Tatuaje L'esprit de La Verite Review

[Craig Mac]

Thought I'd throw my review in the mix.

Not that I am that good at doing reviews, but here goes.

The construction of this cigar was very nice, the color and size were similar to a Tatuaje Havana VI Noble, with the Verite having less pronounced viens. Prelight draw was good and there was a flavor of a hay/grass with a hint of cocoa. I felt that from the prelight draw that this was going to taste a little different than most of the Tatuaje's I have tried.

The first third smoked well with a nice light gray ash and even burn. Flavors were faint while smoking the first third and I picked up a faint cedar taste and a hint of cocoa that gave it a slight sweetness. Ash held for well over an inch before falling off.

The second third was more of the same and I kept hoping this cigar would develope more as I smoked it. There was a hint of pepper to the second third and the cedar/oak taste was still present. I felt rounding out the second third it took on more of that Nicaraguan/Don Pepin taste.

The final third developed a little better and had an earthy/leather/slightly peppery finish. It seemed to get better as it was smoked and I nubbed this sucker.

In conclusion I found this to be a good cigar but I was slightly let down with it honestly. It burned and smoked great and had good flavor yet it was lacking that kick that I am use to from Tatuaje. I spent about an hour and 15 minutes enjoying this cigar. I know with some age it will develope a better profile. Big thanks to Pete for sharing this pre-retail cigar with some of the brothers here at BOTL.org.

 

[openendstraight]

Nice review. I thought the same thing, it will be a good stick when it has time to rest

 

[Craig Mac]

Nice review. I thought the same thing, it will be a good stick when it has time to rest

Absolutely, just a little anti-climactic right now. But tasty none-the-less

 

[Moro]

Thanksfor the review! I love reading all yer points of view on it! Though it makes me think if one more would be too much. :smokingbo

 

[jwintosh]

good job on the reviews guys!!

 

[Shmear]

Sounds like a very good cigar. So, i'm guessing aging would be the answer for a complete-great-cigar, right?
So far, so good, but better if you let it rest.
Cool.
Thanks for the review!

 

[BrooksW]

Thanksfor the review! I love reading all yer points of view on it! Though it makes me think if one more would be too much. :smokingbo

I hope not! I hope to finish my review tom! :smokingbo

Great job guys, like Moro, I love reading everyone's take on it...

~brooks

 

[srduggins]

I just smoked the one Pete handed out at the So Cal Herf. He stated that it was pre-production and the tobacco for it was pulled about 2 months before it finished fermenting and had a "green tobacco" flavor.

Near-perfect construction, draw and burn. It had a sweet flavor (maple syrup) to it that I don't normally associate with cigars. Reminded me of a wine they stop fermentation on to leave a little bit of residual sugar in it. I must say, I really enjoyed that unique flavor, but ultimately the cigar came across as simple. It kept trying to change flavors throughout the cigar gaining some wood here, a touch of earth there, a nice bit of leather, but quickly returned to that sweet flavor over everything else. I thought the final third was going to go into the full-bodied range, but that was short-lived too. It shows some nice potential, but I don't think it will improve with age. Worth trying if you can get one, but wait for the final version for any serious aging. I really did like that sweetness, maybe I should try an infused cigar?

 

[blooz4u]

I suppose I'll smoke mine and see what the ruckus is about!

 

[hdroadglide]

i've had two of these now. the first one was several months ago when pete was in kc. he said at that time it was only a couple of weeks old. i really liked it. nice and rich and earthy.
the one i had a couple of weeks ago was nothing like it. if i could compare it to anything i've tried recently, i'd put it in the category of the the verocru.
that being said, i tend to like the sharpness of a fresh cigar sometimes. and then sometimes, as they age, they can change into something great or something so so. for me, i liked it really fresh.

 

[Angry Bill]

The protos are sweet, but I can't wait for the real deal. Add some age and these have the potential be fantastic smokes.

 

[Andytex]

Thanks for all the great reviews guys.

 

[pfm721]

Thanks for the review!! And I gotta say thanks again to Pete and Dan @ NHC for sending those out to us on BOTL.org.

 

[CWS]

Smoked a prototype Saturday at the Herf, (thanks again Pete), wonderful cigar. The green tobacco threw of a bit of sweetness I really enjoyed. The cigar was full bodied and earthy but not kick ass strong. Have one more. My son enjoyed it a lot.

 

[Hardcore]

Thanks for the review Craig. I felt the same way.

 

[jwintosh]

smoked my second one last night! tastey!! i'll bet a little shelf time will do them good!!

 

[Speedbump]

i had a chance to smoke one of these with Pete at a NH event. I thought that this cigar was great and i can not wait for them to hit the shelves in the spring.

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

Craig, nice informative review and pic's! :thumbsup:

I was wondering, judging from your top right picture, the cigar had a little "box-press to it....will the production version be box-pressed, do you know?

 

[Speedbump]

i have talked to the local rep about this and there are two sizes churchill and robusto, the box press look must have happened during shipping or pre-smoke i have been told that they will not be boxed pressed the one that i smoked was not pressed

 

[Jetexas]

I smoked mine at the beach herf and it was excellent. I will pick some up when they are released.