Today we tae a look at another cigar in Tatuaje’s Tuxtla Series, the Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla. Tuxtla refers to a region in Mexico where San Andres tobacco is grown and harvested. Tuxtla is an appropriate name for this series as it involves taking some of Tatuaje’s most popular cigars and replacing the wrapper with a Mexican San Andres wrapper. In the case of the Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla, it replaces wrapper of the Tatuaje Avion 13 with San Andres wrapper. Today we take a closer look at the Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla

Tatuaje’s Avion series is actually an offshoot of the Tatuaje Fausto series. As many know the Fausto blend was based on the original Tatuaje T110 blend (which ironically also is a Tuxtla release). In the case of Avion, it was a series of box-pressed perfectos that were released on an annual basis from 2011 to 2013. Each of the Avion releases had a different size and was named for the year it was released. Avion 13 (2013) was a little different in that there were two Avion 13 released. Originally the Avion 13 was going to use an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper like the previous Avions. Along the way, Tatuaje owner Pete Johnson made the decision to switch the Avion 13 wrapper to Connecticut Broadleaf.  There had already been some Habano Avion 13s rolled, so those cigars were dubbed Avion 13 FF while the Broadleaf Avion 13 was dubbed Avion 13 Reserva. The Avion 13 FF would not continue to be in production, so it was a limited release.

Confused? Simply put Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla is simply a Mexican San Andres version of the Tatuaje Avion 13 Reserva offering.  So let’s break down this cigar and see what it brings to the table.

SPECIFICATIONS

Blend and Origin

In addition to the Mexican San Andres wrapper, the Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla consists of all Nicaraguan tobaccos for the binder and filler. Production is handled by the Garcia family at the My Father Cigars factory in Estelí, Nicaragua.

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father Cigars S.A.

Vitolas Offered

The following are the six cigars in the Tuxtla Series. Normally we list of all of the sizes of a particular blend in this section. In this case, each of these are separate blends.

The Tatuaje Tuxtla was presented in 25-count boxes. Approximately 2,000 boxes were produced.

Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla: 6 7/8 x 52
Tatuaje 7th Tuxtla: 5 5/8 x 46
Tatuaje Tuxtla T110: 4 3/8 x 52
Tatuaje Lomo de Cerdo (Pork Tenderloin): 5 1/8 x 52
Tatuaje Belle Encre Tuxtla: 5 3/8 x 48 (Perfecto)
Tatuaje Bon Chasseur Tuxtla: 5 3/8 x 52

Appearance

The Mexican San Andres wrapper of the Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla had a roasted coffee bean color to it. There was a slight amount mottling on the surface of the wrapper. The surface of the wrapper did not have much in the way of oil n it. There wasn’t much in the way of visible veins, but some wrapper seams could be seen. Near the head there was a short and sharper taper that converged to a tip. On the other end of the cigar, there was a gentle taper that led to an open footer. The cigar had a Cuban soft-press style to it.

PERFORMANCE

Pre-Light Draw

Prior to lighting up the Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla, a straight cut was used to remove the tip from the cigar. About 1/2 of the tip was removed to still allow for the tapering effect in the cigar experience. After removing the tip it was on to the pre-light draw. The cold draw had a combination of mocha (a cross of coffee and chocolate) along with a mixed fruit sweetness. Overall this was a very good pre-light draw. At this point it was time to light up my Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla and see what this cigar would deliver.

Tasting Notes

The Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla opened up with earth, mineral, coffee, and cedar notes. Early on the earth and mineral notes moved to the forefront. The coffee, and cedar settled in the background and quickly were joined by some fruit sweetness, and red pepper. There was also an additional layer of red pepper in the background.

During the second third of the Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla the earth and mineral notes remained firmly in control in the forefront. The coffee, cedar, fruit, and pepper notes remained in the background. Some chocolate notes surfaced from time to time in the forefront. Just past the second half, the pepper notes increased in intensity.

The final third saw the earth and mineral notes still grounded in the forefront. Of the secondary notes, there was more in the way of pepper. While there still were touches of coffee, fruit, cedar, and some residual chocolate notes, they played less of a role. As the cigar experience of the Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla came to a close, the cigar finished with a firm, cool nub.

Burn

Overall the Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla performed quite well. For the most part the cigar maintained a straight burn path and a straight burn line and required minimal touch-ups. The resulting ash was skewed toward the firmer side. This was an ash that was light gray in color. As for the burn rate and burn temperature, each maintained an ideal level.

Draw

A couple of the samples of the Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla had a slightly tight draw. Normally I like a little resistance on a draw, but had more resistance than I prefer. I was still able to derive flavor, but had to work a little harder than I prefer. This was also a cigar that didn’t require anything in the way of re-lights.

Strength and Body

The Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla lives up to the lineage of previous iterations of this cigar in terms of being a powerhouse. This is a cigar that started out medium to full in strength and body. By the second half, the Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxlta is in full strength and full-bodied territory.

Throughout the smoking experience of the Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxla, the strength and body balance each other nicely with neither attribute overshadowing the other.

BANDING AND PACKAGING NOTES

Overall the banding of the Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla follows similar to what was done with the Tatuaje 7th Tuxtla. Namely the Avion 13 Tuxtla comes the same primary band as the regular production version (Avion 13 Reserva).  It adds a secondary green band with the text “TUXTLA” in white. I do like what Pete Johnson has done with the banding scheme. It makes it very easy to identify the cigar as a Tuxtla cigar – and specifically what cigar (in this case Avion 13) the Tuxtla cigar is based on.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

One thing I was really glad is that when it came to the Avion moving into the Tuxtla series, it was the Avion 13. The Avion 13 Reserva was my favorite of the Avion releases to date. That didn’t translate to the same assessment in the Tuxtla series. Personally I still found the Tatuaje 7th Tuxtla to be the more solid offering. The first two thirds scored nice – but the last third was too much earth, mineral and spice for me. In the end my recommendation is to see if you can try a sample first.  The second half of this cigar has a big punch to it, so be warned.

Summary

Key Flavors: Earth, Mineral, Coffee, Cedar, Fruit, Chocolate, Pepper
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Very Good
Complexity: Medium Plus
Strength: Medium to Full (1st Half), Full (2nd Half)
Body: Medium to Full (1st Half), Full (2nd Half)
Finish: Very Good

Rating

Value: Try a Sample
Score: 88

The Smoking Syndicate Review

Ben Lee and Bear Duplisea combined for collaborative review of the Tatuaje Avion 13 Tuxtla on both The Smoking Syndicate and El Oso Fumar Takes.  Ben scored this cigar a 90 while Bear score this an 89.

Note: Due to age restrictions, you may need to click Watch on YouTube below to view.

REFERENCES

News: Tatuaje Tuxtla Line Coming This Spring
Price: $12.50
Source: Purchased
Brand Reference: Tatuaje

Photo/Video Credits: Cigar Coop

Originally posted on November 15, 2023 @ 5:17 pm