Skinny Monsters: Jekyll

• Vitola: Petite Lancero
• 6” x 38 ring gauge 
• MSRP $85, as part of Skinny Monsters collection
• Purchased at Burns Tobacconist

Background

So, for those who have been disconnected from cigar shops and social media for the last decade, here’s a short recap…in October 2008, Tatuaje released 666 boxes of 13 sticks in the first of the “Monster Series.” It became an annual tradition, with production increased in subsequent years, though the number of “dress boxes” remains at 666. In the spring or summer of 2012, the first “Specialty Monsters” box was released…this was “Little Monsters,” which included 2 each of 5 blends (the first 4 regular Monsters, plus a preview of that year’s Mummy). 2014 saw the release of the Pudgy Monsters set; for that one, each cigar had the ring gauge of the original release, but the length of the “Little” release. There was only 1 of each of the 6 released blends, plus 2 each of 2 new blends…Chuck and Tiff…that were destined to not be released in a full-size. 

Now for 2016, we have been presented with “Skinny Monsters.” The box contains 10 cigars, 1 each of the first 8 Monster blends, plus Chuck and Tiff again. For the first time, all the cigars share the same vitola…a Petite Lancero at 6 inches long by 38 ring gauge. I will be smoking through each of these blends and giving some thoughts on them over the next few weeks. I am smoking through them in reverse order from the order they were released in, working right to left through the box.

The Jekyll was released in October 2014 as part of the two-part Jekyll and Hyde set. It was positioned as a lighter, mellower cigar than most of the Monster cigars before it and made use of the Sancti Spiritus wrapper leaf that had been used to such great success on the flagship L’Atelier line.

I smoked through pretty much an entire non-dress box of Jekyll (I think I have one left at this point) and enjoyed the experience the blend delivers.

Notes

The Sancti Spiritus wrapper of the Skinny Jekyll had a light, sweet hay aroma to it and the color of caramel. I clipped it before the Skinny Hyde had even completely stopped burning, so my prelight draw didn’t reveal any overt flavors other than some earth and hay.

Lighting it up made the cigar burst into flavor, however, with a clean natural tobacco flavor overlaid with earth, hay, and just a bit of sweetness. I liked this blend in the full-size version and first impressions of this Petite Lancero made it apparent that I would like this one, too. The retrohale had toasted nuts and just a hint of white pepper on it.

As I got into the second third, the Skinny Jekyll had a citrus snap and a solidly earthy core flavor profile, with a touch of fruit sweetness in the mix.

I smoked the Skinny Jekyll down to the point where I needed a roach clip to go any further. Bottom line: I really enjoy this blend. It’s not a powerhouse and it can be argued that it fits into the L’Atelier line better than it does with Tatuaje, but it is just really pleasant and flavorful.

Next up is one of my all-time favorite Monsters blends…Jason…in a skinnier format.