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Box Problems with Tatuaje Monster Series

Gregory Mottola
Posted: November 10, 2009

If you were lucky enough to get your hands on a box or two of cigars from this year's coveted Tatuaje Monster Series, you may have noticed a funky, fumy smell emanating from inside the coffin-shaped box. That would be the stringent odor of fresh lacquer and paint. The smell could affect the flavor of the cigars inside, and brand owner Pete Johnson has issued a letter to his customers addressing the situation.

According to the letter, the boxes were packed and shipped immediately after painting without being allowed the proper time to air out to get them on store shelves by Halloween, the intended launch date.

"Due to the late production of the boxes, the boxes had very little time to air out the paint smell that comes with any lacquered cigar box," wrote Johnson.

He is willing to make good on this. Any unsmoked cigars that are deemed tainted or suspect will be promptly replaced. (Cigars that have been cut, lit, or partially smoked will not.) In the meantime, Johnson suggests that cigars be removed from their boxes and kept in the humidor, allowing the boxes time to air out and the smell to dissipate.