Little Monsters: Frank Jr.

This is Part 1 of 5 of my look at Tatuaje’s Little Monsters release.

5.625" x 44 ring gauge

The first in the Tatuaje Monsters series was The Frank, released in 2008. With only 666 boxes of 13 available (just over 8,600 total stick) it was an easy release to miss if you didn't have your ear to the ground when they came out. I missed them and today they sell for $30, $40 or more, so I figured I was destined to never try one. Unfortunate since it is still regarded as the best of the series. When the Little Monsters came out, the Frank Jr. was one of my primary reasons to purchase a box (or more). These feature all Nicaraguan filler and binder with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.

The cold draw had plenty of Nicaraguan earthiness along with a nice chocolatey sweetness from the Broadleaf wrapper. Have I mentioned lately how much I love Connecticut Broadleaf? Just thinking about it makes me want to pick up some of Pete's La Casita Criolla. And from this first hit, this cigar fired on all cylinders: chocolate, coffee and earth on the palate; red pepper on the nose.

By the time I got past the first third I was convinced...this is the best of the Monster Series...well...I haven't had the Mummy (small or large) yet. The balance of the earth and bitter coffee notes along with the sweetness of chocolate and dried fruit is really just something special. This is a cigar that certainly deserves to have a permanent place in the Tatuaje lineup, whether on just occasional releases like the Little Monsters or as a new regular line.