Tatuaje Conoju

The initial release of the Tatuaje Conoju series came in 2003 and was a warning to anyone who dared to smoke it. Conoju is short for a Cuban slang term cojonudo, which means “ballsy.” The messaging here is clear: don’t light up this cigar unless you’re ready for a wild ride. The company has kept up with the Conoju line, releasing new blends every handful of years. The 2015 version, for example, was a revisitation after the Tatuaje brand missed a few years. Of course, it was well worth the wait. Pete Johnson, the founder of Tatuaje is a true cigar purist from the ground up. A former L.A.-based bass guitar player, Johnson started smoking cigars onstage and then as a bouncer before working his way through the lowest rungs of the cigar business on his way to astronomical success. As with the best owners, blenders, tastemakers and rollers, Johnson’s main drive was passion and curiosity. Though he takes little credit for the astronomical success of the boutique brand, his fingerprints have been all over the business and helped reshape the way that cigars are sold everywhere. With the Conoju 2015, we have Nicaraguan binder and filler wrapped inside an Ecuadorian habano leaf. Thick and beautiful right out of the box, the Conoju 2015 starts with notes of sourdough bread, espresso bean, citrus and, of course, heavy doses of spice and black pepper. This cigar ages beautifully in a humidor and is a star when it comes to pairing with various wines, beers, cocktails and coffees. For this cigar in particular, the zestiness of the Habano wrapper pairs well with old vine Zinfandels, double Italian coffee, single malt scotches and the hoppier IPA selections from the craft beer aisle. All of the blends, which now encompass 18 different cigars beginning with the 2003 blend and continuing all the way through 2021 with the creamy and white pepper infused 7x58 behemoth, each and every one of these smokes is worthy of a space in your humidor. A first taste by your customers will reveal the truth: they’ve gotten an absolute steal for their money. Like many sticks from Tatuaje, they smoke well above their price point. Eschewing the overpriced arrogance of some brands, this smoke is down to earth and delectable from start to finish. Or, as Johnson and Tatuaje may call it, ballsy. Shop Santa Clara today for the entire Conoju line and find your size at an unbelievable price. Our expertise is unparalleled and our customer service impossible to beat.