Originally released as a 4 x 50 Petit Robusto in June 2014 as part of the Pudgy Monsters box, the full size Tiff wasn’t released until October 2019 as a 5 ⅞ x 52. In this Monster Mash series it follows Frank, Wolf, Drac, Face, Mummy, Jason, Jekyll, Hyde, Kreuger, Michael, and Chuck as the 12th Monster. Although it could be the co-11th Monster as it was released with Chuck in 2014 and 2019. In fact, the full size releases of 2019 came in interlocking boxes, one blue and one white, both with unfinished puzzle portraits of their namesakes. This was an interesting and unique method of release for the Monster series, and I think it may contribute to the seemingly lackluster fanfare I personally see regarding the Chuck and Tiff. That being said, Tiff is a standout monster in the lineup for me because of the wrapper choice. It’s a bold choice for the series, but fits nicely.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: 4 ⅜ x 52 Petit Robusto
Release Date: September 2021
Company Website: https://www.tatuajecigars.com/
Expectations
I have smoked a few full sized Tiffs, so that is the primary influence in my expectations. I anticipate full flavor and mediumish body. There shouldn’t be any noteworthy strength. I am looking for flavors of cream, nuts, mild pepper, and some earthiness. Maybe there will be some cocoa or leathery notes as well as I vaguely recall this in one or more of the full sized Tiffs I smoked.
Prelight Characteristics
I love the band color choices against this tan/light brown, clean wrapper. The cigar is slightly spongy but pretty densely packed. The cold draw is lemon zest and some creaminess. The cigar smells of damp barnyard and cedar.
First Third
First light is full of pepper and earth forward, full bodied smoke. There’s a slightly bitter grassiness and some woodiness that follows into the finish. Soon there's a bit of that lemon zest from the cold draw appearing. Nearing the end of the first third in 10 minutes, it is smoking fast and seems pretty lightly packed. The flavors are still peppery, earthy, grassy, and some lemon zest. The retrohale is citrus, hay, and pepper. The performance has been great, the only knock is how fast it’s burning.
Flavor - 2/4
Performance - 2.5/3
Experience - 1.5/3
Overall - 6/10
Second Third
Into the second third the retrohale has taken on some vanilla which goes nicely with the citrus. As for the draw, it’s staying pretty consistent with maybe a bit of the lemon picking up a touch. Hitting halfway the pepper has dropped off. There’s a toastiness that’s taken its place. Closing out the second third some charred wood comes in. The toast is there still along with some grassiness and lemon zest. The performance has been great so far and it’s slowed its pace substantially.
Flavor - 2/4
Performance - 3/3
Experience - 1.5/3
Overall - 6.5/10
Final Third
The final third has maintained a pretty consistent profile with the end of the second third as I hit the band point. The draw has gone loose and the cigar doesn’t seem to want to stay fully lit, yet it’s burning a bit hot. Just past the band it’s getting more spongy but the flavors aren’t harsh. There’s a savory earth, wood, and pepper. Coming to an end with no flavor updates, it was still spongy and a bit open on the draw to close out, but no issues.
Flavor - 1.75/4
Performance - 2.5/3
Experience - 1.25/3
Overall - 5.5/10
Overall Experience
It was a pretty average cigar in terms of flavor and pretty consistent with the full size Tiff except I found this Monster Mash rendition to have a bit more earth, pepper, and wood flavors. There were some classic Connecticut flavors like grass/hay and cream. A stand out for me was the lemon zest, especially when there was a creaminess alongside it. The performance was good besides some funky moments in the final third. The final two thirds brought the burn time to an hour and 31 minutes, after the first third smoked through in about 15 minutes. All in all, if I was in the mood for some Connecticut flavors without them dominating the profile, this is the type of cigar I would grab. However, that’s not a super common occurrence.
Final Score - 6/10
This Monster Mash box was purchased by me through UpDown Cigar in Chicago. Feel free to reach out to me with questions, concerns, criticisms, or just to talk at @guitarsandcigarsfarm on Instagram, or via email at trevor@whiskeyandwhitetails.com.