Stogie Reviews: Tatuaje Barclay Rex 100th Anniversary
15 Mar 2011
One hundred years is a long time in any business, particularly if the business has never left the family. That’s the case for Barclay Rex, a New York tobacco shop founded in 1910 by Vincent Nastri, a pipe maker from Salerno, Italy.
In celebration of this impressive accomplishment, the Nastri family, owner of two of the three Barclay Rex locations (and part owner of the third), asked Pete Johnson to create an exclusive Tatuaje cigar. The result, introduced November 2010, is the first in Tatuaje’s Exclusive Series.
Only 195 boxes of 25 cigars were made, each featuring a band that combines the gold trim front of the La Verite with red, white, and blue sides similar to the Tatuaje RC. I was fortunate enough to pick up the final box of this exclusive smoke over Thanksgiving weekend for $250 (or $10 per cigar).
The cigar is striking with a dark, extraordinarily oily wrapper. It features firm construction with notable details including a closed foot and a pigtail cap. Probably due to the closed foot, the first few draws are knock-you-over powerful. Were the rest of the smoke equally powerful, I don’t think I’d be able to finish it.
Fortunately, it isn’t. Still, the Barclay Rex 100th Anniversary is a powerful, full-bodied cigar. Earth dominates along with plenty of spice, espresso, and dark chocolate. Construction is excellent.
The complexity is deep and long. Near the midway point, a sweeter honey-cinnamon edge develops. Later, in the final third, a red pepper spice dominates, even as the strength falls off slightly.
It’s a wild roller coaster of a ride, and a most enjoyable one, particularly at $10 each when so many limited edition cigars go for considerably more. My only regret is not picking up more of these fine smokes when they were available.
With ample complexity, full-bodied flavor, attractive looks, and a reasonable price, it’s easy to give the Tatuaje Barclay Rex 100th Anniversary a rating of five stogies out of five.
[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. A list of other five stogie-rated cigars can be found here.]
photo credit: Stogie Guys
Patrick Ashby
Co-Founder & Editor in Chief
Patrick Semmens
Co-Founder & Publisher
George Edmonson
Tampa Bureau Chief
Wow, seems like a winner, too bad I can't have one. BTW, I think you're missing the rest of the following sentence: "Still it is a powerful, full-bodied cigar. Earth dominates but there is plenty of spice, espresso and dark chocolate too. Construction is excellent with an"
I have cigar envy…I am so ashamed…
You save one for me. The very highest rating for a cigar that is not available!@#$%^&*(
Thanks for the review, maybe.
Wow, I can't believe I disagree with so many reviewers on this stick. I bought 2 boxes of these pre-release, and yet I still think this is only a 4 stogie stick. I have lots of burn issues with them and find numerous points in the cigar with muted or muddled flavors.
What size is the Barclay Rex 100th Anniversary?
Ryan
Do you want to sell one of your boxes?