Tatuaje Monster Smash Jason
Tatuaje is Pete Johnson’s brand, with its cigars rolled at My Father in Estelí. The Monster Series, launched in 2008, is one of its limited Halloween lines: each release is named and packaged after a film monster, and each carries its own blend.
Jason entered the series in 2013 as the JV13, the sixth Monster, named for Jason Voorhees of Friday the 13th. The blend uses a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler, and later turned up in several offshoot sizes and samplers.
Monster Smash, shown at the 2024 PCA trade show and shipped that August, put the core Monster blends into one shared format: a 5¼ × 52 box-pressed robusto extra. The 14-count sampler (the thirteen series cigars plus a second Creature) was priced at $175, with 13,000 made. The Jason in that set is the Broadleaf version of the original JV13 blend, recut for the Smash vitola.
Stogie At A Glance
Curated Music Playlist
From the Tatuaje Monster Smash; Jason entered the series in 2013 as the JV13, the sixth Monster, named for Jason Voorhees of Friday the 13th. Song selection revolves around halloween vibes, and artists that share the same name. Spooky vibes for the Halloween season.
Review
First Third
Chocolate and savory steak notes on the light, with a complex aroma. Lots of sweet leather, salted peanuts, earth, and chocolate. The sweet leather continues, with chocolate and salted peanuts, and a salted peanut note on the finish. Leather, dark cherry, and salted peanuts on the palate, with roasted coffee, leather, and dark chocolate on the finish. As the first third comes to a close the salted peanut note starts to come out more, adding to the savory flavors, and chocolate and leather notes.
Second Third
Starting the second third, the savory note is getting stronger and the dark cherry note is becoming more consistent. Leather and salted peanuts on the finish. A creaminess is starting to come out, along with an espresso note. Still lots of earthy leather, with the savory and sweet notes alternating and notes of dark cherry every now and then. Cream and leather on the finish. Chocolate and leather pair nicely with the earthy leather on the finish. Getting to the end of the second third, some pepper is starting to come out with the leather and slight creamy notes.
Final Third
The final third starts with peppery leather and a creamy, nutty espresso finish. Big note of chocolate with dark cherry, one of my favorite Tatuaje flavors. Some pepper, creamy leather, and espresso on the finish. The pepper is coming out more consistently, which adds a more complex flavor profile and is very enjoyable. The creamy note is still there but much less, with earthy leather, the occasional dark cherry, and espresso on the finish. The pepper is still picking up and is still very enjoyable, a great transition from the creamier notes in the second third. The earthy note is getting bigger near the end of the cigar, adding a nice complexity in flavor. Earthy leather, a light note of cinnamon, and espresso on the finish.
The draw on the cigar was pretty tight. Workable, but noticeably tight. This has been one of the most enjoyable cigars I’ve ever had, the only negative was the tighter draw. Perfection in flavor though.
Score
95/100