Tatuaje Havana VI (5.62 x 46)

Valdosta, GA – We managed to survive the night in the holler without being abducted. Well-rested and freshly showered, I shrugged into a T-shirt and donned a pair of shorts for the first time in five months. I felt good. After a passable continental breakfast (what makes it “continental” anyway?) we gassed-up the SUV, grabbed a couple of morning Diet Cokes for the road and set off. Up and over the beautiful Smokey Mountains, through Tennessee, then on into Georgia… And let me tell you, Georgia is one long state from top to bottom. The farther south we travelled the more lushes the foliage, and before long we spotted Spanish moss hanging from the trees; the sight of which to me is about as beautiful as fresh snowfall on evergreen trees up north. Soon we were noticing palm trees, and getting that happy-go-lucky, excited feeling you get at the start of a vacation.

After logging another eight uneventful hours we settled down for the night in Valdosta, GA; located off the Interstate just before you cross over into Florida. This seemed like a good place to stop, lots of motels and restaurants to choose from, and left us a manageable six-hour drive the next day. Unpacked, freshened-up, and sated with Buffalo wings and a few cold pops from an Applebee’s across the parking lot, we walked back to the motel room and sat outside, drinks in hand. It was another warm evening, palm fronds swaying in the tropical breeze. I decided tonight I would not be denied a cigar.

Again a bit tired and not wanting to invest more than an hour or so in a smoke, I perused my Armored Travel Humidor and plucked out a Tatuaje Havana VI. The 46-ring gauge and 5.62" length assured a manageable commitment. Purchased on a whim from a B&M back in my home state of Michigan, this corona rested in my humidor for several months. In spite of the variety of cigars the Cigar Scholar samples, I had yet to try the Tatuaje line; although I’m aware of the cult following surrounding this trendy Pete Johnson brand. This particular puro (all Nicaraguan tobaccos), created under the watchful eye of master blender Don Pepin Garcia, was solidly constructed with a dark and oily, sandpapery wrapper and a thin, subtle, blood-red band. I sliced the Cuban triple-cap using my Montecristo Signature Slimline Samurai Cutter*. Feet up, pump primed, I settled in and lit the fuse…

Ah sweet nectar…™! Initial puffs produced top notes of pepper and spice with silky earth undertones. I liked the flavor profile of this little cigar – robust without being harsh, and with a nice complexity. The cigar burned well, held a tight white ash, and maintained a medium-to-full bodied profile throughout. Perhaps some cocoa and graphite near the finish? In any event, this modest cigar packed a punch. Intrigued, I vowed to try more of these when I got home.

There I sat, under the swaying fronds of a palm tree, savoring the thick smoke and hearty finish of the Tatuaje Havana VI. A nice comfortable buzz settled over me; which if you are a cigar lover you will know what I’m talking about. Next to me sat my wife, pontificating about something-or-other and enjoying a glass of wine. And all was well with the world.

Grade: B

* The Xikar Xi remains my everyday go-to cutter. But when mobile I want a guillotine cutter with a slimmer profile. Part of a Montecristo gift pack for being a caller on the Cigar Dave Show, the Montecristo Samurai guillotine cutter is hand crafted of the finest Japanese steel, and will accommodate cigars up to a 60 ring gauge. It comes with a leather sheath, but without the sheath could probably fit into your wallet. You can find the cutters through various online merchants.

Road Trip Intro

With the Escape loaded up and our faithful mutt Stogie happily boarded in the kennel, the wife and I departed Dearborn, Michigan just as it was beginning to snow. (Always a bonus when you’re headed someplace warm!) Traffic was light and we made good time, and before long the Mitten State was in our rearview mirror and we were in Ohio. Not the most exciting state to drive through, but eventually the flatlands gave way to rolling hills and rocky outcroppings. We drove on through Cincinnati, across the Ohio River and into the beautiful state of Kentucky. Rugged terrain and sweeping valleys highlighted the drive. A long and narrow state, the jaunt through Kentucky from north to south was a picturesque, manageable three hours. Finally after about eight hours on the road, we exited the Interstate just across the border from Kentucky in the sleepy little town of Jellico, Tennessee. The town, more of a hamlet really, is nestled in a valley under Interstate-75. It was kind of dark and kind of eerie, actually; the sort of place where you hear banjo music right before you disappear forever. But we were too tired to drive on, so we found a clean, quiet motel room and stowed our gear. It was a balmy night, and we fished out a couple of beers from the Coleman Stainless Steel Belted Cooler* and sat outside our room. The beers were ice cold and went down smooth, and we decompressed as we watched the last remnants of purple sunlight fade over the mountaintops. You could see the silhouette of the trees on the ridgeline off in the distance. I was tired, but I was a nice tired – if that makes sense? It would have been a great night for a cigar, for sure, but I was just too lazy to commit. Three beers later and it was bedtime for me. [I know – this is supposed to be a cigar blog. Just bear with me. I am trying to set the mood and build up some anticipation.]

Good day!

* You can’t go on a road trip without having a high-quality cooler to store your brews, beverages and whatnot. I own a variety of coolers in all shapes and sizes, but my go-to cooler for travelling is the iconic Coleman Stainless Steel Belted Cooler. A birthday gift from my best friend Alex, the cooler has provided me ten-plus years of loyal service. Originally manufactured by Coleman in 1954, this insulated cooler has old-school looks combined with modern technology. Features include rust resistant hinges and screws, cam latch, and a leak proof drain. Solid as a rock, the cooler also makes a great place to sit. Check it out:

www.coleman.com

Greetings! New Reviews Coming Soon...

Hello Cigar Scholar followers (all five of you)! Yes, I am alive and well, and still enjoying a good cigar now-and-then. However, due to life's circumstances I could not find the free time to blog about my experiences. That is until now... Things have eased up for me recently, so I'm hoping to dedicate more time to this blog, as the huddled, leaf-loving masses have been clamoring for content.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, towards the end of March the missus and I took a much-needed road trip/vacation away from wintery Michigan down to sunny Naples, Florida. And the second thing that comes to mind when I think road-trip (the first being, “How much is gas going to cost me?”) is, “What sorts of cigar smoking opportunities can I find?”

You see, Michigan’s strict year-old smoking ban leaves me few cigar smoking options in the colder months. And as much as I love cigars, I have no desire to smoke in my house or my car. So other than the occasional visit to a cigar lounge in a nearby city, my November-to-May cigar consumption takes a real hit. Thus, the prospect of venturing to warmer, more cigar-friendly climes had me as giddy as a kid on Christmas Eve. My goal on this trip would be to try and enjoy a cigar in every state through which we travelled (OH, KY, TN, GA and FL), and to check out any cool cigar lounges we could find along the way.

I stocked my travel humidor with a variety of eight cigars. Not that I planned on smoking them all, buts it's always better to have more than you need. I did my homework too, and I knew of several really nice cigar bars in and around Naples. And since it's bad etiquette to bring your own cigar to a cigar bar - and since I'm unable to walk into a humidor without buying an extra one for the road - there was the possibility of returning home with more cigars than I brought. (Actually, when I travel I make it a point to pick up a few sticks to bring home. That way I can store them in my humidor as mementos of the trip, and when I do get around to smoking them I am reminded of the fun times had.) What will follow over the next few days (or weeks) is a travelogue, if you will, along with condensed reviews of the cigars I smoked and the places I smoked them.

~Cigar Scholar

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all of my followers. Wishing you health and happiness in the coming year.