Stogie Reviews: Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu No. 2 (Exclusivo Zona del Este)

23 Jan 2008

Tatuaje Havana VI Verocu No. 2 (Exclusivo Zona del Este)

This is a smoke to make you believe we’re truly enjoying a Golden Age of Cigars. From the gorgeous Cafe Rosado Oscuro wrapper to the ligero added to the Cuban-seed Nicaraguan filler, this is an extraordinary cigar.

I got five in a sampler pack several weeks ago and decided on a pleasant afternoon last week that I had waited long enough to smoke one. I would be hard pressed to point to any physical aspect of the cigar that’s lacking. The cap is expertly applied, cutting evenly and easily. There are no soft or hard spots from top to bottom, no problem with the burn or ash.

But it is in the smooth flavors that this five and 1/2 inch beauty from Pete Johnson really shines. For the first quarter of an inch or so, there’s a nice pepper spice. That’s soon complemented by a little sweetness. At midway, the spice is gone and there’s leather, warm tobacco, and just a floral hint. As you move down from there, the cigar develops a little zip and the pepper and spice lightly return.

The truth is this blend takes complexity to near perfection. I understand this Havana VI Verocu No. 2 and its West Coast sibling are limited production cigars. That’s a shame. At $10 a stick, it’s one I would happily smoke as often as I could, though the $500 price tag on a cabinet of 50 is a bit rich for my blood.

I rate this one an instant classic and award it the full five out of five stogies.