Pete Johnson's Tatuaje ME II Robusto packs Nicaraguan fire in a 5x54 tube dressed with Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper. This box-pressed stogie comes 15 to a box at about $8.7 per stick, showing off oily wrapper veins that promise solid construction. The "Mexican Experiment" blend lives up to its name - expect full-bodied smoke with Nicaraguan spice wrestling Mexican sweetness in your humidor's moodiest lucha libre match.
The cold draw tastes like licking a cedar plank. Initial puffs deliver black pepper through the nose with molasses undertones. Smoke output feels medium-heavy, leaving espresso grounds on the palate. Watch that burn line - tends to canoe if rushed.
At the 1-inch mark, cayenne pepper shifts to chili chocolate. The San Andrés wrapper kicks in caramelized walnut notes. Draw tightens slightly, needing a quick purge. Ash holds firm at 1.5 inches before dropping in solid chunks.
Last third brings charred oak and mineral notes. Retrohale stings with wasabi-like heat. Nicotine strength creeps up - beginners might tap out here. Finishes with lingering black tea tannins that demand bourbon pairing.
This Nicaraguan bruiser works best after heavy meals, pairing with barrel-proof spirits. Construction holds up in 65% humidity - let it rest 3 months minimum. Not for morning coffee smokes, but perfect when you need flavor fireworks that justify the nicotine crash.
