste and smell. It literally smelled like an old used book store I was in last night. A mix of aged tobacco, old paper and leather, it was fantastic. I don't think I've ever gotten that from a cigar before.
2nd Third: The flavors aren't changing much in the second third, and I don't want them to. The hay and coco flavors are a little more pronounced. The cigar is still maintaining that wonderful old book shop taste and smell.
Final 3rd: Starting to get bolder flavors; coco, oak and cedar are at the front now. Pepper is starting to come through a little as well. I lost my aged tobacco, musty book shop taste. The cigar is taking on more of a traditional Tatuaje Brown Label profile now.
Final Thoughts: This was my first Belle Encre and my first of the new 10th Anniversary Tats. I'm seriously disappointing in myself for not trying these sooner. I will be looking for more.
Score: 94
Smoke Time: 1hr 10min
Flyboy
When I picked up the Tatuaje 10th Anniversary Belle Encre I was impressed with its construction. The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper gave it a velvety shine and an impression it was a far more expensive cigar than it's normal sale price.
First Third
I clipped the cigar and the pre-light draw was good. I also notices a faint taste of peppery chocolate and it hadn't been lit yet. I toasted the cigar and then lit it and was suddenly hit with a blast of pepper and spices. Each draw was full of copious amounts of smoke as well which made it extremely enjoyable. The peppers continued but did not overwhelm through the first third. I also let the ash build and it was a good 2 inches long before I taped it into my ash tray.
2nd third
A slight uneven burn appeared but since I was outside it's not unusual. I just started rotating the cigar regularly and it evened out with no touch ups necessary. The spice began to give way mild chocolate earthy tones. although still somewhat peppery it was mellowed with milder flavors that made each puff a treat. A breeze had kicked up and I started thinking I'd have to relight as I was setting the cigar down while I also enjoyed a nice scotch, but it never needed any more flame and each puff was as smoke filled as the last.
Final third.
The heat was beginning to build and the spices were becoming stronger again as I entered the last third of the cigar. At this point I was wondering if my local B&M was carrying this line or if I would have to go looking for them as it was one of the best smokes I've had lately. Many times when I'm in the final third of a cigar it becomes bitter to me and no longer enjoyable. Although this one did get stronger it was never bitter. The peppers increased as did the earthy tones all to a level that made the flavors harmonize very well. When I was done, I really wanted another one!
Smoking time was about 38 minutes which a perfect time for me. I could have gone a little but longer but since my drink was empty I decided to call it a night.
Over all this is a great smoke and the pricing I've seen makes it a good value. To me it has the flavor profile of much more expensive cigars.
If I had to give it a number, It would be a 9 out of 10.
Hosts Summary:
Thanks to our esteemed panel! Looks like the consensus on this cigar is a solid 9/10, and presents a good value. The common notes were pepper, leather, and a sweetness of chocolate/cocoa. Other notes included hay, molasses and oak, with great construction and burning qualities.
The cigar is the Tatuaje 10th Anniversary Belle Encre, and our panel this year was: flyboy, JKlavins, and skullnbones.
Here they are, in no particular order:
JKlavins
Pre-light: a sense of some dirt and cocoa, no huge veins, medium oiliness and a slightly toothsome wrapper.
Very well made, no soft spots, and a slightly sweet smell. The cold draw had cocoa and some slight cedar.
1/3: Slight dull pepper and some woody cedar notes with some uncerlying cocoa that will be sure to arrive later.
The retrohale has strong cedar, with an aftertaste of a nice fresh cabin in the summertime. The pepper backed off and there is a
nice non-cedar dull Oak woodiness lingering. A really nice burn line after a bit off wobbling and a nice solid white ash.
2/3: A little bit of coffee and cocoa combined, no pepper but there is a nice earthiness. The ash is incredible, and there
is a nice mocha aftertaste picking up a little more cedar. It seems like a little bit of (not because of the season) Christmas-like
spices show up with a touch of leather.
3/3: The spices picked up, and everything along with the coffee and leather intensified. A lot more cocoa. Got a little bit of tar
gathering in the V cut so I clipped a little more with a guillotine, purged and solved that problem. The flavors stayed strong,
with a hint of molasses towards the end.
Overall I really enjoyed this cigar, and I would definitely get another if I see one at a B&M. Great smoke, good flavors, and I look
forward to trying the other vitolas from this line!
Smoke time: 1hour 26 minutes
Rating 8.7 out of 10
skullnbones
Construction & Appearance: Beautifully applied triple cap. The wrapper is a wonderful shade of dark brown, no major veins and a fair bit of tooth. Band is very regal looking.
Pre-Light: Wrapper smells of chocolate and hay, an lots of it. This come through on a cold draw as well.
1st Third: The first few draws were packed with the flavor of fresh ground coffee with a hint of cedar. This quickly died away and gave way to what I can only describe as an old and musty taste and smell. It literally smelled like an old used book store I was in last night. A mix of aged tobacco, old paper and leather, it was fantastic. I don't think I've ever gotten that from a cigar before.
2nd Third: The flavors aren't changing much in the second third, and I don't want them to. The hay and coco flavors are a little more pronounced. The cigar is still maintaining that wonderful old book shop taste and smell.
Final 3rd: Starting to get bolder flavors; coco, oak and cedar are at the front now. Pepper is starting to come through a little as well. I lost my aged tobacco, musty book shop taste. The cigar is taking on more of a traditional Tatuaje Brown Label profile now.
Final Thoughts: This was my first Belle Encre and my first of the new 10th Anniversary Tats. I'm seriously disappointing in myself for not trying these sooner. I will be looking for more.
Score: 94
Smoke Time: 1hr 10min
Flyboy
When I picked up the Tatuaje 10th Anniversary Belle Encre I was impressed with its construction. The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper gave it a velvety shine and an impression it was a far more expensive cigar than it's normal sale price.
First Third
I clipped the cigar and the pre-light draw was good. I also notices a faint taste of peppery chocolate and it hadn't been lit yet. I toasted the cigar and then lit it and was suddenly hit with a blast of pepper and spices. Each draw was full of copious amounts of smoke as well which made it extremely enjoyable. The peppers continued but did not overwhelm through the first third. I also let the ash build and it was a good 2 inches long before I taped it into my ash tray.
2nd third
A slight uneven burn appeared but since I was outside it's not unusual. I just started rotating the cigar regularly and it evened out with no touch ups necessary. The spice began to give way mild chocolate earthy tones. although still somewhat peppery it was mellowed with milder flavors that made each puff a treat. A breeze had kicked up and I started thinking I'd have to relight as I was setting the cigar down while I also enjoyed a nice scotch, but it never needed any more flame and each puff was as smoke filled as the last.
Final third.
The heat was beginning to build and the spices were becoming stronger again as I entered the last third of the cigar. At this point I was wondering if my local B&M was carrying this line or if I would have to go looking for them as it was one of the best smokes I've had lately. Many times when I'm in the final third of a cigar it becomes bitter to me and no longer enjoyable. Although this one did get stronger it was never bitter. The peppers increased as did the earthy tones all to a level that made the flavors harmonize very well. When I was done, I really wanted another one!
Smoking time was about 38 minutes which a perfect time for me. I could have gone a little but longer but since my drink was empty I decided to call it a night.
Over all this is a great smoke and the pricing I've seen makes it a good value. To me it has the flavor profile of much more expensive cigars.
If I had to give it a number, It would be a 9 out of 10.
Hosts Summary:
Thanks to our esteemed panel! Looks like the consensus on this cigar is a solid 9/10, and presents a good value. The common notes were pepper, leather, and a sweetness of chocolate/cocoa. Other notes included hay, molasses and oak, with great construction and burning qualities.
