Originally released as a 7 x 49 Churchill in October 2014, the Jekyll is the 7th Monster after Frank, Wolf, Drac, Face, Mummy, and Jason. This is one of my favorite boxes, in conjunction with the Hyde box, because they combine to create a half and half image of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I have been anxious to try this blend because of the use of the Sancti Spiritus wrapper, the Cuban 109 cap, and because I have not tried this Monster in the original form, skinny forms, or pudgy forms. This is also a Monster I do not hear much talk of, and the last one I smoked that I never heard talked about (Mummy) blew me away.
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sancti Spiritus
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Vitola: 5 ½ x 49 Robusto
Release Date: September 2021
Company Website: https://www.tatuajecigars.com/
Expectations
Given the monster this represents, I anticipate a more medium flavor experience. Maybe some cream, pepper, wood, and spices. For some reason the look of the cigar is making me think there will be some nuttiness. I do not have much knowledge or experience with this wrapper, so I can’t make any predictions off of that. My flavor expectations are based on the filler, binder, blender, and factory.
Prelight Characteristics
The presentation on this cigar is on point. I like the slight taper to the head of the cigar. The wrapper is a paper bag brown with a velvety feel and plenty of veins. I like the off white band with lime green font. The cigar smells like caramel and cereal. The cold draw is a light musty cedar note.
First Third
The first light flavors are salt, pepper, wood, and a little cocoa. The smoke is full in body, medium-full in flavor. There’s a bitterness/tannic component to the wood note. About an inch in, the bitterness is gone but there is still some wood. There is also still some cocoa, and the salt is there on the finish at times. The retrohale shows off some more of the cocoa. The flavor has remained medium-full and the body has maintained a full level. It has taken on a creamy quality in both texture and flavor. There is still a bit of woodiness. The pepper has dropped out in place of a slightly bitter citrus, like a lemon rind. There is a toastiness on the finish. These last notes carry through to the finish of this third. The draw has been great and the performance has been flawless.
Flavor - 2/4
Performance -3/3
Experience - 1.5/3
Overall - 6.5/10
Second Third
Moving into the second third, out of nowhere, it started to tunnel and try to go out. This required a big touch-up and some extra puffs to get everything burning even again. It didn’t harm the profile too much, just adding some char for a few puffs. Some pepper is coming back in, as well as the addition of a little caramel. The toastiness has gone away on the finish, but there is still a touch of lemon rind. Near halfway I got an interesting ethanol note. Not in a bad way, but like you get from bourbon. Besides that, the flavors are still consistent. Crossing the halfway point I’m getting oily, slightly charred oak with some bitterness. The cigar needs a touch up ending this third. The flavor is up to full to match the body.
Flavor - 2/4
Performance -1/3
Experience - 1.5/3
Overall - 4.5/10
Final Third
The final third starts with that oily, charred oak with some caramel on the finish. There is less lemon rind. Some cream is starting to come in again, especially on the retrohale. The pepper is creeping in and lingering on the finish. Near the band, it wants to go out again. The extra puffs needed to save it is generating aggressive flavors that are harsh on the palate like lots of pepper and bitter, charred wood. Fortunately those flavors went away after getting back to a good burn. More lemon is coming in again. With the cream it’s kind of like lemon meringue pie. The cigar requires another small touch-up. Coming to an end it’s leaving a pepper bite on the lips and palate. The pepper is primary with a little wood and lemon rind still there.
Flavor - 2/4
Performance - 1/3
Experience - 1.5/3
Overall - 4.5/10
Overall Experience
As I finished up, I knew this would be towards the bottom of the list through the first half of the Monster Mash Review Series. This Tatuaje Jekyll had some construction issues that undoubtedly impacted the flavor profile and overall experience at times, but even in the better portions, it was pretty average. Looking back, I actually gave the flavors and experience of each third an average rating throughout. This is consistent with my thoughts. The highlights of this cigar were the perfect performance of the first third, the lemon rind and toastiness on the finish of the first third, and the lemon meringue note in the final third. Ending at an hour and 30 minutes this brings the halfway mark rankings to Mummy > Frank > Jason > Face = Drac > Wolf > Jekyll.
Final Score - 5.17/10
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.