La Riqueza No. 5

Strength: Medium-Full Bodied
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Maduro
Shape: Straight
Size: 4 3/8 x 42
Cut: Xicar
Burn Time: 1:05

Smoked one of my last Tatuaje La Riqueza's from a box I have had in the cooler for over a year and decided to give a review on how these have aged. My first impression a year ago was a little mixed; slightly insipid and one dimensional.

Pre-light gives off some nice earthy pepper, maybe a little bittersweet cocoa. Upon initial torch, I'm getting a nice pepper blast. Not in your face, but classic Tatuaje seamlessness. Decent amount of kick and smoke for a smaller vitola.


First third: Pepper is still prevalent, creamy coffee and some sweetness. Burn is razor sharp, draw as with everything PJ is perfection.


Midway through: more of the same. No significant flavor changes, burn and draw are perfect. It's like eating a piece of cinnamon toast with some cracked pepper and bitter cocoa sprinkled on top.


Final third: Heat and pepper kick up a bit as expected, and smoke time is nearing an hour. The La Riqueza has aged nicely, and picked up some decent complexity. Would I purchase another box of these? If the price is right, but there are other Tatuaje offspring that I prefer like the Cabaiguan maduro, and Fausto in the same price range.