Let's cut straight to the chase - the Tatuaje RC No.2 Robusto delivers an unapologetic Nicaraguan punch dressed in Mexican finery. This 5⅝"×54 box-pressed stick comes in decadent 10-count wooden crates at $117.50 a pop. The matte-black San Andrés Maduro wrapper feels like worn leather, hiding Pete Johnson's modern reinterpretation of pre-embargo Cuban blending techniques.
Cold Draw: Earthy espresso grounds with a raisin sweetness. The triple cap punches clean.
Black pepper blasts through the nostrils - classic Nicaraguan morning coffee. Smoke production stays moderate despite the 54 ring gauge. Undercurrents of charred oak emerge at the ½" mark.
The San Andrés wrapper flexes its muscle: molasses-coated leather and baking spices. Retrohale reveals hidden floral notes (violets?) that last exactly three puffs before the pepper returns.
Nicaraguan volcanic soil minerals dominate. Citrus zest acidity cuts through accumulating tar. Nub potential exists if you can handle the nicotine punch - I tapped out at 1½" remaining.
This ain't your "intro to full-bodied" candidate. Seasoned smokers will appreciate the gritty transition from Nicaraguan pugilism to Mexican sweet science. Pair with espresso stout or añejo tequila to match its dual heritage.
