Vitola: Corona Gorda- 6.25” x 46 ring gauge
- Received as part of 2020 SnS Member Kit
Background
It’s time once again for my series of short looks at the Saints & Sinners Club’s annual member pack releases. I won’t go too in-depth with these reviews since I’m only going to smoke one for review and you won’t be able to get your hands on them unless you are a SnS Club member…and if you are, you already got them…well, unless there are still mail snafus ongoing.
If you don’t know, the SnS Club is a private club for fans of Tatuaje cigars (and the associated brands). You can only get in if you know someone and they send you an invitation during annual enrollment time…and you have to respond and pay up by a certain date, or your invitation expires. Also, the rumors are that 2020 was the last year for the SnS…although that rumor tends to circulate every year, so take that with a grain or two of salt.
Membership costs about $200 nowadays and includes some swag items, a year membership in the Cigar Rights of America organization, access to special release items throughout the year, and a pack of special members-only cigars. Basically there are 5 blends and members get 3 packs of the 5. I’ll be offering some basic notes on them over the next few weeks.
Notes
The wrapper leaf of the SnS 2020 #1 was a medium-dark brown color with a decent amount of oils on it. I picked up earth, hay and natural tobacco when sniffing it. It had a closed foot, so that was really just the same. Judging from previous experience I’m guessing it’s a Habano wrapper, but I couldn’t say if it’s Ecuadorian or Nicaraguan. Once clipped, I got a really good cold draw that had flavors of hay, cedar, and orange.
I paired this cigar with an old standby, Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon.
Firing up the cigar I got cedar and slightly sweet fruit notes, along with bell pepper and hay on the palate. The retrohale had roasted nuts and the slightest amount of pepper heat. It was really on the lighter side as far as Tatuaje blends go.
As I smoked along, that initial assessment really held up. This blend smoked at the lighter side of medium in body with grassy and citrusy flavors leading the way. There was a slight sweetness, but the Elijah Craig added much more along the way. A really nice cigar that surprised at being milder despite not being a Connecticut Shade wrapped stick.
