Tatuaje PCA 2022

📌 Brand: Tatuaje
📌 Line: PCA 2022
📌 Size: Robusto Extra (5 3/8" × 52)
📌 Weight: ~14 g
📌 Age: 3 years
📌 Origin: Nicaragua

Tasting Notes

• Dark Cocoa – Bitter-sweet richness

• Black Pepper – Strong and consistent spice

• Earth – Rustic backbone

• Leather – Bold undertone adding weight

First Impressions

The Tatuaje PCA 2022 is dressed in a dark, oily wrapper with tight seams and a firm feel. Pre-light aromas are cocoa, leather, and pepper. Cold draw delivers spice and dark sweetness, promising intensity.

Smoking Experience

• First Third – Opens with cocoa and pepper in balance, supported by earthy depth. Burn starts slightly uneven.

• Second Third – Leather comes forward, pepper sharpens, cocoa lingers. Burn requires touch-ups, but flavors stay bold.

• Final Third – Earth and pepper dominate, chocolate fades, and a relight is needed. Construction corrections continue to the finish.

Pairings

• Alcohol – Barolo DOCG, rich red wine with dark fruit, earth, and tannin, complementing the cigar’s cocoa and leather depth.

• Tea – Golden Monkey Black Tea (China), malty and smooth, matching the earthy and peppery backbone.

Music Pairing

“I’d Rather Go Blind” – Etta James

. Emotional and rich, adding soul to the earthy weight.

Final Thoughts

The Tatuaje PCA 2022 delivers bold flavors of cocoa, pepper, and leather with signature Tatuaje power. Unfortunately, burn corrections and a relight prevent it from reaching greatness.

Final Score: 7/10
Why not a 10?
Construction issues disrupted the flow, muting transitions and balance in the final third.

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