Pudgy Monsters, Part 2: Frank & Drac

Frank

Size: 5.652” x 49 ring gauge

Let’s talk about Mr. Frankenstein. Actually, Frankenstein’s Monster if you want to be exact. Victor Frankenstein was the mad scientist in Mary Shelley’s classic novel; he pieced together corpse parts and reanimated them to create what the world viewed as a Monster. While brought to life in many film incarnations over the years, the one that nearly everyone thinks of is the Universal version from 1931, starring the mighty, mighty Boris Karloff. And with the avocado green band of the Frank, that is the version Pete Johnson was hoping to invoke in our minds (the color roughly matching the makeup color applied to Karloff, though the film was shot in black and white).

This is the blend that started it…possibly the most anticipated annual limited release in the entire cigar industry. In October 2008, the Frank was the first every “Monster Series” from Tatuaje; only 666 boxes of 13 were produced and sent to a very select number of retailers (the “Unlucky 13”). It featured Nicaraguan filler and binder tobacco, along with a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, one of Pete’s early applications of this leaf (maybe his first, maybe not…I couldn’t figure out through online resources exactly when Cabaiguan Guapos Maduro and La Riqueza were first available). This Frank was rough in texture and semi-shiny with oils. It had big veins that looked like scars of stitched-together limbs and even a tobacco patch on it that completed the “rough and reanimated” look. The box-pressing on this stick was almost an oval shape.

The dark, toothy wrapper on this cigar smelled earthy and the cold draw had flavors of unsweetened cocoa, red pepper, and dark roast coffee. Lighting up the Frank is a very rewarding experience. I don’t know if this is Pete’s best blend with a Broadleaf wrapper, but it must be close. The flavor explodes upon ignition, delivering tons of earth, coffee, cocoa powder, and pepper notes, with lesser notes of raisin, anise, and cedar. I’m going to have to come right out and say it: if you don’t like this cigar, there is probably something wrong with you…and email me for my address so you can send me any you have. 🙂

As I smoked through the Frank, the pepper spice diminished but never died away. The rest of the smoke was full of sweet earthy goodness from the rich Broadleaf wrapper. It’s no wonder this blend is still so sought after by Tatuaje fans.

Drac

Size: 5” x 52 ring gauge

One cigar….ah ah ah! Wait…that’s the wrong Count. The one we’re talking about was literarily born in 1987 in the pages of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. He was brought to un-life on the screen several times, notably in 1922’s Nosferatu, a silent film, but the screen vamp everyone remembers best is Bela Lugosi’s rendition in 1931. Lugosi became synonymous with Dracula through many subsequent films and couldn’t get away from the character even in his last days working with Ed Wood on Plan 9 from Outer Space, where he played a character that dressed with an eerie similarity.

Drac was the first of the Monster Series cigars I had a chance to try back in 2009. I enjoyed it then, but for many people that cigar is best remembered for the box debacle where paint and lacquer was applied to the boxes with not enough time to air out. The cigars ended up tasting of chemicals unless you let them air out for a while before smoking them. They employed Nicaraguan filler and binder, along with an Ecuadorian Habano Maduro wrapper leaf. The cigars were rolled in a Belicoso shape with the band at the foot; they were meant to be held with the band up and the point down, resembling a stake. The black band and red type was meant to evoke the black cape of Dracula and blood. In this iteration, the band is in the traditional placement and orientation.

The wrapper leaf on the Pudgy Drac was quite oily to the touch and a dark chocolate hue. The aroma from the wrapper was ripely earthy with a touch of leather; the foot had more earth and a vegetal note. The cold draw on this cigar was earthy and slightly sweet with some raisiny notes. After a few minutes I started picking up on an espresso bean flavor as well. It was all nice, although I feel like this blend could use a little more sweetness for a better balance. Although I loved the original Drac when it came out, I have to say it isn’t one of my favorites now days.

I purchased my box of Tatuaje Pudgy Monsters at Burns Tobacconist, a sponsor of this blog and a part-time employer for me. You can call Burns at 423-855-5200 to buy yours while supplies last.