How's the Tat Frank smoking?

[njstone]

So I have a Frank and have been saving it for this Halloween, but now I also have a Face (thanks to LiLo!!). My wife is on call unfortunately, so I might not be able to smoke either, but I'll definitely only get a chance for one at the most.

What I'm really wondering is, HOW is the Frank smoking right now? I've never had one, and this is likely my only one, so if some of you guys think it's randomly off or in a sick period right now, please tell me!

Also, can anyone give me the basics on the Frank, in terms of the amount of flavor and body, etc?

Thanks gang!

 

[megladon8]

Not really answering your question here, but I fully intend to smoke my Drac on Halloween!!

 

[Thegreekone]

I think I remember Brooks saying something about the FRANK having "lost something" in the last two years. :dunno:

I am not sure whether that means smoke the FRANK right away or spark THE FACE?

 

[Treinenwj]

Check here: http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=44355&highlight=Frank

 

[njstone]

Check here: http://www.botl.org/community/forums/showthread.php?t=44355&highlight=Frank

Thanks man! That was the thread I was looking for but couldn't find it

I'm gonna try to smoke it today or tomorrow!

 

[BrooksW]

I think I remember Brooks saying something about the FRANK having "lost something" in the last two years. :dunno:

I am not sure whether that means smoke the FRANK right away or spark THE FACE?

IMHO, it is not as good as when it was released...it has lost....something...Complexity? Spice? Flavor?

They are still good, don't get me wrong, but if you are looking for an experience, the Frank is only getting worse...

The Face, however, still has a while to go...

My opinion, for what it is worth, is smoke the Frank (and take photos), keep the Face for awhile...

Just my $.02...

~brooks

 

[Treinenwj]

Brooks, it's no secret I don't know much about cigars, but isn't it too early to tell how the Face is gonna smoke in 2+ years?

 

[icehog3]

Brooks, I am curious to hear how much time you think the Face should sit? I have a couple and don't smoke NCs too often, so I am up for smoking it soon or resting it, and you likely know a lot more about Tats than I do.

 

[MiamiE]

IMO, smoke the Frank now. Is it me or do the Tats lose a little something as time goes on? Especially the CG blacks. I smoked one last night and it wasnt as good as the fresh ones I have had. I hope the Face goes for a couple years! Tom, smoke one fresh so you can compare and let us know what you think please!

 

[njstone]

Brooks, I am curious to hear how much time you think the Face should sit? I have a couple and don't smoke NCs too often, so I am up for smoking it soon or resting it, and you likely know a lot more about Tats than I do.

Well, many have described the Face as having a lackluster first third, followed by greatness. In my experience, a cigar made with good tobacco in that situation will get a lot better with age--basically, the flavors from later in the stick should migrate earlier. The Boris was like this (fresh, they started okay and ended awesome--now they are awesome all the way through, to my palate anyway. This seems true with many Tats as they use ridiculously fresh tobacco (I have no doubt that the stuff in the Face was in the ground a year ago). But it's top notch quality, so many of them get a lot better with age (OG El Triunfador, La Riqueza, Noella, etc.).

The idea that NCs don't improve with age only holds true with those sticks that use well-aged tobacco to begin with. Those that don't (Tatuaje, My Father, Liga Privada, Padron), but do use great leaf, have excellent aging potential.

My 2 cents (factoring in the Yen exchange rate, that's almost worthless).

 

[njstone]

BTW--I smoked the Frank! I'll post on it later. Good stuff

 

[BrooksW]

Brooks, it's no secret I don't know much about cigars, but isn't it too early to tell how the Face is gonna smoke in 2+ years?

Sorry, what I meant was that traditionally, although most are good out of the box, Tats (for the most part) seem to hit their stride about 8 months-1 year after they are released...

I have no idea how the Face is going to smoke in 2 years, (who can?), but I can conjecture based on past cigar that are similar in blend...

It is really a crapshoot...I have had cigars I thought would age wonderfully taste like crap after a year (have you had a Partagas 150 lately?), and I have heard of cigars that tasted like crap the first time they were released that turned out to be wonderful with some rest...

This is all personal opinion, of course...There are no absolutes in this business

Hope that helps!

~brooks

 

[Jfire]

Sorry, what I meant was that traditionally, although most are good out of the box, Tats (for the most part) seem to hit their stride about 8 months-1 year after they are released...

I have no idea how the Face is going to smoke in 2 years, (who can?), but I can conjecture based on past cigar that are similar in blend...

It is really a crapshoot...I have had cigars I thought would age wonderfully taste like crap after a year (have you had a Partagas 150 lately?), and I have heard of cigars that tasted like crap the first time they were released that turned out to be wonderful with some rest...

This is all personal opinion, of course...There are no absolutes in this business

Hope that helps!

brooks

Having smoked a few Tatuaje products I COULDN'T AGREE W THIS STATEMENT MORE. I think the only exception to this right off the top of my head is the brown lines seems to get even better continually with a couple more years. The broadleaf wrappers seem to peak often (1 year) and then seem to fade slightly after that first year (12 months and later after release) IMO

 

[Alwayslit]

The "mini franks" that I have are smoking fine.

 

[ChazHollywood]

BTW--I smoked the Frank! I'll post on it later. Good stuff

I've only smoked one and really loved it. For me it wasn't one of those "wow, I've never tasted this flavor in a cigar" sort of experiences you sometimes get. It was more of a "solid, very enjoyable flavor profile, start to finish" type of thing. That was my take, anyway.

Was it worth the hype for you?

-Charles

 

[klipsch]

The "mini franks" that I have are smoking fine.

Are you referring to the 06's or the 09's? The 09's came after the Frank and share the same wrapper...hence, it's my understanding that the 09 Noella Reserva's are what Pete has labeled the Mini Frank. In which case...Yes, these are smoking nicely and I need to stop handing them out... :crying: