Dear Valued Customers and Friends of Tatuaje,
I wanted to write everyone a quick note and touch on some of the concerns revolving around the Tatuaje Drac and Tatuaje Boris Halloween cigars. Please understand that these are big concerns of ours also and we want to assure everyone there is an easy solution.
First: The cigars were finished months ago but the box maker in Nicaragua was delayed and was not able to finish both the Drac and Boris boxes until right before the release. Unfortunately for us, this is a themed cigar that needed to arrive at the retailers before October 31st. We in no way were trying to rush production just to move product. A Halloween cigar released after October 31st doesn't make much sense. Due to the late production of the boxes, the boxes had very little time to air out the paint smell that comes with any lacquered cigar box. Once the cigars were packed, wrapped in cellophane and shipped to our office in California, the box locked in that smell. The boxes were dry but still contained the smell of fresh paint. The only way to avoid this is let the box sit open for a few weeks before packing the cigars in the box. As long as the cigars are out of the box the smell will dissipate and will not affect the flavor of the cigar.
I recommend to everyone that was able to acquire a box to remove the cigars and store them in your humidor. The box should be left out of the humidor for a couple weeks to air out. This smell will go away. I understand that some people want to keep their boxes intact but this is the best way to resolve any questions or concerns about the smell.
Second: A few people have contacted me about broken cigars. This is something that is hard to control due to shipping and the handling of the individual cigars. As far as we know, the cigars did not leave the factory broken in any way but with the delicate nature of the wrapper leaf, it could have been something we missed during the packing stage or something that happened after it left our offices.
I recommend to everyone that was able to acquire cigars, examine your cigars carefully. If you see any cigars that are broken in any way that you believe will be unsmokable, do not cut, light or smoke them. Please immediately by email and we will arrange replacement cigars with the retailer that you purchased the cigars from. We will only replace them as long as the cigars are complete and we will need to receive the damaged cigars before we can replace them. Unfortunately, we are not able to replace cigars that have been cut, lit or smoked.
Thank you again for you loyal brand support and for enjoying our products. We strive to be perfect in every way for our customers and want to apologize to all that may have concerns with this year's release.
Sincerely,
Pete Johnson
2009
2009
The Drac 63/4 x 52 Torpedo - Wrapper: Habano Maduro - 1,300 boxes of 13 cigars produced
The Boris (The Frank out of Costume) 7 x 49 Churchill - Wrapper: Sumatra Ecuador Rosado - 1,000 boxes of 10 produced
Large allocations of both cigars will be going to a list of 13 retailers the week of Halloween. Smaller amounts will also be going to a list of additional retailers around the country.
Check the Drac Map along with the full list
for your local retailer.
2009A huge thank you to the wonderful retailers out there who have been so generous in their support. To all you Tatuaje fans, thank you all for your continued purchases in the face of so much harsh legislation, SCHIP, and the recession. Please join The CRA and help us fight for your rights!
2009
2009
2009Big Smoke 2009 - Tatuaje is planning on participating for the first time in the Big Smoke this coming April.
2009
2008Today on the 13th of October we are announcing the "unlucky" 13 retailers that will be getting the first release of the Tatuaje Monster Series - The Frank (7 5/8 x 49 - Box Pressed).
Gloucester Street Cigar Co. - Boston, MA 617-424-1000
L.J. Peretti - Boston, MA - 617-482-0218
Sabor Havana Cigars - Miami, FL - 305-436-8860
W.Curits Draper - Washington DC - 202-638-2555
Empire Cigars - Raleigh, NC - 919-870-0081
J. Barbara Tobacconist - Garden City, NY - 516-284-7806
Cigar Shop & More - Addison, TX - 972-661-9136
Up Down Tobacco - Chicago, IL - 312-337-8505
Havana Manor - Longmont, CO - 303-776-2332
Ambassador Fine Cigars - Scottsdale, AZ - 480-905-1000
Azucar Cigar Lounge - Corona, CA - 951-734-9714
The Big Easy - Studio City, CA - 818-762-3279
Mission Pipe Shop - San Jose, CA - 408-293-5144
Suggested Retail is $13 per stick. 13 cigars to a box... $169 Suggested Retail before any state or local tobacco taxes.
Each retailer listed will get a small allocation of the first edition.
Customers should not call any other retailers inquiring. These will be the only stores to get them this year.
Cheers,
2008
Tatuaje Monster Series releasing October 31st in 13 locations.
First size will be 'The Frank' - a Double Corona box press. 666 boxes will be created.
Thirteen of the top 100 retailers will be selected via a lottery to receive an allotment of 50 boxes each.
Cabaiguan Maduro will be going to the top 10 Cabaiguan Retailers in the US in 2008 with a full production for release to all Cabaiguan dealers in 2009.
On a recent trip to a famous island known for historic cigar making, I spent my time in a small town enjoying the simple life. Every day was peaceful and every night was festive, with both having cigars involved throughout. My favorite cigar was not a cigar bought at the local store or factory, but a cigar that was handed to me every morning.
Mornings, after taking a shower with a bucket of water warmed with what looked like a curling iron, I would walk to the front of the house and sit on the fence to get some sun and take in the fresh air. I also took in the fact that I was miles from home and no one knew where I was. My phone didn't work and I had no cares in the world other than trying to decide what to smoke.
My first morning on the island an older gentleman came along on his bike. This was not a motorcycle but something like an old Schwinn that he had likely been riding for decades. This gentleman was well dressed, almost dapper, and I probably appeared to him to be a strange character. My usual outfit of jeans, t-shirt, loads of silver jewelry, and an arm full of tattoos didn't seem to faze him. He saw I was enjoying myself so that morning, and every morning after that, he would stop and give me a cigar from his shirt pocket. This cigar was far from being a 'pretty' cigar but that did not bother me a bit. It was a treasured and unexpected gift that I was thrilled to be given. After smoking this cigar I realized that this was one of the best cigars I smoked on the island. Later that day in speaking with my host on this trip I came to understand that these cigars were something special to every person who carried them. They were cigars that they made for themselves. Even the guys who worked hard in the cigar factories all day would return home at night and make their private cigars. Simple cigars with flavors they personally enjoyed. Over the course of the next few days my host and I visited his friends and asked for cigars that they made. Before I left I had cigars from a few locals who all used different tobaccos from the different growing regions. They were all great but there was one that really stood out for me as special.
I decided when traveling to Nicaragua to work with the Garcia family that I would try to recreate this special cigar for myself. Together we spent quite some time working on the blend and looking at different leaves for wrapper. The marbled toothy wrapper was perfect for this cigar, rustic looking but with tons of aroma. After smoking the first sample, I was immediately brought back to that island relaxing on a fence, enjoying life, smoking a great cigar. A great cigar that will always in my mind represent the place, the time, and the experience of the purity of the simple life. This cigar may be considered ugly by some but inside that surface roughness it contains such rich flavor and aroma.
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. This is a tribute to that cigar.
Enjoy,