Tatuaje

Tatuaje (Spanish for "tattoo") was founded in Los Angeles in 2003 by American cigar legend Pete Johnson, but all production is outsourced to the prestigious My Father Cigars factory in Nicaragua (managed by Don Pepín García and his family) for handcrafting. Pete Johnson, originally a rock musician and cigar retailer, is deeply influenced by traditional Cuban cigars. He views each cigar as "a flammable tattoo art," and the band design is full of Gothic, skull, religious, and street culture elements, perfectly embodying the brand's rebellious yet elegant soul. All tobacco leaves are primarily sourced from Nicaragua's top growing regions (Esterli, Jalapa, and Honduras' Jamastran), while wrappers include Ecuadorian Habano, Sumatra, Broadleaf, San Andrés, and Connecticut. The blend is jointly prepared by Pete and his son Pepín, with strictly controlled production and an uncompromising commitment to strength and complexity.

Tatuaje's main collections have distinct styles and can be divided into the following four categories:

1. The core classic line (Brown Label original series): the most original Cuban flavor is reproduced, including Havana VI, Cojonu, Noella, Reservas, etc., with the classic white background and gold lettering on the ring label;
2. Monster Series: A limited edition "monster" themed cigar is released every Halloween. 14 varieties have been released so far (such as Frank, Drac, Jason, Wolfman, Krueger, Pudgy Mummy, etc.). They are huge, rare, and have a spooky band, making them sought-after by collectors around the world.
3. Tattoo Art Lines (Black Label, Fausto, Pudgy Monsters, Skinny Monsters, Tattoo, etc.): Stronger, more experimental formulas, with Black Label using privately held aged tobacco leaves, and Fausto delivering the ultimate full-intensity impact;
4. Top-tier limited editions and collaboration lines include: Pork Tenderloin, Pork Chop, L'Atelier (in collaboration with L'Atelier), Havana Cazadores, Selección de Cazador (the Brown Label historical series), TAA exclusives, PCA exclusives, and more.

Tatuaje positions itself as a "modern Nicaraguan interpretation of the Cuban soul," ranging in strength from medium to full and even extra-full. The flavors begin with a powerful burst of pepper, transitioning to deep notes of leather, coffee beans, dark chocolate, earth, cocoa, roasted nuts, and sweet spices in the mid-palate, culminating in a long, clean finish. Almost every cigar possesses the signature "Pepín-esque" robust structure and perfect balance. The reason for choosing Tatuaje is clear: it's hailed by Cigar Aficionado as "the closest non-Cuban cigar to the Cuban classic of the 21st century," with the Monster series becoming the "Rolex limited edition" of the cigar world. For seasoned cigar enthusiasts who yearn for Havana's golden age while simultaneously craving the intense power of Nicaragua, lighting a Tatuaje is like undergoing a hardcore tattooing ritual on the tongue—uncompromising, unregretful.