Blind Cigar Review: L'Atelier | Identité Mélange Spécial No.2

Cigar Info

L’Atelier has been around for 6 years. It was started by Tatuaje’s Pete Johnson along with his brother K.C. Johnson and friends Dan Welsh and Sean “Casper” Johnson. Something that makes L’Atelier’s releases different is their use of tobacco called Sancti Spiritus. This is a hybrid of Criollo and Pelo de Oro, which was notorious for mold.

The L’Atelier Identité uses Sancti Spiritus in all three parts of the blend, wrapper, binder, and filler. Identité translates in French to “identity”. This term reflects the use of the amount of Sancti Spiritus in the blend as L’Arelier’s identity. The blend uses it in all three parts of the cigar, wrapper, binder, and filler but is not blended with 100% Sancti Spiritus, that’s where the Mélange comes in,which translates to French for “mixture” as each part of the blended uses the tobacco. Like all other Tatauje and L’Atelier blends Identité is produced at the My Father Cigars factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Corona Gorda
Length: 5 5/8″
Ring Gauge: 46
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sancti Spiritus
Binder: Nicaraguan, Includes Sancti Spiritus
Filler: Nicaraguan, Includes Sancti Spiritus
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
Blender: Pete Johnson, K.C. Johnson
Number of reviewers: 4 – Ryan H. (Ryan H.) Mickey T. (irratebass) John A. (Bostoneo) Dave W. (mdwest)
Price: $9.00
Age: 10 Months
Release Date: October 2017
Contributed by: Blind Man’s Puff

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 93

“5 3/4 tri capped wrapper is very thick and dark also very toothy; seams are visible.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

Aroma: 90

“This cigar produces a strong, pungent aroma of oily leather pre-light. ” –Dave W. (mdwest)

Blind Cigar Review: L'Atelier | Identité Mélange Spécial No.2 — Blind Cigar Review: L’Atelier | Identité Mélange Spécial No.2

First Third

Flavor: 91
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“On the cold draw I get the recurring chocolate, and wood. The cigar starts out as a medium plus with plenty of chocolate, wood, and some bread or wheat elements. The strength has dropped to just a medium now that it has burned for a bit. There is a tiny bit of cream, and marshmallow now to really balance out the smoke. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

“Toasted marshmallow starts of with the light and a perfumed retrohale. A myriad of spices introduce themselves shortly as I cost into full bodied land. Dark oily molasses carries me to the end of this third. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)

Second Third

Flavor: 92
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“Burn has some unsightly waves, but I will see if they correct themselves. Big transition to smooth mud pie with some cream and chocolate. Has been medium in strength. Burn has straightened its self out. Joining the show is a sweetness I compare to cherries or dried fruit. It doesn’t stick around for long but it was there.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“The cream and wheat are really front and center which is turning this into a nice smooth smoking experience. The chocolate is all gone, there is still some wood on the finish, but it too is light. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

Final Third

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Most flavors melt away leaving the cedar and chocolate.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“What started out as an “ok” smoke for me, finishes strong. More molasses type sweetness comes out in the flavor profile in the final third and the cigar continues to get more and more silky smooth.” –Dave W. (mdwest)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 94

“Little to no room to improve on the draw. It was about as good as it gets honestly. ” –Dave W. (mdwest)

Burn: 96

“The burn was really good with no issues to report. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

Construction: 92

“Clearly a well rolled cigar that looked great, and performed even better. ” –Dave W. (mdwest)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Experience Overall: 92

“I really liked this cigar. Definitely worth a box. Has a lot of legs for aging. Would be nice to revisit this stick with some age.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“This cigar was all over the place. It started out quite strong in strength, then after about 10 mins it mellowed into a mild to medium smoke. Which stayed like this until the final third where it elevated back up in strength. The cigar had some interesting flavors as well with chocolate, wood, cream, marshmallow and just a tiny bit of spice. ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

“This was a wonderful example of a full flavored cigar. Loads of dark oily flavors with malt and citrus notes popping in and out during the experience was wonderful. This was carefully blended not to be a boring full bodied smoke and it shows. For you full bodied smokers, do yourself and grab a box!” –John A. (Bostoneo)

“One of the best cigars I have reviewed so far this year. While it started a little slow, it finished like a champion, and improved from beginning to end with every puff. I’m ready for a box purchase after just one cigar. ” –Dave W. (mdwest)