Tatuaje: Red vs Black Tubo

[Brutus2600]

Recently Mariogolbee was kind enough to let go of a few HTF's I was looking for, and to make an even 5'er included a red and black Tatuaje Tubo with the other cigars. I've been toying with the idea of picking up a box of each, but I wanted to smoke each first to see if it was something I wanted to put my money towards. Well, this morning I researched them, and what fun research :D I would've put this under reviews, but it's not so much a review as a question...but I digress, pictures!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/4935115570_f31f95e2ff_b.jpg

I smoked the red first, and while it was an overall nice cigar, the flavors were lacking. It was just kind of...bland? In comparison I enjoyed the Havana VI and P-Series line more, which are significantly cheaper smokes.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4935115638_7f6d933190_b.jpg

Of course though, here comes the black. What an amazing smoke. Flavorful, great construction, phenomenal wrapper, and well worth the higher price in my opinion.

Here's my question...I've heard everybody rave about the red tubos, and a lot of people say the blacks are so hit and miss. Did I get an opposite experience from the norm, getting a bad red and a good black? After smoking these back to back, I've all but written off wanting to buy any reds and would much rather get one or two boxes of the blacks.

Opinions/thoughts/comments appreciated! :tu

[cigarmonkel]

As a Tat whore myself i love em both. I have yet to smoke a bad black or red tubo. I cannot compare the black tubo to any of the other blacks cause the tubo is the only black i've had but loved it! I got a box of Red Tubo's and the one i've had was amazing. Very flavorful and was like the Havana VI but more punch to it.. more full bodied i guess. Both very flavorful and if you can find the right prices on em snag em up while you can!

[kelmac07]

I love the Black tubos...IMHO way better than the Red tubos. :2

[neoflex]

I'm in the Red Tubo camp, but who knows maybe the few Black Tubos I did have needed more down time. Cool ash tray by the way.:tu

[Brooks W]

Black CG > Black Robusto > Black Toro > Black Tubo

~brooks

[longknocker]

I Prefer The Black, But I Like Both!:tu

[NCRadioMan]

Red. Not a fan of any of the Blacks.

[Brutus2600]

Wow, opinions all over the place. Thanks for all the input guys :)

Also, thanks! Got the ashtray off Famous Smoke Shop's site :D

[NickyTeen]

Got a box of reds when they first came out. i find these very boring and disappointing.I have only smoked two,but both were very bland. i find the reg Havana VI line much better smoke. pulled all remaining red tubos out of the tubes and they have been resting for 6mos. I'm still not ready to try another one. Will give them some more time. I have a black tubo that was gifted to me,but haven't torched one yet.

[Bill86]

Love the black tubos, haven't tried the red ones. Burning my 2nd black tubo tomorrow probably, unless something else calls my name. I'd love to try a red one, my local B&M says they won't be getting the reds but will have me a box of blacks within a few weeks.

[tx_tuff]

I like the Black better the the Red, friend of mine I smoke with likes the Red better. This is nothing new we all have different taste. But I will say the Blacks get better with some age, I bought the box when it first came out and the last one I smoked was much better then the first.

[sikk50]

I'll be brutally honest here. I've yet to try the Red, I've got some just haven't gotten around to it. I've also got some Blacks, of which I've tried one. Remember this is just my opinion! But to me it was terrible, I'd compare it to the ammonia in cat piss. But like always, to each their own

[Brutus2600]

I like the Black better the the Red, friend of mine I smoke with likes the Red better. This is nothing new we all have different taste. But I will say the Blacks get better with some age, I bought the box when it first came out and the last one I smoked was much better then the first.

For those in the know...aren't these Black Tubos all from a single run and out of production? If so, would it be incorrect to say that the ones that are still available have some age on them? I bought a box over the weekend, so I'm curious how long I'll really need to let them rest before I should start smoking them.

I'll be brutally honest here. I've yet to try the Red, I've got some just haven't gotten around to it. I've also got some Blacks, of which I've tried one. Remember this is just my opinion! But to me it was terrible, I'd compare it to the ammonia in cat piss. But like always, to each their own

See, that's what made me hesitent about the Black Tubos from the beginning. It literally seems like you either get an amazing one or an awful one. That's kind of how I felt about the Red, but the Black was definitely awesome.

[Beagleone]

Here are my two cents then:

I like both, but from first impression, the Red Tubos were better than the Black Tubos when they first came out. That is my opinion. I had one of the reds recently and it is still pretty good, but I haven't had another Black Tubo in a while. I was resting them, but I guess I should break down and grab a Black Tubo soon to check how it is developing. Again, this is just my opinion.

As for availability: Pete originally had the B&Ms buy one for one when he released them last year. Most B&M stocked up in equal amounts. When I saw Pete last, he said the Black Tubos were a limited run and wasn't sure about the Reds. Recently, I saw that several local B&Ms have gotten a influx of Red Tubos because that was all they had left at the warehouse.

[Brutus2600]

One more quick question...

I know there's the age old question "store in tube or not to store in tube" but do I remember correctly that people pretty universally agree to take these out to store them? I know to at least check them because I know they suffered from cracked wrappers.

Thanks :)

[sikk50]

Just take the cap off or loosen it and they'll be plenty fine.

[xlc12rf]

Reviving an older thread, but I'm having trouble finding the tubos. Anyone have luck?

[Brutus2600]

New Havana Cigars (http://www.newhavanacigars.com/) has them in stock.

[Bill86]

MI'M getting 5 more blacks next week still waiting on my box though

[Ratters]

Red>Black. In a tube or not.

[Bill86]

Just found a local b&m with reds. I'll be trying mine Monday or Tuesday

[xlc12rf]

I had found a localish place that has reds and blacks, but not the tubes. I only grabbed a couple reds, but haven't lit them up yet.

[Matt-N-Ga]

I had found a localish place that has reds and blacks, but not the tubes. I only grabbed a couple reds, but haven't lit them up yet.

Which blacks does the shop have? Far as I know, the only Blacks available through retailers for purchase are the Tubos...The Toros and Robustos are supposed to be give aways for box purchases at events...though I guess some retailers could sell them if they had a bunch left over from an event, kinda sneaky though i'd think.

[bigdix]

Haven't had the Red tubos, but the Blacks are great with a little rest on them. :tu

[Brutus2600]

My box of Blacks came in while I was out of town Friday, haven't had a chance to take a pic yet but I'll get one up in the latest NC purchase thread here soon.

I can't help but think I got a bad Red Tubo, not many people say they don't like them. On the other hand, I also can't help but think that a lot of people might've smoked the Blacks before they had enough rest and were too harsh or something, because the one I smoked was very enjoyable.

[Bill86]

I didn't find the blacks too harsh with minimal rest, if any really. 3-4 days in the humidor after I bought it. Fired it up...good stuff.

[srduggins]

Just smoked another black tubo after the dud I had a few weeks ago. Initial impressions were highly favorable, but then, poor construction, led to poor burn - tunneling and spotting. I had to cut and relight. Enjoyable flavor, but horrible burn.

[Tank]

I obtained several boxes of each to keep for aging. First off I must say that the past year's crop of Pete Johnson's offerings for the most part have not tasted as well to me as his previous cigars prior to 2009. The original Tatuaje Black is one of my favorite cigars out there. These Tat Black Tubos are nothing like the original. With that said I prefer the reds over the blacks in these offerings.

[warren G.]

Just smoked another black tubo after the dud I had a few weeks ago. Initial impressions were highly favorable, but then, poor construction, led to poor burn - tunneling and spotting. I had to cut and relight. Enjoyable flavor, but horrible burn.

I had the same experience.

[xlc12rf]

Which blacks does the shop have? Far as I know, the only Blacks available through retailers for purchase are the Tubos...The Toros and Robustos are supposed to be give aways for box purchases at events...though I guess some retailers could sell them if they had a bunch left over from an event, kinda sneaky though i'd think.
Yeah I was just wrong. They carry some of the tat line, but don't have the tubos. I'm still a noob ;)
Posted via Mobile Device

[xlc12rf]

I'm trying not to jinx it, but I just ordered a box of reds, and two singles of the blacks. I'm a HUGE fan of the havana VI, so we will see what these have going :)

[Bill86]

I've smoked a few black tubos and love them. The red I got was a dud....I'll try another in a month...Good luck on the reds.

[gijoey959]

I can't find tat blacks anywhere, I recently became a tatuaje fanatic and now I have to try the black line! everywhere I find doesn't have 'em. My local B&M's only have Havana VI's and a few Brown lables and say they can't get blacks

[Bill86]

I can get you any number of black tubos you want. 2/3 B&M's here carry them...though one is running low. Heck I got 5 in the humidor right now.