The Tatuaje Monster line started back in 2008, as a Halloween special, and are released during the month of October as a limited cigar. Every cigar launched is named after a famous monster, be it from books or movies.
▪ Country of Origin: Nicaragua
▪ Size: 48 x 184 mm (7.2″)
▪ Capa: Mexican San Andres
▪ Capote: Nicaragua
▪ Tripa: Nicaragua
▪ Price: $13
This years highly sought after installment is named after the main character of the Nightmare on Elm Street movie, Freddy Krueger. The Krueger comes in a box pressed Torpedo size, measuring 48 x 184 mm, and is dressed in a Mexican San Andres wrapper. It is the second time that a monster uses a San Andres wrapper, the first one being The Face from 2010.
They are produced in the My Father Factory and are packaged in two variations: a dress box (containing 13 cigars), and a non dress box (containing 10 cigars). The band reports the colors of green and red, the same iconic colors as Freddy Krueger’s sweater.
The Krueger presents an oily maduro colored wrapper, which is slightly rough to the touch and has a few small veins. The filling of the imposing cigar is perfect.
Smoking Note.
Tatuaje Monster The Krueger: the cold draw reveals hints of coffee and spices, with a subtle sweetness. Once the cigar is lit, nutty notes jump to the palate on the first puff.
The first third sees the nut flavors being supported by wood and leather. There is a subtle sweetness, that is reminding of dark fruits, paired with vegetable notes in the background. Surprisingly the strength is milder then expected, which isn’t a bad thing, and there is a cinnamon spice present when retro-haling the smoke (2,5/5).
In the second third the spices, which are a combination of black pepper and cinnamon, and wood start to pick up in intensity. The dark fruit notes turns to a dark chocolate flavor, along with coffee notes. The said sweetness is more present and the creaminess of the smoke rounds it out nicely. Leather and nuts move to the background. The strength increases to a medium high level (3,5/5).
The final third continues in the same fashion. Dark chocolate, coffee, leather and wood are the center parts of this third. There is also the return of the dark fruits notes towards the end. The black pepper has taken over as the main spice and is very intense in the finale (4,5/5).
Overall a very balanced cigar, with an unexpected and elegant start, that then turned to a very masculine flavor profile. Good evolution, great intensity and good construction as well. The burn line was a little wobbly in places, but there was no need for any touch ups.
Rating: 91