Selected by Cigar Aficionado 2019 #9 Cigar Of The Year - Rated 93
After being retired in 2007, Tatuaje Nuevitas has made its way back into world of ultra premium cigars, and is now better than ever! Of all the cigars to bear the Tatuaje name over the years, only 3 have been made outside the doors of the famed My Father factory in Nicaragua. Those cigars were from Pete Johnson’s early years in the business, and were produced in a small Nicaraguan shop called Tabacalera Tropical, which was at that time undergoing major changes due to new management. As a result, those 3 cigars were discontinued, never to be seen or heard about again—until now. The cigars in question are Tatuaje Nuevitas, Nuevitas Jibaro No. 1, and Nuevitas Jibaro No. 2, and all three have been resurrected into this modern age, and this time under the supervision of the master himself, Jose “Don” Pepin Garcia! That’s right, though the blend hasn’t changed one bit, the Nuevitas family has made its way home to the world’s most state-of-the-art cigar factory, My Father Cigars S.A., to be produced alongside all the other superstars in the Tatuaje portfolio. The blend consists of all Nicaraguan tobacco—filler, wrapper, and binder, and the finishing touch is a gorgeous Nicaraguan Corojo 99 wrapper leaf that adds the classic Cuban flavor Tatuaje fans have come to know and love over the years. How does Nuevitas do in this modern age? Good enough to earn a 93 rating and a number 9 spot on Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 list, but who are we trying to kid, does that really come as a surprise?
Boxed in old school cedar chests and bearing classic Cuban style orange bands, the packaging of the Tatuaje Nuevitas is delightfully simple. The difference between the Nuevitas and the 2 Nuevitas Jibaro is that the Jibaro versions sport an unfinished foot, as well as an orange-on-white band, as opposed to the white-on-orange bands dressing the Nuevitas. Aside from that, the blends are identical. The roll of the cigars is nothing short of expert level, and the overall construction is mind blowing. An easy draw provides billowing clouds of dense blue smoke, from the very first puffs pounding the palate with heavy white pepper. This is especially intense during the beginning of the Jibaro versions, where no wrapper is present for about a quarter of an inch. Soon, cedar and earth take over the show, raw tobacco flavor being in the spotlight. Spicy notes pepper the profile throughout the duration of the cigar, along with hints of sweetness, especially on the retrohale. This blend resides on the heavy side of medium-full and is impeccably balanced.
Tatuaje Nuevitas is a cigar aimed at experienced connoisseurs. Though a throwback of sorts, it is still a Tatuaje, and it was still built to satisfy truly discriminating cigar enthusiasts. Medium-full-bodied and spicy, Nuevitas pairs well with full-bodied beer or bourbon, and is best enjoyed after a meal or as a nightcap. Before Tatuaje Miami or Tatuaje Havana VI, Nuevitas was actually the cigar that started it all for Pete Johnson. Those who may have missed it back in the day now have a chance to experience the classic taste of Tatuaje in its truest form. Light up the time machine and return to the glory days of boutique cigars with Tatuaje Nuevitas.
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