Tatuaje Cohete (2022 Edition)

When it comes to releases for single stores, it’s hard to argue that Tatuaje set the gold standard on how to do this. Many of the legendary single store releases over the past 15 to 20 years have come from Pete Johnson. One such cigar that achieved cult status was a 4 x 50 Petite Robusto known as the Tatuaje Cohete (which is Spanish for Rocket). This cigar was an exclusive to Tower Pipes and Cigars located in Sacramento, California. The Cohete made its debut in 2006 at Tower with two additional allocations going to Tower in 2009 and 2013. Last year, Tatuaje announced it was bringing back the Tatuaje Cohete for a limited run, but would also release the Cohete with three different wrapper options. Today, we are going to look at the 2022 edition of the Tatuaje Cohete. This is the one that was re-released with the original blend using the Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.

The trend of re-releasing single-store releases and expanding with different wrapper options did not start with Cohete. In 2021, Tatuaje would re-release the Tatuaje T110 (a Hawaii store exclusive) in three wrapper options: the original Habano, Capa Especial (Ecuadorian Sumatra), and Reserva (Connecticut Broadleaf). In addition the following year, a T110 Tuxtla version was released of the T110. With the Cohete, it was also released within the Habano, Capa Especial, and Reserva Options (there has not been a T110 Tuxtla release). The cigars were a limited run, and there is no word if or when the Cohetes will return.

For now, we will turn our attention back to the 2022 original version of the Tatuaje Cohete:

SPECIFICATIONS

Blend and Origin

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.

Vitolas Offered

The 2022 edition of the Tatuaje Cohete comes in one size – a 4 x 50 Petite Robusto. The cigars were presented in 25-count cabinet boxes.

Appearance

The Tatuaje Cohete had a medium brown wrapper with a classic rosado shade to it. There was a light amount of oils present on the surface of the wrapper. The wrapper had some veins and some visible wrapper seams to it. The surface of the wrapper also had a slight amount of toothiness to it. This was a small cigar, but it certainly had a nice pack of tobacco to it.

PERFORMANCE

Pre-Light Draw

A straight cut was used to remove the cap of the Tatuaje Cohete. Once the cap was removed, it was on to the pre-light draw ritual. The cold draw delivered notes of cedar and apricot. A unique and natural sweetness was quite enjoyable here – making for a very good pre-light draw. At this point, it was time to toast the foot of the Tatuaje Cohete and see what the smoking phase would have in store.

Tasting Notes

The Tatuaje Cohete opened up with notes of natural tobacco, apricot, wood, earth, and some mixed pepper notes. The natural tobacco and apricot notes moved into the forefront. There was a very nice synergy between these two primary notes. Meanwhile, the wood, earth, and mixed pepper notes settled in the background. On the retro-hale, there was an additional layer of mixed pepper notes.

During the second third of the Tatuaje Cohete, the wood and earth notes increased in intensity. Concurrently, there was a slight reduction in the natural tobacco and apricot notes. By about the midway point the wood notes displaced the apricot, joining the natural tobacco. Just past the midway point, there was also an increase in the pepper notes.

As the cigar experience progressed through the final third, the natural tobacco and wood notes remained primary. They were rounded out nicely by the apricot, earth, and pepper notes. Of these three background notes, the pepper was probably the most dominant, but didn’t emerge as a primary note. As the Tatuaje Cohete came to a close, the cigar finished with a soft, but cool nub.

Burn

The Tatuaje Cohete had an excellent burn. While there was some occasional jaggedness that surfaced on the burn line, this was strictly cosmetic. The burn path didn’t require much in the way of touch-ups and for the most part the burn of the Tatuaje Cohete was on autopilot. The resulting ash was silver-gray. This was an ash that was skewed toward the firmer side. When it came to the burn rate and burn temperature, both maintained ideal levels.

Burn of the Tatuaje Cohete (2022 Edition)

Draw

Overall the draw of the Tatuaje Cohete also performed quite well. This was a cigar that had a slight amount of resistance to it. Given the tighter pack I noticed with my samples, I was concerned the draw would have too much resistance to it. When it comes to a slight resistance, this is actually what I consider to be ideal for a cigar experience.

Strength and Body

In terms of strength, the Tatuaje Cohete started out in the medium range. As for the flavors, these started out in the medium to full-bodied range. There was a nominal increase in intensity of both the strength and body. In the end, the Tatuaje Cohete still closed out as a medium-strength, medium to full-bodied smoke.

When comparing strength and body, the body would maintain the edge in the smoking experience from start to finish.

BANDING AND PACKAGING NOTES

The banding of the Tatuaje Cohete features the classic brown and white, Tatuaje Brown label band. This is one of the simplest bands out there, but for me, it works quite well. I especially love how the brown band contrasts with the rosado color of the Cohete’s wrapper. The simple wood cabinet boxes for the Tatuaje Cohere also work quite well.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

The 2022 edition of the Tatuaje Cohete produced an excellent smoking experience. This cigar really excelled in the category that most mattered – flavor. I had only smoked a Cohete once before – and that was in 2013. It was not a cigar I reviewed, but I do remember it bringing a unique sweetness to it. This seemed to carry over to the 2022 edition of the Cohete. While $9.00 might not seem like a bargain for a 4 x 50 cigar, I can tell you it was enjoyable from start to finish. In the end, this is a cigar I would not only smoke again, but it’s one that garners box-worthy consideration. Coming in at a very nice 90 points, this cigar earns the Cigar Coop Standard of Excellence designation.

Summary

Key Flavors: Natural Tobacco, Wood, Apricot, Earth, Mixed Pepper
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium to Full
Finish: Very Good