Tatuaje Black Private Reserve Corona Gorda

📌 Brand: Tatuaje
📌 Line: Black Private Reserve
📌 Size: Corona Gorda (5 5/8" × 46)
📌 Weight: 11.6 g
📌 Age: 3 years
📌 Origin: Nicaragua

Tasting Notes

• Dark Chocolate – Deep, semi-sweet richness

• Earth – Rustic, steady backbone

• Black Pepper – Present on every retrohale

• Toasted Wood – Subtle but persistent

First Impressions

The Black Private Reserve Corona Gorda wears a dark, matte wrapper with light tooth and a firm, even roll. Pre-light aromas bring cocoa, earth, and pepper. Cold draw is clean with good resistance and a hint of woodiness.

Smoking Experience

• First Third – Opens with dark chocolate and earth, followed by pepper. Burn immediately begins tunneling, requiring early correction.

• Second Third – Earth becomes dominant, pepper softens. Tunneling continues intermittently, needing more touch-ups. Smoke output varies.

• Final Third – Flavors flatten to earth and charred wood. Draw remains steady but another correction is needed as tunneling returns.

Pairings

• Alcohol – Dictador 20 Year Rum (Colombia), sweet caramel, spice, and molasses to bring balance and depth where the cigar begins to flatten.

• Tea – Sri Lankan Kandy Black Tea, bright and slightly citrusy, adding lift to the heavy earth and wood tones.

Music Pairing

“Made in Africa” – Stephen Marley ft. Wale
Warm rhythm and melody improve the overall vibe during a flawed burn session.

Final Thoughts

The Tatuaje Black Private Reserve Corona Gorda carries classic earthy, cocoa-driven Tatuaje character, but tunneling through most of the smoke and multiple necessary corrections hinder flavor development and consistency. A cigar with good bones, but an off performance here.

Final Score: 6/10
Why not a 10?
Tunneling across all thirds and repeated burn corrections muted flavor evolution and balance.

Only cigars that deliver flawless draw, balance, flavour evolution, construction and satisfaction get a 10.