Cigar Review: La Casita Criolla by Tatuaje
“United States puro” is not a phrase that you hear too often in the cigar world nowadays. But Pete Johnson, the man behind Tatuaje, has a thing for ye days of olde, and La Casita Criolla (“The Little Native House”) is his nod toward old school American cigars that were comprised of 100% broadleaf grown in the USA. Working closely with the Pepin family’s My Father Cigars, Pete brings us one of the most talked-about releases of the year.
La Casita Criolla HCBC (Corona Gorda)
Country of Origin/Production: Nicaragua
Wrapper: 100% Connecticut Broadleaf (USA)
Binder: 100% Connecticut Broadleaf (USA)
Filler: 100% Connecticut Broadleaf (USA)
Length: 5 5/8″
Ring: 46
Box Count: 25
Appearance:
Broadleaf, as a rule, rarely gets style points…but we’ll be polite and say that the cigar has a “rustic” aesthetic. Construction, however, is top notch: triple-capped and exhibiting a well-packed foot, it’s just reassuring to see some TLC put into a stogie.
Pre-Light:
After clipping, the draw of the cigar offers a comfortable resistance. The taste on the pre-light is quite unique and very deep: sweet barnyard, a slight tang, salt, spice, pepper – really, one of the most flavorful cigars I’ve had the pleasure of puffing on before it was even lit. All these flavors together were reminiscent of (call me crazy) crawfish (like I said, crazy). Yes, I am serious, and no, I have not submitted my resume to become a reviewer for Cigar Aficianado. I would question my own palate and accuse myself of snobbery, but the look on many a friend’s face when they took a cold draw of this cigar confirms my suspicions that this stick tastes just plain different from anything else I’ve ever smoked.
First Third:
Upon lighting, I was greeted with some pepper, but not the typical level expected from a Pepin/Johnson collaboration. There is a dry, toasted earth taste coating my palate, as well as a sharp acidic note. As it comes along, the sharpness decreases significantly, and more damp, sweet earth flavors come into play. The body is squarely in the medium to medium-full range.
Second Third:
While the start of the cigar seemed a bit unremarkable to my taste, here is where I found the cigar came into its own. The pepper has subsided, and I’m left with a chewy, layered sweetness akin to molasses, roasted coffee, and baker’s chocolate. “Immense” is the word I’d choose to describe the aftertaste. The aroma off of the foot is a murky tobacco and damp soil. While the flavors do transition nicely, the taste at any given time is rather straightforward and never complex, but always resoundingly full…like soul food in cigar form. Having smoked several La Casita Criollas, I highly recommend pairing it with either coffee or a very malty beer, such as Celebrator Doppelbock. The sweetness and body of the doppelbock in tandem with the chewy goodness of the broadleaf is a perfect match.
Final Third:
Sweet sassy molassy! This cigar got even better during the home stretch. A creamy toffee note comes into play. Licking my lips, I can literally taste the sweetness of the wrapper. As I merrily puff along, I make sure to purge the cigar to keep it from overheating or getting bitter. Pepper reappears, and all of the flavors and strength grow in intensity. I simply did not want to put it down. Only when my fingers risked getting singed was I forced to put the nub in the ashtray.
Conclusion:
I’d say I enjoyed it.
While it starts off a bit brashly, La Casita Criolla quickly becomes a truly outstanding smoke. Not once did I have to touch up the cigar, and the burn line and draw were utterly consistent. Pete has something truly special on his hands here. If the tail end of this stick is any indicator, putting some age on these will probably produce some astounding results. Best part: when I heard that this was a regularly available release with an MSRP of $6 to $7, I may have done a little jig. Put all of this together and, in my opinion, it’s the best cigar to be released this year thus far.
