2022 Cigar of the Year Countdown (Coop’s List): #3: Tatuaje T110 Reserva

“This is the belle of the ball of the T110 series.”

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars SA
Petite Robusto: 4 3/8 x 52
Price: $10.00

Sponsor: Yes
Samples Provided for Initial Review: No
Review: Tatuaje T110 Reserva
Appearances on Countdown (By Year/Company): 7 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2022)

Coming in at #3 is the Tatuaje T110 Reserva. Back in 2009, Tatuaje Cigars released a powerhouse of a Petit Robusto cigar known as the Tatuaje T110 (which is believed to mean Thermonuclear 110 with 110 being the approximate length of the cigar in mm). It was a shop exclusive to a retailer in Hawaii. Known for its high priming blend, the cigar achieved incredible cult status. Eventually, in 2011, Tatuaje Cigars’ owner Pete Johnson would create a regular production blend based on it known as Fausto. The Tatuaje Fausto has certainly had its share of success, but the T110 blend still maintained a legendary status despite not having been released in many years. All of that would change in 2021 when Pete Johnson not only would bring back the original Tatuaje T110, but introduced several offshoot blends (all on a national basis) – the Tatuaje T110 Capa Especial and the Tatuaje T110 Reserva in 2021 and the T110 Tuxla in 2022. Today we take a look at the Tatuaje T110 Reserva.

While the original Tatuaje T110 blend consisted of an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, the T110 Reserva uses Connecticut Broadleaf. The remainder of the blend features all Nicaraguan tobaccos. As mentioned the T110 is a Petit Robusto and it measures 4 3/8 x 52. Production comes from the My Father Cigars factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. This recent wave of T110 releases was a limited production and it’s unclear when we will see these again.

The Tatuaje T110 Reserva delivered notes of coffee, chocolate, earth, wood, citrus, herb, and mixed pepper. While flavors such as coffee, chocolate, and pepper are known to Broadleaf, there were some intangibles that gave this cigar a unique flavor profile. In terms of the boldness level, the T110 Reserva is not overwhelming. It starts out medium strength before progressing to medium to full strength. At the same time, the flavors were on the upper end of medium to full-bodied. Some aging seemed to dial the boldness back on this cigar, but not at the expense of the flavors delivered.

This is the second cigar from Tatuaje to land on the 2022 Countdown. Tatuaje has had a very successful run over the years on the Countdown. This is not only the seventh year a Tatuaje has placed on the Countdown, but this is the fifth top ten, and fourth podium (aka Top 3) spot. Finally, this is the third cigar on the 2022 Countdown to come from the My Father factory. Nicaragua continues to dominate the Countdown. Of the 28 cigars that have been unveiled, 19 have come from that Central American country.