The Henry Clay brand might not be one of Altadis U.S.A.'s premier lines, but Pete Johnson of Tatuaje Cigars has had an affinity for these oft-ignored cigars ever since he started smoking them. Now, the Altadis blending team known as the Grupo de Maestros has worked closely with Johnson and will be releasing a collaborative cigar dubbed the Henry Clay Tattoo.
Imagine a car enthusiast having an opportunity to tour the Ferrari factory in Maranello, or someone who is a collector of fine watches going to visit Patek Philippe in Geneva. The chance to actually see your favorite products being constructed by hand can be a real treat for the senses, and it can also give a heightened respect for the work that goes into creating these items that we love so much. For premium cigar lovers the products that we consume are some of the most artfully and painstakingly crafted products in the world. Still, so many cigar lovers still don't have the first-hand experience of seeing what goes into growing fine tobacco and crafting great cigars. During Puro Sabor 2018 I was able to visit a number of cigar factories, large and small. In this second article of the series about the festival I will take you through these factories in the same order that I visited them.
"My only wish for this cigar is that it was longer purely for the sake of having more incredible smoke to enjoy. Every puff from the first to the last was chock full of immensely robust and pleasant flavors that were well balanced, complimentary of one another, and consistent to a tee. A perfect draw produced mouthful after mouthful of creamy smooth smoke and despite a few minor touchups, the smoking experience was trouble-free and thoroughly enjoyable. In my opinion, the complete lack of transition in flavor is appropriate and almost preferred given the short length of this cigar. Anything more would be a lot to keep tabs on over such a short period of time. Cigars this short certainly have their place and this one would be perfect for a lunch break or any other circumstance where time just isn't a luxury. 10 out of 10 will smoke again!" -Noah S. (Noah)
ACMEAllBalmoralBill PaleyCaldwellCamachoCAOCrowned HeadsCubaCubariquenoDanny MoyaDavidoffDion GiolitoDominican RepublicDon Pepin GarciaDrew EstateDunbarton Tobacco & TrustEditorialFeaturedFoundation CigarFred ReweyH. Upmann (Cuba)Hendrik KelnerHondurasIllusioneIPCPRJon HuberJonathan DrewKyle GellisL'AtelierLa PalinaManuel QuesadaMax FernandezMoyaRuizNelson RuizNewsNicaraguaNicholas MelilloPartagasPete JohnsonQuesadaRick RodriguezRobert CaldwellRoMa CraftSkip MartinSteve SakaTatuajeTop 25USAWarpedWilly Herrera
·Voting Process
Each of our 16 panelists were given 10 votes to cast. Our list is made up of cigars that were RELEASED in 2015. The cigars that are eligible do not have to have been reviewed on Blind Man's Puff, but the panelist must have smoke it at some point themselves.
L’Atelier released a new cigar size in the core line, honoring K.C. Johnson's late dog, Roxy. The "Roxy" is a 3 1/2 x 50 Petit Robusto, available in the original and Maduro blends. Reviews noted its medium-strong intensity, hearty flavor, and well-crafted construction.
AllBlind Cigar ReviewsDerekDon Pepin GarciaEmmettFeaturedHabanoJasonNaturalNicaraguaPete JohnsonTatuajeTorpedoWill
·Blind Cigar Review: Tatuaje | Seleccion de Cazador (Brown Label) Unicos Vital Stats: Vitola: Torpedo Length: 6.1″ Ring Gauge: 52 Country of Origin: United...
"This was a very enjoyable smoke. The flavors stayed present through all parts of the smoke. The thick mouthfeel was nice. The strong coffee flavor was intense to the point it felt like I was pairing a coffee with this cigar. Other notes of earthy, cocoa and mild black pepper spice came through as well." -Chad M. (Chad Tchad)
"I was sold from from first puff. Love a good closed foot that gives a quick reveal of the wrapper flavor at first light. This cigar has nice and subtle transitions. It does change, but not much. Thoroughly enjoyable smoke. Maintained a solid finish throughout that left me enjoying the flavors until the next draw. I’d pick this cigar up again." -Randy B. (randobush)
"This was a very enjoyable cigar based upon flavor and performance. My only complaint is the flavors becoming somewhat muted during the middle portion. I would highly recommend this to any smoker who enjoys bold flavors and has a bit of time to dedicate to the experience. I’d love to pick up a five-pack of these for future enjoyment." -Jason H. (Jokey Smurf
"This cigar was really really good. From the initial aromas and cold draw, to the nice burn and finished product, there was not much to not enjoy. The subtle notes of cherry jam that came in during the middle really gave this a complex profile. These are very good well-made cigars and I can only hope I have the opportunity to smoke another one." -Steve (ThaGreatWazoo)

