Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release)

danreeve · 08-09-2010, 12:32 PM

Today's Pete Johnson pre-release cigar review comes from a stick that is an extension of his Havana VI line. The Havana VI, better know as "red label", is often seen as a slightly lower line than the brown label in the Tatuaje catalog, mainly because of its lower price tag. However, to me, it houses some of my favorite sticks from Pete. Havana VI cigars are very affordable and still have the same high quality construction and tobacco well known to Johnson/Pepin sticks.

Some background information on Havana VI from New Havana Cigars: Havana VI was created in 2006 and boasts six vitolas (thus the VI in the name). Referred to as the 'Red Label', the band duplicates the classic Cabinet band in red. It is made in Esteli Nicaragua at the Tabacalera Cubana factory. It is medium to full bodied and is truly a Nicaraguan Puro, consisting of Nicaraguan filler, binder and wrapper

It is kind of funny that this line is called the Havana VI now, because with the Gordito release, there are now seven cigars. Really though, who cares what the name is? The real question is: how does it smoke? Let's get started with the review.

Specifics
Vitola: Robusto extra?
Length: 5 1/2
Ring Gauge: 56
Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $9.00 in full boxes
Smoking Location: My back deck
Beverage: water

Pre-Light

The Tatuaje red label Gordito is another BIG cigar. My stick was nicely packed and with a 56 ring gauge -- this vitola has some serious weight to it. The light brown wrapper on my sample of the Gordito had lots of big veins and a pretty prominate seam where the leaf wrapped around the binder. Overall, it was a pretty natural looking cigar. The aroma coming off the unlit stick was faint, but what I could detect was just some natural tobacco notes, mixed with a stronger peppery note at the open foot. The cold draw was a little loose for my preference and had a sweet, almost gingery taste.

First Third

The first puff on my Gordito after evenly toasting the foot, was strong in flavor. The profile on the front of the draw was a mild black pepper and on the finish were flavors of bread and some other spice that I couldn't nail down. The black pepper was not mild in strength of flavor, just mild in the heat I sometimes associate with that taste. For such a large cigar this stick was very relaxing from the get go and not overpowering at all. Even with the massive amounts of smoke this cigar was producing, the body was in the medium range. One thing to note: if you are going to smoke this cigar inside, make sure you have a lot of ventilation. Like I wrote above, this cigar puts out a lot of smoke, even while resting. As you can see in the picture, the ash was compact, but what you can't see is how easily it falls. The next time I lifted this stick after the photo that ash fell right into the tray without any tapping.

Second Third

The second third of my Tatuaje red label Gordito started out similar to the first third, except for the finish, which got a lot sweeter. The front still had that very tasty, tingly mild black pepper, and on the finish were still some of the bread flavors, but as I burned more and more into the second third, a caramel sweetness crept up and started taking over the finish. This was sweetness at its finest for me; the balance of pepper and caramel is one of my favorite combinations. Getting close to the end of my second third, I did have a few burn issues, but nothing that couldn't be corrected easily enough with my torch. The body in the second third might have been slightly stronger, but nothing enough to make my head spin or get the jitters.

Final Third and Final Thoughts

"Here comes the black pepper" is what I have written down in my cigar journal for the start of the final third of my Tatuaje red label Gordito. As I recall, the black pepper is what dominated the final third. The main difference was the pepper was a little spicier this time than it was in the first two thirds. On the finish, the bread flavors had dissipated, but the sweet caramel was still prominent, and mouth-watering good. After the slight burn issues I had in the second third, the cigar preformed beautifully all the way to the nub. The body again ramped up slightly, so I would rate the end of this stick more in the medium to medium-full range.

My final thoughts on the Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito? I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is the best Tatuaje red label to date. I know that is a big statement, but this is a big cigar and it tastes amazing. I loved the balance of the peppery front with the sweet caramel on the finish so much that I really had to pace myself from not rushing to take puff after puff. This stick is in the top 3 best of the new Tatuaje releases in my opinion, so don't look past it because of the size.

Would I buy it again? Another great cigar for tailgating because of how long it smokes. I would say it took around 2 1/2 hours to nub it. I will be getting more.

Would I buy a box? This is 100% box worthy.

For more pictures please visit http://tinyurl.com/3xy9a3x

Dan

SaltyMcGee · 08-09-2010, 12:39 PM

Great review Dan!

nomadicwookie · 08-09-2010, 02:41 PM

Thanks for the review. I just picked up my first Tat yesterday (a red label). I'm very eager to try it.

TheGentleman · 08-09-2010, 07:27 PM

Dan, another fine review...thank you. I've really enjoyed all your pre-release Tat reviews and am eagerly awaiting the 7th Reserva review....quit stalling!

Ratters · 08-09-2010, 08:06 PM

Nice review. I think the Havana VI is the best thing Pete does.

bigdix · 08-10-2010, 03:00 AM

Thanks for the review man, I may have to check out a few of these. The Angeles is one of my favorite everyday smokes!!

elderboy02 · 08-10-2010, 05:04 AM

Thanks for the review. I just got one of these in the IPCPR sampler NHC was selling. I can't wait to smoke it once it gets to a proper humidity level.

ucla695 · 08-10-2010, 06:28 AM

Great review! Sounds like an enjoyable way to spend 2 1/2 hours.

elderboy02 · 08-13-2010, 07:17 AM

So, I tried this last night. The 1st inch or so was great. After the first inch, I could see that there was a huge tunnel of tobacco missing in the center of the cigar

After that, it got hot and bitter. I was very disappointed.

BTcigars · 08-13-2010, 11:20 PM

Thanks for the review!

lenguamor · 02-15-2012, 08:33 PM

I've liked plenty of other Tats before but I just had one of these at my nephew's ballgame and I did NOT like this at all.

It's not often that I can't find even one redeeming quality in a cigar; this was one of those rare times. Strength for strength's sake; no nuance, no complexity...well, you have to have a starting point to begin to have complexity. This had no flavor, unless you count hot smoke as a flavor.

Not for me; I'll stick to the other PJ/MF lines.

Zanaspus · 02-17-2012, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lenguamor

I've liked plenty of other Tats before but I just had one of these at my nephew's ballgame and I did NOT like this at all.

It's not often that I can't find even one redeeming quality in a cigar; this was one of those rare times. Strength for strength's sake; no nuance, no complexity...well, you have to have a starting point to begin to have complexity. This had no flavor, unless you count hot smoke as a flavor.

Not for me; I'll stick to the other PJ/MF lines.

I concur completely. Strangely enough, the old white labels which were short filler I absolutely loved. Does anyone know if the new release at NHC are roughly the same?

688sonarmen · 02-17-2012, 12:41 PM

Great review, another box worthy smoke!

Big Maduro · 02-17-2012, 11:06 PM

The Tat Havana VI (the ones that have been out) have been on my have to try list. Sounds like a super cigar, thanks.

Remo · 02-17-2012, 11:17 PM

Good review, thanks Dan

SteelCityBoy · 02-18-2012, 08:13 AM

I really need to smoke another one of these...it has been so long since I had one I don't remember what it was like. Reading your review definately makes me want to burn another...

Thanks for the great review!

dave · 02-18-2012, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelCityBoy

I really need to smoke another one of these...it has been so long since I had one I don't remember what it was like. Reading your review definately makes me want to burn another...

Thanks for the great review!

NOT the same size, but the 5ers of the Nobles (5x50) are free-falling right now on cbid, bottoming at 17 and change.

Ratters · 02-21-2012, 10:32 PM

They go for that with free shipping on cigarmonster now and again.

Taki · 02-22-2012, 05:42 AM

Nice review Dan...thanks for sharing

Blak Smyth · 02-22-2012, 06:08 AM

Thanks for the review, just noticed it is two years old! Thanks, I recently smoked one but not this RG.

08-09-2010, 12:32 PM	#1
danreeve Feeling at Home Join Date: Jan 2010 First Name: Dan Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 733 Trading: (2)	Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) Today's Pete Johnson pre-release cigar review comes from a stick that is an extension of his Havana VI line. The Havana VI, better know as "red label", is often seen as a slightly lower line than the brown label in the Tatuaje catalog, mainly because of its lower price tag. However, to me, it houses some of my favorite sticks from Pete. Havana VI cigars are very affordable and still have the same high quality construction and tobacco well known to Johnson/Pepin sticks. Some background information on Havana VI from New Havana Cigars: Havana VI was created in 2006 and boasts six vitolas (thus the VI in the name). Referred to as the 'Red Label', the band duplicates the classic Cabinet band in red. It is made in Esteli Nicaragua at the Tabacalera Cubana factory. It is medium to full bodied and is truly a Nicaraguan Puro, consisting of Nicaraguan filler, binder and wrapper It is kind of funny that this line is called the Havana VI now, because with the Gordito release, there are now seven cigars. Really though, who cares what the name is? The real question is: how does it smoke? Let's get started with the review. Specifics Vitola: Robusto extra? Length: 5 1/2 Ring Gauge: 56 Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Price: $9.00 in full boxes Smoking Location: My back deck Beverage: water Pre-Light The Tatuaje red label Gordito is another BIG cigar. My stick was nicely packed and with a 56 ring gauge -- this vitola has some serious weight to it. The light brown wrapper on my sample of the Gordito had lots of big veins and a pretty prominate seam where the leaf wrapped around the binder. Overall, it was a pretty natural looking cigar. The aroma coming off the unlit stick was faint, but what I could detect was just some natural tobacco notes, mixed with a stronger peppery note at the open foot. The cold draw was a little loose for my preference and had a sweet, almost gingery taste. First Third The first puff on my Gordito after evenly toasting the foot, was strong in flavor. The profile on the front of the draw was a mild black pepper and on the finish were flavors of bread and some other spice that I couldn't nail down. The black pepper was not mild in strength of flavor, just mild in the heat I sometimes associate with that taste. For such a large cigar this stick was very relaxing from the get go and not overpowering at all. Even with the massive amounts of smoke this cigar was producing, the body was in the medium range. One thing to note: if you are going to smoke this cigar inside, make sure you have a lot of ventilation. Like I wrote above, this cigar puts out a lot of smoke, even while resting. As you can see in the picture, the ash was compact, but what you can't see is how easily it falls. The next time I lifted this stick after the photo that ash fell right into the tray without any tapping. Second Third The second third of my Tatuaje red label Gordito started out similar to the first third, except for the finish, which got a lot sweeter. The front still had that very tasty, tingly mild black pepper, and on the finish were still some of the bread flavors, but as I burned more and more into the second third, a caramel sweetness crept up and started taking over the finish. This was sweetness at its finest for me; the balance of pepper and caramel is one of my favorite combinations. Getting close to the end of my second third, I did have a few burn issues, but nothing that couldn't be corrected easily enough with my torch. The body in the second third might have been slightly stronger, but nothing enough to make my head spin or get the jitters. Final Third and Final Thoughts "Here comes the black pepper" is what I have written down in my cigar journal for the start of the final third of my Tatuaje red label Gordito. As I recall, the black pepper is what dominated the final third. The main difference was the pepper was a little spicier this time than it was in the first two thirds. On the finish, the bread flavors had dissipated, but the sweet caramel was still prominent, and mouth-watering good. After the slight burn issues I had in the second third, the cigar preformed beautifully all the way to the nub. The body again ramped up slightly, so I would rate the end of this stick more in the medium to medium-full range. My final thoughts on the Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito? I'm going to go out on a limb and say this is the best Tatuaje red label to date. I know that is a big statement, but this is a big cigar and it tastes amazing. I loved the balance of the peppery front with the sweet caramel on the finish so much that I really had to pace myself from not rushing to take puff after puff. This stick is in the top 3 best of the new Tatuaje releases in my opinion, so don't look past it because of the size. Would I buy it again? Another great cigar for tailgating because of how long it smokes. I would say it took around 2 1/2 hours to nub it. I will be getting more. Would I buy a box? This is 100% box worthy. For more pictures please visit http://tinyurl.com/3xy9a3x Dan __________________ http://cigarpress.com/

08-09-2010, 12:39 PM	#2
SaltyMcGee Gone munting... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jared Location: C-Bus, OH Posts: 334 Trading: (3)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) Great review Dan! __________________ "It's a simple question doctor, would you eat the moon if it were made of ribs!?"

08-09-2010, 02:41 PM	#3
nomadicwookie Still Watching My Back Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 236 Trading: (7)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) Thanks for the review. I just picked up my first Tat yesterday (a red label). I'm very eager to try it.

08-09-2010, 07:27 PM	#4
TheGentleman Just in from the Storm Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 18 Trading: (0)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) Dan, another fine review...thank you. I've really enjoyed all your pre-release Tat reviews and am eagerly awaiting the 7th Reserva review....quit stalling!

08-09-2010, 08:06 PM	#5
Ratters Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,848 Trading: (2)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) Nice review. I think the Havana VI is the best thing Pete does.

08-10-2010, 03:00 AM	#6
bigdix Cigarmurai Join Date: Jul 2010 First Name: Dan Location: Oki Posts: 669 Trading: (1)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) Thanks for the review man, I may have to check out a few of these. The Angeles is one of my favorite everyday smokes!! __________________ There's no secret handshake. There's an IQ prerequisite, but there's no secret handshake.

08-10-2010, 05:04 AM	#7
elderboy02 Lets Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dan Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 12,497 Trading: (133)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) Thanks for the review. I just got one of these in the IPCPR sampler NHC was selling. I can't wait to smoke it once it gets to a proper humidity level.

08-10-2010, 06:28 AM	#8
ucla695 Neither here, nor there Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: The Pool Posts: 3,696 Trading: (5)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) Great review! Sounds like an enjoyable way to spend 2 1/2 hours.

08-13-2010, 07:17 AM	#9
elderboy02 Lets Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dan Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 12,497 Trading: (133)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) So, I tried this last night. The 1st inch or so was great. After the first inch, I could see that there was a huge tunnel of tobacco missing in the center of the cigar After that, it got hot and bitter. I was very disappointed.

08-13-2010, 11:20 PM	#10
BTcigars Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 486 Trading: (1)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) Thanks for the review!

02-15-2012, 08:33 PM	#11
lenguamor puta por Ninfas! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Joe Location: The 305 again! Posts: 1,030 Trading: (23)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) I've liked plenty of other Tats before but I just had one of these at my nephew's ballgame and I did NOT like this at all. It's not often that I can't find even one redeeming quality in a cigar; this was one of those rare times. Strength for strength's sake; no nuance, no complexity...well, you have to have a starting point to begin to have complexity. This had no flavor, unless you count hot smoke as a flavor. Not for me; I'll stick to the other PJ/MF lines. __________________

02-17-2012, 12:41 PM	#13
688sonarmen Shipmate! Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: Jake Location: Norwich, Ct Posts: 2,698 Trading: (17)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) Great review, another box worthy smoke!

02-17-2012, 11:06 PM	#14
Big Maduro Adjusting to the Life Join Date: Dec 2011 First Name: Mike Location: Ohio Posts: 479 Trading: (14)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) The Tat Havana VI (the ones that have been out) have been on my have to try list. Sounds like a super cigar, thanks.

02-17-2012, 11:17 PM	#15
Remo C.I.A Join Date: Feb 2011 First Name: Mike Location: Palm Harbor, Florida Posts: 12,597 Trading: (122)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) Good review, thanks Dan __________________

02-18-2012, 08:13 AM	#16
SteelCityBoy 7th Heaven Will Commeth!! Join Date: Sep 2011 First Name: Ken Location: * THE WOOD * -Cigar Zombies- Posts: 1,236 Trading: (21)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) I really need to smoke another one of these...it has been so long since I had one I don't remember what it was like. Reading your review definately makes me want to burn another... Thanks for the great review! __________________ It's Just THIS Easy To Help Out The Troops

02-21-2012, 10:32 PM	#18
Ratters Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,848 Trading: (2)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) They go for that with free shipping on cigarmonster now and again.

02-22-2012, 05:42 AM	#19
Taki Welcome to the Layer Cake Join Date: Aug 2011 First Name: Taki Location: The Creek Posts: 2,271 Trading: (38)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) Nice review Dan...thanks for sharing __________________

02-22-2012, 06:08 AM	#20
Blak Smyth Think Blue! Join Date: Jun 2011 First Name: SD Location: THE WOOD Posts: 8,486 Trading: (52)	Re: Tatuaje Havana VI Gordito (Pre Release) Thanks for the review, just noticed it is two years old! Thanks, I recently smoked one but not this RG. __________________ SUPPORT OUR TROOPS