Let's talk about this chonky stick - the Tatuaje Reserva Tainos Broadleaf comes swinging with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper hugging Nicaraguan guts. At 7 5/8" x49, this parejo-shaped beast takes nearly two hours to smoke through. Priced at $117 per box of 10, it's that after-dinner commitment you plan around your whiskey rotation. The triple cap stays sharp even after months in the humidor, though that dark, veiny wrapper might scare newbies.
Cracked pepper right out the gate - not that weak "spice hint" BS. Actual black peppercorn bite that makes your nose tingle on retrohale. Coffee grounds and burnt toast come through around the 15-minute mark. Draw stays perfect if you punch-cut this bad boy.
Sweetness creeps in to balance the assault - think molasses-dipped beef jerky. Earthiness shifts from fresh soil to dried clay terracotta pots. Burn needs one correction here as the Broadleaf does its thick-wrapper thing.
Espresso foam bitterness kicks in hard. Savory meatiness peaks right before the tar builds up. Ditch it at the 2" mark unless you want ashtray mouth. Pair with high-proof bourbon to cut through the intensity.
This ain't your smooth morning smoke. The Tainos Broadleaf brings old-school Nicaraguan aggression with that signature Broadleaf chewiness. Construction's mostly on point except for the occasional tight roll. Worth aging 6+ months to mellow the pepper spike. Keep a sweet drink handy - that last third will punish casual smokers.
