Tatuaje announces the arrival of the L’Atelier Côte d’Or 2019 and Surrogates Backline 2025.
Originally released as a Churchill in 2015 and 2017, L’Atelier Côte d’Or now returns in a new format: a 50 x 152mm (6”) soft box press Toro. Although this edition bears the 2019 label, it represents the next chapter in a project that was intended for release that year, but the opportunity was not realized.
The blend remains true to its original formula. It features a dark, high-priming Ecuadorian Sancti Spiritus wrapper paired with Nicaraguan binder and filler. Most notably, the filler incorporates the rare and prized Pelo de Oro tobacco that Don Pepin originally made available to L’Atelier for the 2015 release.
This year’s edition will be packaged in 10-count boxes, with a limited production of 1,500 boxes. Each cigar carries an MSRP of $18.00.
Surrogates Backline 2025 marks the launch of a new concept-driven series inspired by music. The project began when Dan Welsh noticed the resemblance between vacuum tubes in guitar amps and the fuma heads used on certain of the brand’s vitolas. This sparked the creation of the Amp Box.
This first release features two vitolas in the same blend: a 54 x 102mm (4”) vitola, dubbed EL454, and a 54 x 127mm (5”) vitola, named EL554. The blend uses a Habano Rosado wrapper grown in Ecuador, with Nicaraguan binder and filler. The EL554 is rolled using a slightly higher priming of the wrapper leaf.
Each mixed box contains 20 cigars, 10 of each vitola, and carries an MSRP of $9.50 for the EL454 and $10.00 for the EL554. Only 1,000 boxes are being released. According to Dan, the flavor of this blend “reminded him of a certain amp tone that had a lot of mid-range and a little grit,” making it a fitting start to a series. The intention is to create a different blend again next year that will be reminiscent of a distinct amp style.
Both L’Atelier Côte d’Or 2019 and Surrogates Backline 2025 will begin shipping to select retailers this week.