Pre-light: Cut easily and the pre-light draw gives nice flavours of sweet (almost candy-sweet) tobacco and a hint of cocoa.
Cigar itself looks beautiful. Firmly packed but with enough "give" to it that it feels like it'll smoke at a really nice pace.
First third: This thing is burning better than just about any cigar I've ever had. The construction is unbelievable. The ash has the look of stacked coins, and is perfectly straight and holding on tight right up to the 2 inch mark.
Flavours began as a rich spiciness with some sweet tobacco, and the spiciness continues to fade in and out and intermingle with subtle hints of cocoa and cedar.
Second third: The ash is still holding on to about 2 1/2 inches...I've never seen an ash hold on so strong and for so long.
The flavours continue to be rich and spicy.
The smoke is thick and creamy and billows in dense clouds.
The draw is perfection incarnate. It has enough resistance that the cigar isn't overheating, but it's easy enough that I can get a thick mouthful of smoke without feeling like I'm trying to drink a frozen milkshake.
Final third: The ash finally dropped at the 3 inch mark, and the burn continues to be perfect right to the nub. It's got a razor-sharp burn line and there have been no problems with plugging, overheating, or that bitter grassy flavour you get when the cigar is burning too quickly.
I smoked this one right down to the point where my fingers were getting hot.
Final thoughts: This is the very first Tatuaje cigar I've ever smoked, and I'm officially hooked.
The flavours and construction of the cigar paired together to make a perfect smoking experience. And at just under an hour in smoking time, the Nobles is a great size for me.
If only these weren't so damn expensive, I'd buy a box. I guess it'll be samplers for me for a while, but that's perfectly fine.
These are delicious.
