Tatuaje Conoju 2009

[Don Fernando]

The Longfiller company, importer of several top shelve non Cuban brands in The Netherlands, send me a few cigars to review and among them the four Tatuaje Conoju cigars. The third of the series is the Tatuaje Conoju 2009, a 6.75 inch x 48 Nicaraguan puro torpedo with a € 12.00 fixed price tag here in The Netherlands. The price is the same for the whole Conoju series, except the Grand Conoju which has a € 14.00 fixed price tag.



The top of this cigar is quite sharp and the wrapper looks good even though it has a few spots, lots of small and one big vein. The construction feels a bit soft. After I removed the cellophane I smelled a quite strong barnyard flavor that had a hint of ammonia to it. The loose predraw doesn't pack flavor, just a little sweetness.



I get a full sweet coffee flavor and the sweetness is something that stands out. The flavors are mild spicy in the aftertaste. After a few puffs I can clearly taste the mild bitterness that comes with coffee. After half an inch the sweetness fades away a bit and the flavors stick on the palate. After two inch some leather joins the coffee and sweetness. The bitterness is only noticeable as a mild aftertaste.



Halfway the coffee disappears and I get a lot of chocolate with some leather and a herbal aftertaste. The sweetness and bitterness have disappeared completely. The texture of the chocolate is creamy. The herbal flavors slowly grow in strength. Right before the ⅔ mark the chocolate disappears. All I can taste are herbs, not spicy at all. The last few puffs bring a nut flavor too.



I enjoyed this cigar for an hour and 45 minutes and during that time I enjoyed a huge amount of smoke. The burn is good but the draw is on the loose side. The firm ash has a salt & pepper color. This cigar is definitely full bodied and full flavored.



Would I buy this cigar again? Yes, almost enjoyed it as much as the Tatuaje Conoju 2006

Appearance: 7 / 10
Construction: 6 / 10
Draw: 6 / 10
Burn: 7 / 10
Smoke & ash: 8 / 10
Aroma first part: 7 / 10
Aroma second part: 8 / 10
Aroma third part: 8 / 10