Starting off in 2012, Tatuaje launched the ‘L’Atelier’ line, or, ‘The Workshop’ in French. They originally began with only three vitolas available but now have 5 different lines available across the globe. Today, we’re smoking their newest Vitola for the original L’Atelier line, the Roxy. Available as both the original wrapper and maduro. 

This petit robusto is 3 ½ inches by 50 ring gauge and is beautifully presented in a box of 20 featuring 10 of each variant. Both of the cigars feature Nicaraguan tobacco from an undisclosed region. While the original has an Ecuadorian wrapper, the Maduro is a Connecticut broadleaf. 

To begin with, we have the original, which starts with the very predominant peppery notes you would come to expect from a premium Nicaraguan cigar such as this. This is overridden by creamy notes into the first third and develops into some chocolatey notes right around the middle of the cigar. Toward the finish, the chocolatey notes marry up with the pepper notes from the beginning. 

Dave from our Cambridge store, recommends a pairing of either the Flor de Cana 12 or 15, or if rum isn't your thing, a Glenallachie would be an excellent alternative. 

Following on from the original, we have the maduro. Straight away, the initial note is a lovely and smooth milk chocolate. This quickly gives way to the similar spice notes experienced in the original. Compared to the original, I would definitely have to say that the maduro is far more of a robust smoke. There is a much fuller body present, but it is not ridiculously strong. Only medium to full. Going into the second third, the spice notes are changing into a flavour of black pepper and accompanied well with warm cedar wood. There’s also hints of an earthiness about it which become far more present in the final third, along with a strong black coffee. 

I’d recommend this cigar to be paired with a whisky like the Bunnahabhain 12, or if you prefer something peated, the classic Caol Ila 12.

Remi & Dave - Cambridge store