Bone Crusher, a hard hitting cigar that would be more at home in the boxing ring or football field, packs six smokes that make up the L’Atalier Surrogates line. It has a no-nonsense, rock and roll look to it with its menacing name. Its dark and oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is dressed with rich Nicaraguan tobaccos blended by Pete Johnson — the same guy who founded the Tatuaje brand. The Bone Crusher is adorned with two black bands; one band has cursive text while another has a cartoonish bone.
Each vitola in the Surrogates line delivers a recipe of aged long-leaf and flavor profile, aiming to bring limited-edition quality to an everyday priced smoke. Also partaking in their premium experience can be done through other eclectic and snappy names such as Animal Cracker, Skull Breaker, and Tramp Stamp.
About L’Atalier Cigars
Meaning “the workshop,” L’Atalier was started by Pete Johnson along with industry friends Dan Welsh, K.C. Johnson and Sean “Casper” Johnson in 2012.
Every day is a special cigar day with L’Atalier Cigars as each premium stogie is hand rolled in Nicaragua at My Father Cigars factory led by patriarch Jose “Pepin” Garcia.
The experimental nature of L’Atalier allows Pete Johnson to dig into his creative arsenal and tinker around with unique recipes that light enthusiasts’ fires at all levels without breaking their banks.
Sounds like a winning combination but will this quell Surrogates ethos?
Cigar Specs:
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Strength: Full
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Smoking Time: 90 minutes
Sizes Available: Surrogates by L’Atelier Bone Crusher (5.25 x 55)
Cold Draw:
The cigar was generously packed and had no soft spots when pressed. The wrapper showed deep chocolate and coffee notes with some tooth.
After cutting the expertly-applied triple cap with my straight cutter, there was a little barnyard and rich spices in the cold draw. The draw seemed a little tight but I was hopeful of getting nice full body on each puff once I burn my Bone Crusher.
First Third:
From the opening billows of cool, rich and creamy smoke that coated my palate — it was clear I was in for a full bodied flavor bomb. A much looser draw to the pre-light phase brought forth a blast of pepper and spice with robust hints of coffee and earth.
Second Third:
An intense chocolate sensation runs through the second third. Other dark hits included brown sugar, espresso, and wood giving this 5.25×55 stogie deep complexity along with strong char nuances.
Sturdy ash held over an inch and turned dark grey; finish received little black pepper.
Final Third:
Bold layers of berries, espresso, and leather dominate the final part of proceedings here. Dark chocolate has faded away while being muffled by warm sweetness from molasses. Richness pours from cap lush tobacco with every puff as salt & pepper dash over lips while tingling nostrils
Burns perfect from start to finish providing strength transitions along plenty of flavor complexity.
The Surrogates line is an invitation to a members-only club that no smoker ever thought they’d be able to join, and every single one will take your palate on a different journey; each is made with full-bodied long-filler tobaccos from Nicaragua. The Bone Crusher could definitely be called the most powerful in flavor, creating a complex and enjoyable smoke without being too spicy about it – if you’re into strong stogies with deep flavors then this one’s for you; at $190.25 per box of 20 cigars I’d say it’s worth splurging on yourself once in awhile!