these weren't anywhere close to the best Tats I've smoked. Loosely rolled wind tunnels that smoked far too quickly.

Split a bundle...smoked a few, then ditched the rest.


JMO of course. Lots of people loved em', but I did not. Barclay Rex, Tat Tenderloin, Tat TAA etc. etc....all in the same wheelhouse.

7th Reserva is a better cigar than all of em'.

If you want the Tenderloin experience, get on board the Tat TAA train, and I'd imagine it's an almost identical experience without the headache of tracking em down.

Both TAA? Or just the 11?

Only smoked the 2011...and it was just one smoke I was gifted.

2012 is sposed to be similar though, just in a diff vitola no? S'what I recall seeing anyway, but admit I don't pay attention to new NC releases all that closely.

Ya, there have been a lot of talk about both but not much on how they compare. Im sure people aren't wanting to smoke them for a few weeks. Or years in some cases here.

so if u smoked a taa 2011, u've basically smoked a tenderloin or barclay?

Would you believe the longer you build it up, and hear how great it is, the more you'll be let down when you get it and find out its just a cigar?

Me either.

That's basically what I'm saying, yes.

A lot of the Tat/Pepin blends are virtually identical (as far as my palate is concerned anyway)...just different vitolas w/ some relabeled into different brands. My father LE ... Jamie Garcia LE ... Tat Tenderloin ... Barclay Rex ... Tat TAA .... I could go on, but you get the point. Sure, there may be some slight variations, but in many respects....very, very similar. I'm not the first to say Pete's good at marketing, but that's a lot of what this is. Same cigars/blends, in different packaging.

This is why I loved the Tat 7th Reserva. You could get a box of 25 for $150...and have as good or better smoking experience than w/ any of the smokes listed above, many of which cost 2-3x as much.


My .02.

^^^IMO your 2 cents are right on. I've had Barclay(from you), pork, and the LE's you speak of, and for my money the 7th reserva is one of, if not the best Tats out there. Miami blend with a maduro wrapper.....MMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

I too have smoked the TAA and Barclay Rex, could not for the life of me figure out what all the fuss was about. Oh well as they say in the car business, theres an *** for every seat................

Smoked my last pork T a few weeks back. Had almost 2 years of age on it iirc. It was just ok. Agree wholeheartedly with Kyle about the 7th Reserva. On my 3rd box and they never seem to disappoint. Pretty consistent also in my experience. The last box I got was from that other place where you kinda name your price. I paid $140 a box. DED hooked me up on that price. Thanks Rick!

Ya, I wasn't blown away but the Boris or ratzilla as well as some other hyped sticks but the west coast was Absolutly great! So I guess you never know.
I'll be honest though, even if a lot of rare stuff doesnt live up to the hype, I'm human and still want to try all of them. But more times then not they are a let down.
The 8.00 shop tat I got from a shop out of town was better then most of the HTF tats so I see your points.

Also the M80 was actually really good as well.