Posts Tagged nicaragua

Tatuaje Federal Cigar 90th Anniversary 109 – REDUX ‘Hassell’

Feb 27

Posted by admin in Tatuaje Federal Cigar 90th Anniversary 109 - REDUX 'Hassell' | 2 Comments

This week, the CigarPhoto is displaying, not reviewing, the latest offering from Rick Gadway’s Federal Cigar – Tatuaje Federal Cigar 90th Anniversary 109 – REDUX ‘Hassell.’ If you are familiar with the original Tatuaje Federal Cigar 90th Anniversary 109 Reserva, please be aware that the latest REDUX ‘Hassell’ release is not a continuation of the original Reserva batch but instead, and I quote “… this is fresh new product made with broadleaf and with Hassell band on it – Pete Johnson …“

Tatuaje Federal Cigar 90th Anniversary 109 releases:

2011 march – 90th Anniversary release – 300 Rosado boxes (reviewed HERE) / 100 Reserva boxes
2012 december – continuation of the original release with Limited band (both Rosado & Reserva)
2013 march – 92nd Anniversary release with Hassell band (60 boxes / 40 bundles)

It is my understanding that the Tatuaje Federal Cigar 90th Anniversary 109 – REDUX ‘Hassell’ will be available for purchase at the Federal Cigar Plaistow location on March 16th, 2013 (in-person only) and on March 18th, 2013 (call). Hassell boxes and bundles are priced at $250 each.

First row / 2nd photograph illustrates the progression of the Tatuaje Federal Cigar 90th Anniversary 109 (l to r): Rosado OR, Reserva OR, Rosado 2nd release, Reserva 2nd release, Hassell.

- click on photographs (slideshow)-

Tags: cigar, cigar construction, cigar flavor, cigar images, cigar photographs, cigar photography, cigar photos, cigar pictures, cigar review, cigar smoking photos, cigars, Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, don pepin garcia, Federal Cigar, hassell cigar, my father cigars, nicaragua, nicaragua cigar binder, nicaragua cigar filler, pete johnson, photography, reserva cigar, rick gadway, stogie, tatuaje, Tatuaje Federal 90th Anniversary 109, Tatuaje Federal Cigar 90th Anniversary 109 - REDUX 'Hassell'

Tatuaje ‘The Mummy’

Dec 31

Posted by admin in Tatuaje ‘The Mummy’ | 6 Comments

Cigar Review by Matt Zaccheo (guest)
Cigar Photography by Jay L (cigarphoto.net)

2012 Halloween brought another “Monster Series” limited release. This year, Pete Johnson of Tatuaje introduced 5th installment called “The Mummy.”

Cut: Palio
Drink: Unsweetened Lipton cold brew iced tea
Palate: Fresh. Had not smoked for 4 days prior.

Prelight: As my eyes move from the ragged closed foot, they are drawn to the subtle color variations in the veining on the light brown Colorado wrapper. There are few prominent veins and the creasing is accentuated by reddish hues giving it a mottled and weather-beaten appearance. The wrapper is smooth to the touch, has very little oils, and a very fine tooth right up to the gorgeous triple cap. To sum up the overall appearance: crude rustic elegance. It’s definitely a “Monster.” The prelight aroma is rather unassuming and muted: mild cedar, straight tobacco, and light barnyard. The cold draw is in keeping with the prelight aroma: mild cedar, some raisin notes, sweet tobacco and light hay. Nothing screams bold or adventurous.

Draw: Comfortable and effortless. Balanced to the length of the cigar perfectly.

Flavors: Initial spice, but not the classic Pepin black pepper. It’s a woody spice up front with cedar predominating. There are distinct cinnamon and nutmeg notes balanced by leather and earth. The pepper(black/cayenne) comes on the retro, and it’s BIG! As I settled into the first third there is a core of cinnamon and cedar. Initially, the smoke is drying on the palate, but as the cigar starts to transition a wonderful sweetness emerges and softens the sharp woody edges. It’s not a dense, thick molasses sweetness. It’s a bit nebulous at first. It’s there, but I can’t put my finger on it. It’s light and engaging. I’m hoping it continues to develop. The smoke becomes creamy and mellows on the palate. As I get into the second third the strength is consistent. On my palate it’s a medium minus. Flavors that continue to dominate are mild cedar and cinnamon and then that sweetness begins to take on a more defined role heading into the latter portion of the second third. I know what it is now. It’s fantastic. It’s graham cracker! As it transitions into the final third there are some fleeting herbal, grassy, and minty notes, but the cinnamon, cedar, and graham cracker are still center stage all the way to the nub.

Burn: Excellent. Two touch ups. The ash was a flaky salt and pepper and split in funky directions. The burn rate and temperature was spot on. Smoke production was good. Total smoke time was 2 hours.

Construction: Excellent.

Descriptive adjectives: Rustic Elegance, “Cinn-a-Monster”

Box worthy: Yes

Overall: Pleasantly surprised. Of the mini-monsters, the Mum was my least favorite. I was so underwhelmed, after my experience with it’s little brother, that I did a box split for the full size Mummy this year. That was a mistake!

Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown Criollo
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Length: 7.75″
Ring: 48

Please consider the following post:
* Tatuaje ‘The Face’
* Tatuaje ‘The Boris’ (* not Monster Series)

- click on photographs -

Tags: cigar, cigar construction, cigar flavor, cigar images, cigar photographs, cigar photography, cigar photos, cigar pictures, cigar review, cigar smoking photos, cigars, my father cigars, nicaragua, nicaragua cigar binder, nicaragua cigar filler, Nicaraguan Sun Grown Criollo wrapper, pete johnson, photography, stogie, tatuaje, tatuaje monster series, Tatuaje ‘The Mummy’

Studio Tobac 2012 Event-Only Release

Dec 18

Posted by admin in Studio Tobac 2012 Event-Only Release | Comments off

This week, CigarPhoto is displaying, not reviewing, Studio Tobac’s 2012 Event-Only releases. Below is the outcome of a commissioned assignment CigarPhoto did for Studio Tobac back in May of 2012.

During 2011 Studio Tobac Tour, attendees at each event had a chance to participate in a raffle with one custom Studio Tobac Scrimshawed Xikar Xi3 cutter body (* made by Rick “HutcH” Hutchings) as the grand prize. There was also the infamous and relatively strong ‘Donkey Punch’ upon “special” request. 2012 Studio Tobac World Tour, in addition to the Studio Tobac Limited Edition Sampler 2012, brought two event-only releases: Cain NUb Daytona 460 & Cain Special Release 550. Those were given out to the two winners of the grand prize at each event.

From Bryan “The Show” Scholle – Studio Tobac’s Ambassador:

The Cain Special Release 550 cigar was designed with a small rare batch of Ligero we had in the factory. We did not have enough to use for a normal production cigar or even a small batch release. We had enough to make 800 cigars total.

Both Cain NUb Daytona 460 & Cain Special Release 550 will never be available as regular production.

There are no more boxes of these cigars available. We used them all during events.

We are currently working on new stuff for 2013

The following are makeup / specs of each cigar:

Cain NUb Daytona 460 (4 x 60)
amount available – 800 cigars / 80 boxes
wrapper – Ecuadorian Sumatra
binder – Nicaraguan
filler – Jalapa Valley Ligero, Nicaragua

Cain Special Release 550 (5 3/4 x 50)
amount available – 800 cigars / 80 boxes
wrapper – Nicaraguan Habano
binder – Nicaraguan
filler – Nicaraguan Ligero (small rare batch)

- click on photographs -

Tags: Bryan Scholle, Bryan “The Show” Scholle, Cain NUb Daytona 460, Cain Special Release 550, cigar, cigar images, cigar photographs, cigar photography, cigar photos, cigar pictures, cigar smoking photos, cigars, nicaragua, nicaragua cigars, nicaraguan cigars, oliva, oliva cigar family, oliva cigars, photography, Rick “HutcH” Hutchings cutter, stogie, studio tobac, studio tobac donkey punch, Studio Tobac Limited Edition Sampler 2012, Studio Tobac Scrimshawed Xikar Xi3 cutter body, studio tobac tour, studio tobac world tour 2012, Studio Tobac's Ambassador, tobacco

Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate

Dec 11

Posted by admin in Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate | 8 Comments

It has been a while since ‘Cigar Industry In Focus‘ series had an update so I decided to dig through Lightroom catalogs for the right contender. This week we are placing Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate in focus.

Jonathan Drew (stage name – JD) requires very little introduction, if any. In fact, if you don’t know who JD is, you probably have been living under the rock for the last few good years OR you have chosen to ignore today’s Mecca of the cigar industry – Nicaragua. Why did I mention Nicaragua ? Well, if you had a chance to meet Jonathan in person or have read some of his social-media posts, you know that the man lives and breathes Nicaragua. There is that much passion ! In May of 2012, I had the pleasure of visiting La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate and the amount of knowledge, information, tips, tricks and passion that was pouring out of Jonathan’s mouth throughout the trip, was simply mind blowing. If you know Jonathan, you know that he can make your ears “bleed.” I call him the ‘Tobacco Poet.’ Just when you think you know a little bit about cigars and the industry, trust me, you don’t know much. Jonathan Drew and others are uber-cigar-geeks and they will hypnotize you with the cigar knowledge.

Another objective while in Nicaragua was to photograph Jonathan Drew to further contribute to my ‘Cigar Industry In Focus‘ project. When I think of Jonathan, I think of two things: tobacco and Nicaragua so I wanted to include these two ‘props’ while I was making the photograph. While my previous ‘Cigar Industry In Focus‘ entries were somehow staged, below photographs were made ‘gorilla’ style: quick movement, rapid in & out bursts, strategically placed focal point, use of negative space, rule of thirds, etc. I was pleased with the outcome. In fact, very pleased with the color version below. If you stare long enough at the leaf, you will find it “pulsating” and/or looking as if it had a 3D finish.

Please consider the following post:
* Cigar Safari
* Liga Privada Lounge
* Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘L40′
* Liga Privada Unico Serie ‘Feral Flying Pig’
* Liga Privada No9 ‘Flying Pig’
* Liga Privada T52 ‘Flying Pig’

Tags: cigar images, cigar industry in focus series, cigar photographs, cigar photography, cigar photos, cigar pictures, cigar smoking photos, cigars, drew estate, esteli, jonathan drew, La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, nicaragua, photography, stogie, tobacco, tobacco poet

Reinado Grand Empire Reserve

Nov 27

Posted by admin in Reinado Grand Empire Reserve | 6 Comments

Cigar Review by Matt Zaccheo (guest)
Cigar Photography by Jay L (cigarphoto.net)

From REINADO

Oradell, NJ, July 03, 2012 –(PR.com)– Following the success of the 92 rated Petite Corona known as the Habanito and the 91 rated Torpedo,REINADO unveiled the Grand Empire Reserve at the 80th Annual IPCPR Convention and International Trade Show in Orlando, Florida, in August, 2012.

The Grand Empire Reserve is a box pressed Robusto that incorporates a select habano maduro wrapper and an additional aged Nicaraguan filler which leverages REINADO’s signature fermentation process to provide even greater depth, richer undertones, and enhanced overall complexity for both the casual and the distinguished cigar smoker.

“The flavor profile of the Grand Empire Reserve was developed after extensive sampling to deliver a truly exceptional blend,” said Antonio, owner of Cubanero Enterprises. “We believe the flavors and balanced strength developed through extending REINADO’s unique fermentation process along with the inclusion of the aged Nicaraguan filler will distinguish the Grand Empire Reserve from all other cigars on the market,” said Antonio.

A single size called Elegidos meaning “chosen” is scheduled for release in August, 2012 followed by additional sizes.

Initial Specs:
• Size: 5 x 55 (Box Pressed)
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Select Maduro
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Price: $9.95/cigar – 20ct boxes

“As demonstrated through the REINADO core product line and the introduction of the Grand Empire Reserve, we are dedicated to innovation and offering smokers quality choices of highly rated cigars,” said Antonio.

The Grand Empire Reserve will be available through select retailers and, on a limited basis, directly through REINADO.

Cut: Palio
Drink: None
Palate: Fresh

Prelight: gorgeous oily dark chocolate maduro wrapper with very very fine tooth and a medium box press. No visible veins and extremely tight seams. I literally can’t identify the wrap line. Initial aroma: sweet tobacco, barn yard, and neglected gurl. Cold draw: ultra rich sweet tobacco, earth, and white pepper.

Draw: a bit on the loose side, but not uncomfortable or anywhere near wide open.

Flavors: Initial soft subdued spice that fades fairly quickly to allow herbal and floral notes to emerge. The smoke is light on the palate and there is a delicate nuanced complexity: tea, stone fruits, and sweet mild cedar. It reminds me of a Curivari El Gran Rey. Then it happens … the flavors gently transition into a beautiful soft and mellow full flavored finish: earth, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, coffee, and burnt toffee. Cinnamon, nutmeg and roast nuts on the exhale/retro. There is a wonderful black strap molasses sweetness evident throughout. The smoke becomes lush and creamy on the palate. The strength never goes past medium plus for me. Flavor is full from the start and never dies down. It’s delicate, but has some serious shoulders. It’s polished strength and a thing of beauty.

Burn: a bit wavy and required a few touch ups. The ash is a flakey dark salt/pepper pot ash grey. Each ash left a symmetrical glowing cherry.

Construction: excellent
Descriptive adjectives: Rich….F’ing Rich!
Box worthy: absolutely
Overall: going to be in my top 5 this year

Please consider the following post:

* REINADO