The Tatuaje Fausto FT166 Short Churchill hits like a Nicaraguan espresso shot in cigar form. This box-pressed torpedo measures 6½" x 48 with an oily Ecuadorian Habano Maduro wrapper that glistens under the light. Priced at $213.75 for 25 sticks, it's Pete Johnson's boldest creation from My Father's factory - a modern interpretation of discontinued Cuban blends with thermonuclear strength ratings.
The cold draw releases peppercorn and dark chocolate notes. Initial puffs deliver black pepper spice with heavy mineral undertones, transitioning to espresso beans and charred oak. Smoke production remains medium despite the tight box-press.
Nicaraguan volcanic soil characteristics emerge - burnt caramel, roasted nuts and leather dominate. Retrohale brings cinnamon heat through the nasal passages. Ash holds firm past two inches.
Earthiness intensifies with damp soil and cocoa powder notes. Strength builds noticeably - nicotine buzz kicks in around 45-minute mark. Slight tar bitterness appears but doesn't overwhelm the dark chocolate finish.
Created in 2010 by Pete Johnson and Don Pepín García, the Fausto series uses Jalapa binder and Estelí/Ometepe filler tobaccos. The devil-themed branding reflects its "deal with the devil" intensity - a Nicaraguan reinterpretation of 1960s Cuban powerhouses.
