Tatuaje Black Label Corona Gorda 2013
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun-Grown Criollo Esteli
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Corona Gorda: 5 5/8 x 46
Price: $9.25 each (in RI)

Paul and Mark Jr. both covered this cigar last week, and couldn’t say enough about it. This week it was my turn. As we covered last week, Tatuaje Cigars’ founder Pete Johnson has made a decision to re-release his Tatuaje Black Label Corona Gorda as a part of the company’s 10th anniversary series. It was originally released in 2007 in a ceramic jar. Johnson is bringing back the cigars in hard plastic jars. While there will be a large run of 10,000 jars of 19 scheduled for later in 2013, an early shipment of 500 bundles of 19 has recently been shipped. This sample is from the initial bundle release. Johnson also put a jazzier band on the cigars because of the tenth anniversary.

Between this and the Tatuaje Apocalypse, Pete Johnson has had an incredible ten month run. This cigar is a home run. It starts our with wood, nut, and pepper before an explosion of orange chocolate. and caramel flavors join in. The sweetness actually transitions to more of a mixed fruit later in the cigar. The flavors are bold and full-bodied while the strength is in the medium range. Normally I am not a fan of a cigar where the body and strength have a significant gap, but it works with this cigar. The construction is top-notch.

I’ve smoked enough Black Label (although never the original 2007 Corona Gorda) to feel confident saying this cigar is the real deal. This cigar is worthy of being my first trip to the Stogie Geeks Oasis.