My first Tat Black

I

icantbejon

Lost...Completely Lost...
Ok, I've finally decided to smoke one of these famous sticks. I'm honestly a little nervous cause the hype is great over these. So far, the Tat brand has been a let down for me other than the RC-184, which is just an amazing cigar. I'll check back in with my thoughts a bit later.
 
Well I just wasn't blown away by the Black. It was ok, but nothing special. I guess I just officially don't have the appreciation for Tats. I will say that the Black was better than any of the browns or reds I've tried.
 
icantbejon said:
Well I just wasn't blown away by the Black. It was ok, but nothing special. I guess I just officially don't have the appreciation for Tats. I will say that the Black was better than any of the browns or reds I've tried.
Click to expand...

I am a Pepin Whore and I find the the Blacks to be one of the least flavorful of his offerings. :2
 
I had my first black a month after the jars came out and thought it was a very good, strong smoke, but didn't understand the hype. Last night I smoked another and was blown away. The stick smelled (and tasted) like dark chocolate with a hint of barn yard (kind of like a Chateau Nuef des Papes). The flavors kept swirling in and out throughout the stick. The only downside was the end of the cigar wasn't as good as the beginning.
 
So, in the opinion of the experienced, whats the best Tat on the market if one was to try his first? Thanks.
 
Costa said:
So, in the opinion of the experienced, whats the best Tat on the market if one was to try his first? Thanks.
Click to expand...

tough call as they all have their own special features. depends on what you like. the cojonu is a wonderful large ring. the especiale is great for long and thin. the cazadore is great in the middle and the noella is a small powerhouse. then there's the j21, well, you get the picture. get a sampler!!!!!!
 
icantbejon said:
Well I just wasn't blown away by the Black. It was ok, but nothing special. I guess I just officially don't have the appreciation for Tats. I will say that the Black was better than any of the browns or reds I've tried.
Click to expand...


unfortunately the build up is rarely equal to reality. i really like the black. i bought all i could and have them stuck away. that being said, i know there are lots of people out there that have been disappointed in it. but then there are lots of people who dont' like the brown label either, which i think is great.
however, i have no use for either the red or white labels, which many here LOVE. it's all personal taste.
 
Don't give up on these yet or burn through your stock. Tat Blacks from the jar release aren't ready to smoke yet.

"The Tatuaje Black Label cigars are wet packed in foil and aged about 60 days before released, and it is recommended that they are kept in said foil for 8 months or so to allow them to further ferment."

Since these came out in mid to late May, they won't be ready until the end of January 09. I've only smoked two of mine, one when they were first released and one last month. The first one was much better than my most recent, that tells me they are going through their "sick period". give these a few more months and you will be in for a treat!! :tu
 
For those of us who didn't get a jar, I'm wondering what the effect of removing these from the foil early will be? The one I had last night was excellent. It was still in the jar, but no longer in the foil. The foil was probably removed shortly after it was received. It didn't seem to be in a sick period. Seems like this will lead to greater variability in this cigar. And what about the current release of bundled blacks?
 
srduggins said:
For those of us who didn't get a jar, I'm wondering what the effect of removing these from the foil early will be? The one I had last night was excellent. It was still in the jar, but no longer in the foil. The foil was probably removed shortly after it was received. It didn't seem to be in a sick period. Seems like this will lead to greater variability in this cigar. And what about the current release of bundled blacks?
Click to expand...


Removing them from the foil will allow them to gas out faster but will not allow them to frement if they aren't kept in seald enviornment and close together. When tobacco is fermented at the factory before rolling it is kept in tight bundles and sometimes sealed in barrels so there is little or no air exchange. During fermentation, gases build up and actually naturally increase the temperature of the tobacco. Since the one you smoked has been out of the foil so long it has released most of the ammonia and other nasty tasting chemicals that cause fermentation. The bundled Blacks are what some companies would consider "seconds", they have a lighter wrapper with the same blend as the jar release and have a slightly different flavor. The bundled sticks were not going to be released due to their lighter wrapper but were due to high demand for the Black Label. Both releases are tasty and will improve over the next few months tho.
 
Thanks, that explains a lot. Am I correct in assuming that allowing the second fermentation allows the cigar to gain more complexity (a wider variety of flavors), or does it just create more intense flavors, or both?
 
srduggins said:
Thanks, that explains a lot. Am I correct in assuming that allowing the second fermentation allows the cigar to gain more complexity (a wider variety of flavors), or does it just create more intense flavors, or both?
Click to expand...
It's not that it creates new flavors but it removes the bitterness or grassi-ness you might find.
Well then I guess it creates a new flavor ;]
Usually it is said that a cigar will become less intense as it rests. But of course, your results may vary :tu

Cohiba adds a third fermentation step that adds smoothness to their filler blends.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top