Pudgy Monsters, part 3: Face and Wolf

Face

Size: 4.375” x 56 ring gauge

Leatherface made his first screen appearance in 1974 in the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre. I can remember the time leading up to the first time I saw the film, when it was still widely believed that the film was “Based on a True Story,” as the film claims. Turns out this may have been one of the first times that lie was used and widely propagated (it also happens in the film and television versions of Fargo). To be completely honest, there was never a wide spot in the road in Texas where humans were butchered and barbecued. What was factual was that notorious serial killer, Ed Gein, sometimes wore a mask of human flesh. Other details of his crimes inspired the creators of characters such as Norman Bates (Psycho) and Jame Gumb (Silence of the Lambs). Over the years Leatherface wielded his chain saw through multiple sequels and remakes, although I always saw him more as a “cult figure” than a “pop figure” like Jason and Michael Myers ended up becoming.

The Face cigar takes inspiration from the movie by wearing a band made of a different kind of tobacco leaf. The interior is composed of Nicaraguan filler and binder while the real wrapper leaf is Mexican. The original release of the Face was the first time I had an opportunity to buy a whole box as Burns was one of the Unlucky 13 that year. I still have the signed dress box and I have a couple of the sticks still…last time I smoked one it was almost magical. They have aged exceedingly well.

The 56 ring gauge of the Face is, I believe, the largest of the Monster Series, both in the original release and the Pudgy release. It’s especially noticeable on this shortened vitola. The wrapper was oily to touch and smelled of ripe earth and leather. The excessive oiliness indicated to me that it might age as well as the original release, as part of the aging process on those cigars was a fair buildup of plume. Will I have any Pudgy Monsters in 4 years? Probably not.

The cold draw was easy and tasted of natural tobacco and citrus with a dash of pepper. Once lit, the Face was full bodied with tons of earth, black coffee, and pepper, along with more understated cocoa powder and citrus zing. This blend is easily my favorite blend that issues forth from the My Father factories using Mexican wrapper. Very good when they’re fresh…incredible with some age.

Wolf

Size: 5.5” x 52 ring gauge

The tradition of the werewolf dates back to at least the 16th century, making this monster one of the oldest monsters that still has modern tales being told about it. One of the most important “modern” interpretations of the werewolf is that of Lon Chaney, Jr., in 1941’s The Wolf Man, which is where the inspiration for this cigar came from, I believe. Chaney reprised the role in four sequels and the movie was eventually remade in 2011, with mixed results. Also of note in pop culture werewolves were the 1978 song “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon (which includes a reference to Lon Chaney, Jr.) and the 1981 film An American Werewolf in London, a dark comedy/horror film that has always been a personal favorite.

The Wolfman was Tatuaje’s 2011 Monster Series release. That year seemed to be a time Pete Johnson became somewhat fascinated by Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper leaf. We saw the 7th Capa Especial debut and the next year a couple more examples followed, but Sumatra also found its way onto the Wolfman. The band is easily the ugliest of the series (by design) with a medium brown background with bright red lettering…it’s virtually unreadable and even hurts the eyes at times. The colors were chosen to refer to the color of a werewolf’s fur and the blood dripping from his claws and teeth. The foot of the cigar is shaggy, another oblique fur reference. This cigar was also box-pressed (only the second time in the Monster Series, if I’m not mistaken) and finished off in a torpedo/belicoso head.

The Pudgy Wolf had a ripe earthy smell to the wrapper and it had a oily feel to it as well. The foot had more natural tobacco leafiness to the aroma, along with touches of earth and leather. The cold draw was excellent and a had a strongly cedary flavor with lesser notes of earth and pepper spice. The shaggy (non-wrapped) start of the cigar was all about earth, wood and red pepper. The retrohale was especially peppery. As I got into the wrapped part of the cigar, there was an immediate addition of a mineral, almost coppery, flavor to the mix. I’ve found this fairly often in the Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper leaves and it comes through stronger or weaker depending on the rest of the blend. Here is melded quickly with the strong cedar notes and pepper spice, while the earthiness subsided a bit.

When the Wolfman came out, it wasn’t one of my favorite blends, specifically because of the metallic notes and abundance of cedar I found. Today, I like the Pudge Wolf better; call it just my own tastes changing. It makes me wonder how the original has aged and since I have a few left, I should get to test that soon.

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.