Tatuaje vs Crowned Heads

[Billb1960]

Theres been talk about the new 2015 releases hitting the market soon, specifically the 2015 Las Calaveras and the new 2015 TAA from Tatuaje. If you could ONLY buy 1 box or the other which would it be?

This is a poll so wait for it to appear.

[sparky426]

Ouch rough one. I say crowned heads
stay smoking my friends

[tmoran]

Very good question. I am sure they will both be excellent, but my vote goes to the Las Calavares. I enjoyed the last release more than the Tat TAA 2014. I also think I heard somewhere the 2015 LC will be something like a 46 or so RG, and that is more to my liking. That said, I am saving my pennies for a box of each.

[gordo1473]

Taa never disappoint

[D307P]

I was just talking to the B&M owner about the 2015 Las Calaveras. The 2014 was exceptional and I smoked through 2 boxes of Robusto and 1 box of Toros. I just don't understand why if the 14 was so highly rated and loved, we would you make a different blend the next year. I'll probably buy 2-3 sticks before committing to amy boxes.

[Cameradude]

Probably the Las Calaveras based on scarcity alone. I can walk into my B&M and pick up a Tatuaje TAA almost any day of the year. The Las Calaveras I have only seen in pictures. But I do love blends from Crowned Heads.

[wabashcr]

I voted for Las Calaveras even though I never got to try the original last year. Generally I enjoy Crowned Heads more than Tatuaje. So I'm definitely looking forward to this year's LC.

[rxmxsh]

Tough. I've enjoyed both the TAA14 (11 and 12 as well, I did NOT like the 13) and the LC in various vitolas. I regret not grabbing a box of the 550 and refuse to pay the markup on the secondary. I would probably choose the TAA15 over the LC because I'm growing weary of the LE business model of CH. It seems every release is an LE. Perhaps it's just me, but I'd like to see a quality production stick from CH before they started pushing LE after LE.

[crgcpro]

Get 6 boxes of the LC's now and 2 boxes of the Tats. Tats will be around long enough to get some more later.

Smoke some and hoard some.

[Engineer99]

The 4 kicks Mule Kick is head and shoulders above any Tat I've ever smoked and is among the top 10 cigars I've ever smoked.. The Tat Reserva SW comes close, but the Mule Kick wins in the flavor density and complexity department.

[HIM]

Rough... these two brands account for most of my stash!! If I had to pick I guess I would say Tatuaje because I think the quality control is better(not knocking CH but Tatuaje is a little better here) and I think they age better. Pretty much every Tat line ages amazingly well. In comparison the CH Mule Kicks I have are still fantastic but they haven't evolved like the Tats I have with a few years on them.

In reality though I'll be getting a box of both.

[D307P]

Tough. I've enjoyed both the TAA14 (11 and 12 as well, I did NOT like the 13) and the LC in various vitolas. I regret not grabbing a box of the 550 and refuse to pay the markup on the secondary. I would probably choose the TAA15 over the LC because I'm growing weary of the LE business model of CH. It seems every release is an LE. Perhaps it's just me, but I'd like to see a quality production stick from CH before they started pushing LE after LE.

I agree with you on that point. LE only available in TN, LE only available at a certain shop, LE only available in Hawaii. Drew Estate does the same thing though, making $5 Undercrowns some sort of LE and charging $12 for them.

[tnlawyer]

LC for me all the way. Love Crowned Heads.

[rxmxsh]

I agree with you on that point. LE only available in TN, LE only available at a certain shop, LE only available in Hawaii. Drew Estate does the same thing though, making $5 Undercrowns some sort of LE and charging $12 for them.

DE is another brand with which I am over.... except for FFPs....

[Jonas]

Las calaveras!

[HIM]

I agree with you on that point. LE only available in TN, LE only available at a certain shop, LE only available in Hawaii. Drew Estate does the same thing though, making $5 Undercrowns some sort of LE and charging $12 for them.

To be fair I was able to snag every CH release other than the Double W online and a lot of people do vendor exclusives. Tatuaje has a handful of them this year and recently did a vendor exclusive with the Black label churchill. As for regular production I'd say Jericho Hill, Headley Grange, Four Kicks, and JDH Reserve is a pretty strong lineup.
I know LEs get annoying for people and CH in particular released a number this year. But the way I see it is those cigars could be released or never see the light of day. I know Id rather get a chance to enjoy them while the leaf was available to make them than to never have that opportunity.

[Horseshoe]

I have yet to have either of those two lines so I can't make vote for either one.

[Joe k]

I voted Tat of course, I got a box of each along with a five pack of each last year, will do the same this year. The first LC I smoked was the best one. The couple I smoked after that were not as good. I hope Padron puts out another TAA if so that's first on the list

[Joe k]

http://www.cigar-coop.com/2015/02/feature-story-2014-taa-exclusive-series.html?m=1

[Chad202]

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b632/chad2002/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsgvz6e4qe.jpg

lol..all jokes aside, I've never had a bad tat

[WNYTONY]

If I had to buy one I'd by Las Calaveras based on last year's and do plan to buy a box this time around.

[Browns7213]

These two makers are probably my favorites right now, but I don't chase LEs. If they fall in my lap I'll certainly smoke them, but I got so much stuff I've got to try in my boxes.

[DogRockets]

Billb1960 I smell a box split of both in yours and my future! Let's get both and try them out! I've never had a LC or TAA Tat. WNYTONY just graciously bombed me a LC and I'm anxiously awaiting smoking that stick.

[Gunther7912]

Las calaveras for me. If it is as good as last year and with the smaller size, a box would stamp my ticket to cloud nine.

[defetis]

I like how ppl are comparing this years TAA to last years. This years is going to be returning to the 2011 blend. So for me TAA all the way. Although the price point for las calveras will probably have me purchasing a higher quantity of them

[Billb1960]

I thought the 2014 TAA was the same as the 2012 and 2011. It was the 2013 that was based on a different blend.

[HIM]

I thought the 2014 TAA was the same as the 2012 and 2011. It was the 2013 that was based on a different blend.

The 2011 was based on the Pork Tenderloin and Barclay Rex. As was the 12 and 14. The 13 was an extension of the 10th Anny which is IIRC tied into the Brown label line. The blends for the 12s and 14s were similar to the 11 but not the same. The 2011 release also wasn't box pressed like the 12s and 14s.

[WNYTONY]

Billb1960 I smell a box split of both in yours and my future! Let's get both and try them out! I've never had a LC or TAA Tat. WNYTONY just graciously bombed me a LC and I'm anxiously awaiting smoking that stick.

You two leaving me out of this ???

[DogRockets]

You two leaving me out of this ???

you said you wanted whole boxes biG spender! Let's turn this into a third split. Sounds good to me!

[Myfirstandlastname]

Ever since Huber wrote the blog post "stop playing the LE song over and over" and then promptly released 9 million LE's, I've kicked CH out of my rotation.

[AuTechCoM]

Unfortunately I have not had a Tat TAA but if it is in anyway comparable to the Las Calaveras I would have a hard time choosing just one

[Billb1960]

Lotta Las Calaveras love in this place