L'Atelier Surrogates

Pete Johnson & crew are at it again.

Introducing the next project from L'Atelier cigars, Surrogates. Blended by Pete Johnson, and crafted in Don Pepin's My Father factory in Nicaragua, each Surrogate was masterfully created to serve up four unique and completely different experiences. This time around, their goal was simple. To create a new series of cigars, limited-edition in nature, that would be readily available to the consumer without breaking the bank. A winning combination if you ask me. Here's the bottom line: Surrogates deliver the goods as promised.

Each blend is easily distinguished by its....errr....'one of a kind' names and bands. I don't know where they came up with these, but they sure make for a good conversation.

Skull Breaker – Full-bodied. Bold notes of cocoa, leather, espresso, and black pepper. Featuring: Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Nicaraguan long-fillers.

Bone Crusher – Full-bodied flavor bomb. Robust hints of coffee, earth, leather, and a dash of pepper. Featuring: Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Nicaraguan long-fillers.

Tramp Stamp – Medium-bodied and teetering towards medium to full. Layers of cedar, coffee, nutmeg, leather, and a dash of spice. Featuring: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper, Nicaraguan long-fillers, and a covered foot.

Crystal Baller – Medium to full-bodied. Notes of natural sweetness, spice, cocoa, cedar, and a toasty finish. Featuring: Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, Nicaraguan long-fillers, and box-pressed finish.

Crystal Baller received a well-deserved 91-rating noting: "Box pressed with a three-seam cap and perfectly tapered shoulders. Sweet flavors of dry cocoa powder, incense and myrrh take on a slight Cavendish tobacco note."

Satin Glove - Medium to full-bodied. The first under the Surrogates line to use a Mexican San Andres wrapper. A box-pressed churchill with notes of cocoa, pepper, and a spicy-sweet finish.

Satin Glove received a well-deserved 90-rating noting: "Near-black and pressed, this earthy, nutty cigar takes on a bittersweet chocolate note as well as hints of black pepper and oaky vanilla."

Animal Cracker - Medium to full-bodied with a thick 60-ring gauge vitola. An Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper gives off a dark chocolate complection. Nicaraguan long-leaves and binder promote nuances of coffee, cherry, and earth with a prominent pepper appearing on the retro-hale.

Cracker Crumbs - Animal Cracker's little brother, this medium to full-bodied firecracker uses the same Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper leaf and the same Nicaraguan long-fillers and binder. A thinner ring gauge results in a slightly stronger, more flavorful experience.