Tatuaje RC233

Don Fernando · 11-22-2009, 03:38 AM

The name of this Tatuaje can simply be explained. The cigar is rolled in traditional Cuban style, where the RC stands for "Retro Cuban" and the number stands for the millimeters of length. The RC233 is 233 millimeter long, that makes 9.125 inch and has a ring of 55 at the thickest part of the figurado shaped cigar. This vitola is rolled exclusively by Don Pepin Garcia himself, and I bought this stick at his factory when I visited Miami in May of this year. I promised myself I would smoke it on a special occasion, and that occasion turned out to be the birth of my first nephew Simon, who was born on Sunday November 15. The cigar has a perfecto shape, but it's bigger than any perfecto I have ever seen.

The cigar has an interesting silver foil wrapping on from the head of the cigar till the mid section, where a red, white, blue band with the fleur-de-lis that Pete Johnson likes to use covers the end of the foil. The foil is also based on the old Cuban style foil-wrapped figurados.

The Nicaraguan corojo wrapper is oily and has some veins running over it. The aroma of the cigar reminds me of straw and hay, but has a little sourish smell to it. Upon inspection I cannot find anything wrong with the construction, and the perfect predraw supports the idea that the construction is flawless. The predraw leaves a mild peppery raisin flavor on my palate.

I am surprised by the leathery flavor with the earthy notes and the hint of coffee. The flavors are quite full, bold and very pleasant. A little herbal flavor joins the other flavors and everything is perfectly balanced.
After 2 inch the earthy flavor is gone. The cigar starts to reveal its complexity and it is getting harder to recognize and name the flavors I can taste. The flavors are still full, but mellowed out and they become mild creamy.

Halfway a wood flavor joins the herbal taste and a mild pepper. I also get a fresh flavor, but it isn't a minty freshness. It is a kind of freshness that I can't explain. At the 2/3rd mark the cigar becomes a bit more spicy and I can also taste a nut flavor. The herbal flavor grows in strength and the main support flavor is wood.

The cigar produces a lot of thick white smoke and the draw is flawless. The
smoke starts out cool because of the length of the cigar. The ash has a beautiful light color and is pretty firm. I had a bit of a crooked burn in the beginning but I blame that on myself and not the cigar as it always happens to me with perfecto shaped cigars. The cigar is full flavored and medium bodied, but complex and interesting. It lasted for over 2 hours, and I wouldn't have mind if it lasted 2 more.

Would I buy this cigar again? Without hesitation. This is the best cigar I have ever smoked.

Appearance: 8 / 10
Construction: 9 / 10
Draw: 9 / 10
Smoke & ash: 8 / 10
Burn: 8 / 10
Aroma (first part) 9 / 10
Aroma (middle part) 9 / 10
Aroma (last part) 9 / 10

MedicCook · 11-22-2009, 03:56 AM

Thanks for the review and pictures Ferdie.

Adriftpanda · 11-22-2009, 05:25 AM

I really need to find time to smoke mine. Thanks for the review.

Adriftpanda · 11-22-2009, 05:27 AM

Wait... You said it's the best you've ever had??? What? Man, now I need to try this thing.

stearns · 11-22-2009, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adriftpanda

Wait... You said it's the best you've ever had??? What? Man, now I need to try this thing.

thought the same thing. i only have its younger brother, but i've always been tempted to pick this one up. are these really all rolled by the man behind the curtain himself? just this or both rcs? i had never heard this before

stearns

timo · 11-22-2009, 06:01 AM

I see Cartman is paying close attention.
The best cigar you (as in you) have ever smoked. Come on

Don Fernando · 11-22-2009, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stearns

are these really all rolled by the man behind the curtain himself? just this or both rcs? i had never heard this before

Don't know if it is for both RC's, but the RC233 is exclusivly rolled by DPG himself, according to the people in his factory.

gbum · 11-22-2009, 07:10 AM

great review as always ferdinand

BigAsh · 11-22-2009, 07:17 AM

So ferdie, did you like it?!?

walked by these a few times, I'll be pickin' one up for sure!....Nice review and pics, as always

sofaman · 11-22-2009, 07:30 AM

Thanks for the review I realy enjoyed this stick as well 2 hrs of pure enjoyment

Don Fernando · 11-22-2009, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAsh

So ferdie, did you like it?!?

No, this is more then "like", this is pure and unconditional love

11-22-2009, 09:01 AM

Ferdy, excellant review and pics my brother!

Where do you get your "cigar" holder?

Don Fernando · 11-22-2009, 09:07 AM

It was a gift from Tedrogerscpa

Ratters · 11-22-2009, 11:19 AM

Great review and so tempting.

But 2hrs? Man, a stick that big I would think would take well over three to get through?

Don Fernando · 11-22-2009, 11:30 AM

nah, took me approx 2 hours and 15 minutes, and I am not a quick smoker.

roughrider · 11-22-2009, 12:16 PM

Great review Ferdinand.

Norcal_aaron · 11-22-2009, 12:57 PM

Nice review, I have the RC184 which I plan to smoke on Thanksgiving Day. Hope it is as tasty and enjoyable as the 233.

Ahbroody · 11-22-2009, 01:22 PM

only had the 184, but it was good.

11-22-2009, 03:38 AM	#1
Don Fernando Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ferdinand Location: Singapore Posts: 10,064 Trading: (29)	Tatuaje RC233 The name of this Tatuaje can simply be explained. The cigar is rolled in traditional Cuban style, where the RC stands for "Retro Cuban" and the number stands for the millimeters of length. The RC233 is 233 millimeter long, that makes 9.125 inch and has a ring of 55 at the thickest part of the figurado shaped cigar. This vitola is rolled exclusively by Don Pepin Garcia himself, and I bought this stick at his factory when I visited Miami in May of this year. I promised myself I would smoke it on a special occasion, and that occasion turned out to be the birth of my first nephew Simon, who was born on Sunday November 15. The cigar has a perfecto shape, but it's bigger than any perfecto I have ever seen. The cigar has an interesting silver foil wrapping on from the head of the cigar till the mid section, where a red, white, blue band with the fleur-de-lis that Pete Johnson likes to use covers the end of the foil. The foil is also based on the old Cuban style foil-wrapped figurados. The Nicaraguan corojo wrapper is oily and has some veins running over it. The aroma of the cigar reminds me of straw and hay, but has a little sourish smell to it. Upon inspection I cannot find anything wrong with the construction, and the perfect predraw supports the idea that the construction is flawless. The predraw leaves a mild peppery raisin flavor on my palate. I am surprised by the leathery flavor with the earthy notes and the hint of coffee. The flavors are quite full, bold and very pleasant. A little herbal flavor joins the other flavors and everything is perfectly balanced. After 2 inch the earthy flavor is gone. The cigar starts to reveal its complexity and it is getting harder to recognize and name the flavors I can taste. The flavors are still full, but mellowed out and they become mild creamy. Halfway a wood flavor joins the herbal taste and a mild pepper. I also get a fresh flavor, but it isn't a minty freshness. It is a kind of freshness that I can't explain. At the 2/3rd mark the cigar becomes a bit more spicy and I can also taste a nut flavor. The herbal flavor grows in strength and the main support flavor is wood. The cigar produces a lot of thick white smoke and the draw is flawless. The smoke starts out cool because of the length of the cigar. The ash has a beautiful light color and is pretty firm. I had a bit of a crooked burn in the beginning but I blame that on myself and not the cigar as it always happens to me with perfecto shaped cigars. The cigar is full flavored and medium bodied, but complex and interesting. It lasted for over 2 hours, and I wouldn't have mind if it lasted 2 more. Would I buy this cigar again? Without hesitation. This is the best cigar I have ever smoked. Appearance: 8 / 10 Construction: 9 / 10 Draw: 9 / 10 Smoke & ash: 8 / 10 Burn: 8 / 10 Aroma (first part) 9 / 10 Aroma (middle part) 9 / 10 Aroma (last part) 9 / 10 __________________ check out my reviews on my blog.

11-22-2009, 03:56 AM	#2
MedicCook Mila smoked my cigar Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Ryan Location: Schaghticoke, NY Posts: 10,946 Trading: (7)	Re: Tatuaje RC233 Thanks for the review and pictures Ferdie. __________________ 27 World Series Championship's "If your wife doesn't like the aroma of your cigar, change your wife.", Zino Davidoff

11-22-2009, 05:25 AM	#3
Adriftpanda Peter's Daddy Join Date: May 2009 First Name: Huy Location: No one wants me Posts: 10,302 Trading: (74)	Re: Tatuaje RC233 I really need to find time to smoke mine. Thanks for the review. __________________ Who eats plantains when they can eat placenta.

11-22-2009, 05:27 AM	#4
Adriftpanda Peter's Daddy Join Date: May 2009 First Name: Huy Location: No one wants me Posts: 10,302 Trading: (74)	Re: Tatuaje RC233 Wait... You said it's the best you've ever had??? What? Man, now I need to try this thing. __________________ Who eats plantains when they can eat placenta.

11-22-2009, 06:01 AM	#6
timo Feeling at Home Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: MA Posts: 723 Trading: (0)	Re: Tatuaje RC233 I see Cartman is paying close attention. The best cigar you (as in you) have ever smoked. Come on __________________ Smoking is one of the leading causes of statistics

11-22-2009, 07:10 AM	#8
gbum Feeling at Home Join Date: Jul 2009 First Name: Asyraf Location: Cyberjaya-Malaysia Posts: 772 Trading: (0)	Re: Tatuaje RC233 great review as always ferdinand __________________ http://mrgbum.wordpress.com

11-22-2009, 07:17 AM	#9
BigAsh Don't knock the Ash... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Keith Location: Yardley, PA Posts: 5,046 Trading: (46)	Re: Tatuaje RC233 So ferdie, did you like it?!? walked by these a few times, I'll be pickin' one up for sure!....Nice review and pics, as always __________________ Keith

11-22-2009, 07:30 AM	#10
sofaman Feeling at Home Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Dubois,PA Posts: 604 Trading: (7)	Re: Tatuaje RC233 Thanks for the review I realy enjoyed this stick as well 2 hrs of pure enjoyment __________________ http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showth...80#post1461280

11-22-2009, 09:01 AM	#12
SkinsFanLarry Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Tatuaje RC233 Ferdy, excellant review and pics my brother! Where do you get your "cigar" holder?

11-22-2009, 09:07 AM	#13
Don Fernando Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ferdinand Location: Singapore Posts: 10,064 Trading: (29)	Re: Tatuaje RC233 It was a gift from Tedrogerscpa __________________ check out my reviews on my blog.

11-22-2009, 11:19 AM	#14
Ratters Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,848 Trading: (2)	Re: Tatuaje RC233 Great review and so tempting. But 2hrs? Man, a stick that big I would think would take well over three to get through?

11-22-2009, 11:30 AM	#15
Don Fernando Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ferdinand Location: Singapore Posts: 10,064 Trading: (29)	Re: Tatuaje RC233 nah, took me approx 2 hours and 15 minutes, and I am not a quick smoker. __________________ check out my reviews on my blog.

11-22-2009, 12:16 PM	#16
roughrider Feeling at Home Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 835 Trading: (24)	Re: Tatuaje RC233 Great review Ferdinand.

11-22-2009, 12:57 PM	#17
Norcal_aaron Still Watching My Back Join Date: Jun 2009 First Name: Aaron Location: Sonoma county, CA Posts: 160 Trading: (18)	Re: Tatuaje RC233 Nice review, I have the RC184 which I plan to smoke on Thanksgiving Day. Hope it is as tasty and enjoyable as the 233.

11-22-2009, 01:22 PM	#18
Ahbroody Daddy x 4 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mike Location: San Jose Posts: 3,708 Trading: (53)	Re: Tatuaje RC233 only had the 184, but it was good.