Tatuaje El Triunfador Lancero

By Jeremy Hensley | December 17, 2015

In April 2014 Pete Johnson released the Limited Lancero Collection featuring 10 highly acclaimed Tatuaje cigars all in a 7 ½ by 38 Lancero vitola. The Limited Lancero Collection is made in small batches on a regular basis and is readily available. Today, I bring to you the seventh installment of my Tatuaje Lancero Series with the Tatuaje El Triunfador.

Included in the Lancero sampler:

• Tatuaje (Brown Label)
• Tatuaje Havana VI
• Tatuaje Black Label
• Cabaiguan
• Cabaiguan Guapo
• La Riqueza
• El Triunfador Original
• El Triunfador
• La Casita Criolla
• Fausto

Produced at My Father Cigars S.A. in Esteli, Nicaragua, the El Triunfador features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. Unlike several cigars in the Limited Lancero Collection, the El Triunfador Lancero is sold separately outside of the sampler. Other available vitolas include: No. 1 Lonsdale (6 1/2 by 42), No. 2 Belicoso Fino (5 1/2 by 52), No. 3 Corona Gorda (5 5/8 by 46), No. 4 Robusto (5 by 50), No. 5 Petite Corona (4 3/8 by 42), No. 6 Lancero (7 1/2 by 38), No. 7  Toro Grande (5 7/8 by 54), and the limited Lancer0 (7 by 38).

The Facts

A Gift from My Bride
Price:$95.00 per box of 10 / $9.50 per cigar
Vitola: Lancero
Size: 7 ½ by 38
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 25 Minutes

Pre-light

The medium brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper is covered in watermarks and dark color imperfections and small and medium veins web across the stick. Running my fingers down the cigar, bumps are felt all over the place with a fair amount of oils. Removing the lancero from the cellophane, barnyard and sweet hay notes are picked up off of the wrapper. The aroma off of the foot is dark and musky, with more barnyard, earth, pepper, and possibly some unsweetened cocoa.

The cigar comes to a close with a small pig-tail style cap that has seen better days. A quick, shallow cut with my Xikar Xi Cutter reveals a firm draw. After a second cut, the draw remains firm. The dry draw is rich with some rich clove and a spice heat is felt in my mouth. There is also a cardboard flavor.

First Third

The cigar opens with a mixture of cinnamon, pepper, and very intriguing pine flavor. The spice heat is considerable in the mouth. The flavors quickly gain from medium to full in the first half inch. The Tatuaje El Triunfador is burning even with a pleasant looking white ash. While the flavors are full and spicy, they come across balanced on the palate.  

Middle Third

The pine is the most dominant flavor in the profile as toasted bread notes join in and pairs nicely alongside the woodsy flavor. The heat has calmed and the cinnamon is only noticeable on the finish of the smoke. Pushing the smoke through the sinuses, the flavor is very meaty and peppery. The draw remains stiff but in no way is it limiting the smoke production. The ash in the second half only held to a half inch before falling in my lap.

Final Third

A peppermint flavor has joined in bringing in some sweetness and a new spice flavor. While the pine is pushed back, it is still discernible. The toasted notes are still hanging on and earth and coffee are now on the finish. I am feeling a slight nicotine hit, not at all overwhelming, but quite relaxing. The profile is rich as I close out the cigar.

Wrap-up

Tatuaje’s El Triunfador in the lancero vitola provided full flavors coupled with a medium strength profile. The pine and cinnamon grabbed my interest and the balance of the flavors held me captive for nearly an hour and a half. The draw, while tighter than preferred, produced a satisfying amount of smoke and never became burdensome. And who cares about the flaky ash when a cigar tastes so dang good! Another exceptional cigar from Tatuaje and another reason to grab yourself a sampler.