Blind Cigar Review: Tatuaje / L’Atelier Négociant Monopole No. 1

Cigar Info

Tatuaje and L’Atelier Imports are sister brands but this is one of the few joint releases between the two Johnson-owned Tatuaje / L’Atelier Négociant Monopole No. 1.

The name comes from the wine industry. Négociants are winemakers who buy wine or grapes from other growers or producers and use it to create wines of their own. Sometimes a négociant will buy grapes and complete the rest of the process, other times a négociant could buy nearly completed wine and use it to produce their own blended wine. A negotiant may bottle the wine under his own name either as is or after blending with other wines. The term Monopole refers to an area in controlled by a single winery or wine company. The wine from this area is typically sold by one company. The two terms are appropriate to this brand.

It was back in 2012 when Tatuaje Cigars’ founder Pete Johnson launched L’Atelier Imports. L’Atelier Imports was off as a separate company from Tatuaje in which Johnson would partner with his brother K.C. Johnson and friends Dan Welsh and Sean “Casper” Johnson. For much of the first three plus years, the Tatuaje and L’Atelier Imports were kept separate. Over the past few years the separation of the two companies has been  reducing.

The cigar uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Mexican and Nicaraguan binders and Nicaraguan fillers. This cigar does not contain Sancti Spiritus tobacco, the signature leaf of L’Atelier Imports.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Mexican San Andres
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars
Blender: Pete Johnson and K.C. Johnson
Number of reviewers: 4 – Ryan H. (Ryan H.) Mickey T. (irratebass) John A. (John A.) Dave W. (mdwest)
Price: $12.00
Age: 4 Months
Release Date: April 2017
Contributed by: Blind Man’s Puff

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 94

“A very nice oily tan brown Connecticut wrapper, no veins/seems, and triple cap.” –John A. (John A.)

Aroma: 91

“I get cream & butter aromas. The cold draw has a light sweetness to it.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

First Third

Flavor: 94
Strength: Mild
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Very effortless draw not bad for a connie. Mossy earthyness reminds me of corriander or turmeric possibly leeks. On the retro a laviendar sweetness. Virtually no spice. This is a nice smooth smoke. Produces plenty of smoke burn is phenominal 1 1/4 inch in” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“An easy draw reveals a leathery sweetness, cream, and a bit of spice on the first few puffs. Nuttiness and spice begins to intensify and bits of lemony spices come in and out. Overall a very tasty mild third… yummy.” –John A. (John A.)

Second Third

Flavor: 93
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Starting the second-third with a nice hefty ash still holding on. I am picking up lots of walnut and spice on the retro. This is a nice smooth smoke so far. Ash just fell in one big chunk……excellent construction.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

“The flavor profile remains the same, but becomes a little less bold and is closer to what was initially expected. The cigar remains silky smooth and very easy to smoke.” –Dave W. (mdwest)

Final Third

Flavor: 96
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Cream is way up front now with a sweetness merged in. I’m getting a nutty flavor on the retro. Spice is decided to poke it’s head in on the end of the smoke. Not really ramped up in strength, just a little sum-sum to let you know it’s there.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

“Similar flavors from the second third continue into the final stretch a little further in flavors begin to transition into sweet hay, damp earth, and saltiness. The final bit of cigar jumps up to light-medium when dark chocolate, char, ending in a biscuity sweet aftertaste finish this fine smoke.” –John A. (John A.)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 99

“Draw was very open, but not so open it caused any issues. It was just a perfect draw as they say .” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

Burn: 98

“Not once did this cigar stray from a perfect burn the enirety of the smoke.” –John A. (John A.)

Construction: 95

“An obviously well built stick with no performance problems experienced.” –Dave W. (mdwest)

Overall Strength: Mild-Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 96

“I would box this one for sure” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)

“This was a nice smooth/mild smoke that I could see reach for some more in my local B&M. It would be a great cigar to pair with coffee or as your first smoke of the day……it could even be a dessert smoke if you wanted.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)

“This was a fine smoking experience that I can recommend to anyone at anytime of the day. Although mild, flavor and complexity were great and not once to it go terribly bitter like some mild cigars do. I’ll definitely keep a few of these on hand when I find out what it is!” –John A. (John A.)

“Overall a very nice cigar. If the price is right count me in for a box purchase. I could see me working this stick into regular rotation as an early morning smoke paired with coffee.” –Dave W. (mdwest)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 68

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Blind Cigar Review: Tatuaje / L’Atelier Négociant Monopole No. 1

Overall Score – 95 – Excellent