BACKGROUND: The Tatuaje Cojonu 2009 was first featured on the Stogie Fresh 5 podcast in Episode 211 on Sunday, March 7, 2010. These cigars have now been resting in the Stogie Fresh humidors for a year and three months and I pulled out a couple this last week to see how they are faring with the extra age.

The Cojonu line of cigars started in the year 2000. At that time, Pete Johnson of Tatuaje cigars released the first of the Tatuaje Cojonu line of cigars. The Tatuaje Cojonu is released once every three years and only in one size.

The original cigar was called the Gran Cojonu and was released in 2000. This was the only cigar in the line to come without a cigar band. The cigar was a 6 -inch by 60 ring-gauge Toro Gordo that shipped in boxes of 12 cigars.

Then came the Cojonu 2003, a 6 x 52 ring Toro that was displayed in boxes of 25. Starting with this cigar, the Cojonu line would sport a double-band format. The banding includes the original Tatuaje brown cigar band and also a secondary band that is very similar to the Edición Limitada bands found on many Cuban cigars. This secondary band displays the name Cojonu and also has the year of release.

The Cojonu 2006 was a 5 x 52 Belicoso, also shipped in boxes of 25. I put this cigar through an entire review cycle on Stogie Fresh and the average score of the 4 reviews was a 90 out of 100. I'm happy to report that I still have some of these fine cigars awaiting future smoking in my humidor.

Then came the 2009 Cojonu, which sports an unusual shape. When I asked Pete Johnson about the shape, he called it a Belichurchill as it's roughly the size and shape of a Churchill, but also has the sloped head of a Belicoso.

I purchased a box of the 2009 Cojonu and I've been happily smoking the contents. The 2009 Cojonu is a 6 inch by 48 ring cigar that sports an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan filler and binder.

TASTING NOTES: This cigar is spicy, earthy and has a rich, long finish. This cigar displays nuances of toasty mesquite wood, and savory BBQ Angus. There is also a tangy zest on the palate and an undertone of dark roasted coffee.

In fact, this cigar is a great match with coffee and makes for a good after dinner smoke with a cup of your favorite java. While this cigar is not as strong as the earlier Cojonu's, it has plenty of flavor, which might lead some to believe it is full bodied and full in strength. But I have found the strength to be medium and the body and flavor to be full. This cigar is no slouch and it is a very flavorful smoke. And, in my opinion, it shows way more complexity than either the Cojonu 2003 or 2006.

FINAL THOUGHTS: As the second half rolled around, this cigar became more intense with flavors of coffee, bakers chocolate and tobacco sweetness. The retrohale, which was so peppery a year ago that it threatened to melt my nasal mucosa, was much more subdued after a year of aging. This is a delicious and yet challenging smoke. I think it will age moderately long, say 2-3 years before it starts to tail off. On the other hand, these smoke great when young and continue to develop nuances and more complexity as it ages. This is one of my favorite Cojonu's out of the box and is one that I am still enjoying with over a year of age.

~Doc