Tatuaje Petite Cazadores Reserva

[c.ortiz108]

Tatuaje Petite Cazadores Reserva (brown label)
Country: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Size: 4 x 40
Price: $4.50-$5

It's sunny but cold - time for a short smoke, methinks. My experience with Tats is so far limited to the 7th Reserva and J21, so I'm looking forward to trying this one.



Closed foot, so no prelight draw.

1st 3rd:
Holy mackerel! Big blast of pepper – in the smoke and even on the lips, like a damn Cu-Avana Punisher.
Tons of smoke for such a small stick. Earthy like roots or mushrooms, dirty like dirt, leathery, a little chocolate, and something kind of savory.
Pepper not as powerful but can still feel it in the back of my throat.
Full-bodied smoke that has a pronounced drying effect in the mouth.
Perfect draw, good burn.
Some charry, wood smoke flavors.
Early ash.


2nd 3rd:
Burn goes all peninsular.

A strong distinct note of wood – not the usual cedar or oak, but something more floral. Sandalwood, maybe? Pepper mostly gone.
Burn okay now after touch-ups.

3rd 3rd:
Strength ramping up – definitely medium-full.
Some bitter dark chocolate flavors. Unlike nasty bitter tastes in some cigars, this seems deliberate and part of the ensemble. Dark roasted coffee.
Now more oaky. A little dark sweetness, like molasses, but mostly stays pretty much the same. I must confess I’m getting a little bored even though it’s a small stick and it’s only been about 45 minutes.
Getting close to the nub there's an ashy taste and that nice bitter chocolate becomes just bitterness...

I don’t mind some cigars that are not complex, or that are just consistent all the way through, but I guess I'm just not crazy enough about the flavors of this one enough to hold my interest. I really enjoyed it for a while, though. The thing I like most about other Tat and Pepin sticks I’ve had is the surprising changes and unexpected flavors, and this stick just doesn’t have that. I’d say if you like these kinds of flavors a lot you can’t go wrong, but I'm not blown away.

Keep in mind I’m more of a medium smoke guy, so as far as Pepin sticks go I’d reach for a Flor de las Antillas over this any day…. or a Short Story if I wanted a small stick…. and neither of those have much in common with this. Looking forward to seeing what some age will do the other one I have.

[Puff]

Great review (and pics), thanks! I'm, yes, a tat whore but have never tried this smoke. The J21 that you referenced is a fantastic smoke. I have a bunch of regios in my humi now that are also great.

[Tatuaje]

The PCR and Verocu 5 are my "everyday" smokes at their $3+|- price point. Try the noella Reserva as well.

[Browns7213]

Nice review, love the sandalwood reference, will have to look for that next time I have one of these. This is by far my favorite winter short smoke.

[Tobias Lutz]

Great review, Chico!

[c.ortiz108]

Thanks, guys!