(#14 Cigar of 2018) Pete Johnson doesn’t deny it: his Tatuaje Fausto is the strongest cigar in his portfolio. Created as a private blend for a Hawaiian retailer, Fausto became a full commercial line in 2011, taking its name from a discontinued vintage Cuban cigar brand. The horned image of Mephistopheles burned into the cabinet’s lid echoes the original box art and references the tale of Dr. Faustus, an ambitious scholar who made a pact with the devil. The smoke is a dense, concentrated cigar, full of coffee bean, earth, white pepper and a sweet hint of molasses. This is not a mild smoke, and it’s obviously intended for those who prefer full-bodied blends. 93 points.

I am at the halfway point and the cigar is singing to me. A cantata of pure brilliance. The flavors have not changed, but intensified in not an explosive way, but in an implosive manner so that the flavors of cocoa, coffee, sweetness, and now creaminess, become plutonium so small, but packing a gentle punch, that in its whole, is a flavor bomb.

Tatuaje is always going to create some buzz in the industry, therefore the Fausto has created a lot of buzz because of the company it is associated with..  The nice thing is the Tatuaje Fausto lives up to a lot of those expectations.   In a year where a lot of companies have been turning away from the full strength/full body smokes, it’s great to see Tatuaje step up in this direction.   This cigar also brings some nice complexity to the table too.  I’d probably only gear this cigar for a more seasoned enthusiast.  This also is a candidate for box purchase in my book as I can see enjoying this blend for a long time.

Assessment: Memorable