Last month, it was reported that Tatuaje/Havana Cellars head Pete Johnson was launching a spinoff company called L’Atelier Imports. The day to day operations of L’Atelier Imports would be completely separately from Tatuaje and run by Johnson’s brother K.C. Johnson, Johnson’s friend Sean Johnson, and Dan Welsh of New Havana Cigars. At the 2012 IPCPR Trade Show, the blends and cigars were on display right next to the Tatuaje booth. Here are some photos and updates around the cigar architecture.
The target time for release of these cigars is for early September.
L’Atelier
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| L’Atelier Core Line: LAT 52, LAT 54, and LAT 56 in a sampler pack |
This is being intended as a “flagship” offering. The product will be
rolled at the My Father Cigar factory and it has parallels to the Cohiba
Behike (BHK) from an appearance standpoint.
Most of the information here has already been published, but we are including it here for completeness. The cigar will be available in boxes of 15 or a sampler consisting of 3 cigars of each of the three vitolas
Blend Profile
The wrapper is a special wrapper called Sancti Spiritus.. The Garcias gave Oliva tobacco the seed to grow. It is designed as a replacement seed for Pelo de Oro. The wrapper also has some resistance to mold.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian (Sancti Spiritus)
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitolas Available
LAT52: 4 3/4 x 52
LAT54: 5 5/8 x 54
LAT56: 6 1/2 x 56
Surrogates
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| Surrogates |
This started out as an exclusive cigar to Welsh’s New Havana Cigars. Now it is going to be a line generally available and two new vitolas have been included.
In the photo to the left we get a look at the “Crystal Baller” (left) and “Tramp Stamp” (second from the left) – both new additions to the Surrogates line. The Crystal Baller adds a box-press shape into the Surrogates.
The Surrogates Series will be packaged in boxes of 20.
Blend Profile
The Crystal Baller and Tramp Stamp share a similar tobacco composition, while the Bone Crusher and Skull Breaker also share a similar composition between them. While the tobacco profile is the similar with these grouping, each size was blended for the
vitola, so in a way this can be considered four different blends.
Skull Breaker/Bonecrusher Blend Blend Profile
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Crystal Baller/Tramp Stamp Blend Profile
Wrapper: Habano Ecuador
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitolas Available
As mentioned above, each size was blended for the vitola, so in a way this can be considered four different blends.
Skull Breaker: 5 1/4 x 52 (Belicoso)
Bone Crusher: 5 1/4 x 55
Crystal Baller: 5 3/4 x 54 (box-press – line extension)
Tramp Stamp: 5 1/4 x 48 (line extension)
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| Trocadero |
Trocadero
As we mentioned in the original article, Trocadero will be one of lower-cost offering by L’Atelier Imports. This one is going to be on the mild to medium side.
We now have some additional details around the blend and the packaging which we listed below.
Blend Profile
Wrapper: Habano Ecuador
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitolas Available
Cambon: 5 1/4 x 52
Honore: 5 3/4 x 56
Montaigne: 6 1/4 x 60
El Suelo
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| El Suelo |
This is another lower cost/bundle by L’Atelier Imports. Sizes are similar to the Trocadero, but this one more on the medium to full side. The wrapper is similar to the Trocadero but is a higher priming.
Blend Profile
Wrapper: Habano Ecuador
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Connecticut Broadleaf and Nicaraguan
Vitolas Available
Terreno: 5 1/4 x 56
Prado: 5 3/4 x 58 (Belicoso)
Campo: 6 1/4 x 60
