The Tatuaje LLE (Limited Lonsdale Extra) was first released back in 2021. That initial released featured a Sumatra wrapper as Tatuaje LLE Capa Especial as a small, Limited run in boxes of 20.
In 2024, the Pete Johnson owned company decided to bring this vitola back for another Limited Lonsdale Extra run with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper aptly named the Tatuaje LLE Broadleaf Reserva.
Only 1,500 Boxes of 20 have been produced so this limited run shouldn’t last long at all.
Cigar Review: Tatuaje LLE 2024
Size: 6.75x 42 (Box Pressed Lonsdale)
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Fillers: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
Release Date: August, 2024
Box Count: 20
The Cigar: Featuring what I like to call the Rocky Balboa band, with its blue and red colors it just reminds me of the belt from the original Rocky movie. The logo is the stylish artist formerly know Pete Johnson initials. Every time I see this logo I curse out Altadis USA and Montecristo for suing Pete over the use of the fleur-de-lis. A secondary band denotes Reserva and Broadleaf. The cigar has a nice amount of oils present and some visible veins especially on the backside. In the hand the cigar has no voids of tobacco, and a pretty hefty weight for the size.
The Taste: The cold draw of the Tatuaje LLE 2024 is reminiscent of oyster crackers, cajun spice and a subtle mocha. The foot of the cigar adds more mocha to the mix and a touch of graham cracker sweetness. When we light up, the cigar begins with that classic spice the My Father Factory is known for.
As we smoke the first third the red pepper pulls back revealing mocha and coffee notes over a subtle leather canvas. The cigar is incredibly smooth and balanced which almost works against identifying the flavor profile. There are quite a few subtleties that are intertwined that took me a couple of cigars to put my finger on. These include banana bread, dark chocolate and a roasted espresso bean. The retrohale has added notes of espresso and leather.
Moving into the second third notes of earth begin to develop along with cedar. Roasted espresso beans become dominant especially on the finish which grows in duration. Additionally there are notes of nuts, a subtle creme and continued banana bread. The cigar is extremely flavorful and the size shows off the Broadleaf wrapper. The retrohale sees a bit more pepper that lingers with a subtle mocha sweetness.
The last third of the Tatuaje LLE 2024 has red pepper on the palate with an abundance of espresso notes and continued leather. The sweetness of the first two thirds as faded away as we move past where the primary band was. A subtle nuttiness serves as an afterthought and resting the cigar on the lips creates a black pepper aroma that is also present on the retrohale.
As a caveat I was smoking with the slider open from my back deck into the house. Every now and then a breeze would carry the smoke into the house causing my wife to comment how good the cigar smelled.
Conclusion: The box pressed lonsdale is an incredible expression of a broadleaf wrapper. If I was to create a Mt. Rushmore of cigar makers who work with broadleaf, Pete Johnson would be the first person to get carved on the mountain. The Tatuaje LLE 2024 is incredibly smooth and balanced with a wonderful flavor profile. In the 2 weeks since their release ,I have easily smoked a box.
Sadly, the cigar industry has moved away from sizes like the lonsdale as people look at the value of a 60 ring gauge and I get it especially in high tax states. Although I am sure Freud would have a field day with all you who smoke 60 & 70 ring gauge cigars and I can’t help but laugh at the narcissists out there who post selfie after selfie with those cigars.
Score: 95
Price: $11.00 (Before any local or state taxes)
As of the time of review, site sponsor Small Batch Cigar was out of stock on the LLE but they do have a full line of Tatuaje.
