The spooky season is upon us, and I just happened to pick up a few of this year’s Tatuaje Monster Series The Hyde. Now ordinarily, I’d set these rarities to the side in the humidor and light one up in about a month (or three), but I thought it’d be fun to light one up right off the truck, as they say. And as long as I was already doing half the work of a cigar review, I might as well switch on the video camera and finish the job. (Well, technicality a First Impressions review, but let’s not split hairs.)
You probably know the score. In case you don’t, the Monster Series is an annual limited edition released around Halloween. The cigars are named for and inspired by both classic monsters, as well as newer villains from more recent pop culture, following a pattern or two old, one new. The cigars are released in 666 dress boxes of 13 to 13 “unlucky” retailers. Additional cigars are made more widely available in plain boxes of 10. The entire cigar smoking population of the United States hurls itself at cigar shops trying to get them, like the fast-moving, aggressive zombies of recent film. (Though I’m more of a relaxed Shawn-of-the-Dead-type of zombie myself.)
The video below isn’t doctored, it’s dark and mysterious because I very carefully planned to smoke this cigar around the witching hour. The planning wasn’t really required, because I’m almost always burning one around that time and this cigar was next. The video runs a brief, but horrifying 5 minutes and features a spooky wrapper 360 that’s sure to make the hair stand up on the back of your head.
Cigar Stats:
Size: 7 x 49
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Smoking Time: 2 hours
Beverage: Water
Source: Purchased by reviewer
Price: MSRP $13
I loved the minty flavor in this one.
I’ve heard others say it tasted minty to them too, but it didn’t come across that way to me. Herbal for sure. But this was basically right off the truck. I’m eager to see how they are in a month or so.