This 4½" short panatela from Tatuaje's L'Atelier line punches above its ring gauge. Packing Nicaraguan and Broadleaf tobaccos under an Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper, it delivers concentrated flavors in a 38-minute smoke. The box of 10 costs $157.50 - that's $15.75 per stick for this Pete Johnson collaboration.
First Third: Immediate black pepper kick mellows into cashew butter sweetness. The Broadleaf binder shows through with moist earth notes - think forest floor after spring rain.
Middle Third: Transition to baking spices with cedar plank sharpness. Retrohale brings out cinnamon-dusted espresso beans. Burn line stays razor-sharp despite the narrow gauge.
Final Third: Dark chocolate bitterness emerges, balanced by lingering maple syrup undertones. Some tasters report slight tongue tingle from nicotine accumulation.
The blend combines Jalapa Valley filler for sweetness with Estelí leaf for power. San Andrés binder enhances combustion, while Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper contributes cocoa powder notes. This multi-country marriage creates what Pete Johnson calls "a working man's maduro."
