The annual Halloween Cigar is here. It’s got a bit of an odd shape as it’s one of the longer style of torpedo tips. throw in th fauz shaggy foot, and it;s a little odd.
Of course it lights easy, and then it jumps off with a pretty ‘new’ tasting tangy bloom. The first impression is that it is a simple variation from the classic Tatuaje style, as opposed to a radical deviation like the original Black ‘PimpHammer’ series.
It quickly settles back and becomes lighter than expected. Oddly, the light acidic notes remind me of a foil wrapped edition, but this is simple cellophane in a wood box. the taste starts to cahnge just a touch an inch later, and pick up a touch of a boost. The flavor is more deviant than variant now –The ‘special edition’ aspect starts to become apparent.
The last 30% gets pretty well saturated and tangy, and has some odd notes that remind me of a Villiger 1888. Other people who have had it commented on the way it wakes up and gets musch stronger on the second half, but I’m not seeing it as a big increase.
Overall It’s pretty good. If it was a standard stock item I might get one occasionally, but I wouldn’t seek it out.
The Roll: Just about right. No clogs and no gaps, although there is a little unevenness to the tip shape.
The Wrapper: Even and Smooth.
The Ash: reasonably firm
The Value: At ~$16 it’s a bit much, but really not too far off the mark.
Would I get it again? Being a once-a-year release, it’s not really an option.