La Mission by L'Atelier is a delightfully rich and complex premium cigar produced by L'Atelier Cigars. Available in three vitolas - 1959, 1989, and 2009 - the Maduro-wrapped sticks are each named in honor of a year when L'Atelier received a 100% rating from the famed critic Robert Parker.
There's also a fourth option, the EMS-wrapped La Mission by L'Atelier Cote d'Or La Tache, which comes lovingly rolled in an Ecuador Sancti Spiritus tobacco in place of the usual Mexican San Andres.
The three initial vitolas in the La Mission line-up debuted in 2015 and remain a favorite of aficionados everywhere. You'll find all three at Cigars.com, giving you an opportunity to enjoy this highly rated handmade cigar for yourself. Just be ready to score the journey it takes you on and see how close to 100 you would place it - experience tells us it won't be far away.
Brand Overview
L'Atelier Cigars was founded by Pete Johnson, better known to cigar aficionados as the owner of Tatuaje Cigars. The brands became more visibly linked at the end of March 2022, when Johnson announced via social media that L'Atelier cigars were to come with the Tatuaje guarantee seal in the future.
The name L'Atelier translates from French as "The Workshop" and represents a more experimental line from Johnson, his brother, and his group of expert friends from within the cigars and tobacco world. Like Tatuaje Cigars, L'Atelier are handmade cigars rolled at the My Father Factory in Nicaragua - which is why they're worthy of that quality seal.
Cigar Specs
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Strength: Medium
- Wrapper: San Andres Mexican
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Smoke Time: 1 hour 40 minutes (2009 vitola)
- Sizes Available:
- La Mission by L'Atelier 1959 (4.75 x 52)
- La Mission by L'Atelier 1989 (5.62 x 54)
- La Mission by L'Atelier 2009 (6.50 x 56)
- La Mission by L'Atelier Cote d'Or La Tache (EMS wrapper) (5.50 x 50)
Cold Draw
La Mission by L'Atelier 2009 comes with a neat triple cap and is one of the brand's most artistic bands to date, which features an ornate red gothic M as its centerpiece. On the foot are aromas of cocoa and barnyard hay, with a surprisingly low-effort cold draw that is worth savoring once you've clipped the foot.
Flavor Profile: First Third
After you light this complex cigar, a dance of flavors begins. Early on there are tastes of black pepper, dark oak and espresso, sparkling with the warmth of cayenne pepper. There's a sweetness, but it's a full-bodied flavor, not a light candy sprinkle. Think of the natural, balanced sweetness of dark fruits like prunes and figs, a thick syrup that binds the overall palate together perfectly.
Flavor Profile: Second Third
Moving into the 3rd and 4th inches, La Mission ripens with a blend of cedar, ripe fruits, and cinnamon spice. More dark fruits emerge, including black cherries, and the syrupy texture evolves into a mix of cream and leathery, again making this a palate-pleasing smoke without pulling any punches when it comes to strength and body. The sensation is like a freshly tanned saddle, with added cream to be enjoyed in the retrohales.
Flavor Profile: Final Third
Cedar, cocoa, and prunes form the central trinity of the final third, seasoned with black pepper and espresso that bring the flavor profile full circle. La Mission ends as it began, tantalizing the palate perfectly and leaving you wanting more. With 18 sticks to a box and great prices available on all three vitolas from Cigars.com, there's nothing to stop you from reaching to your humidor, lighting up, and taking another trip around this complex carousel.
Conclusion
La Mission by L'Atelier celebrates 100-rated cigars, and that alone writes a pretty big check to cash. But Johnson and friends have delivered on that promise with a line of premium cigars that not only earn their name, but also continue the legacy of the esteemed My Father Factory.
They may be called The Workshop, but Le Studio may have been more accurate, for these premium handmade cigars are real works of art.
These are popular smokes and with incredible prices on boxes of 18 at Cigars.com, demand is high for all vitolas of La Mission by L'Atelier. Make sure to add to your cart today or put a box (or several) on back order, and make sure your humidor never runs out.
Alternatively, take a look at our full stock of L'Atelier Cigars and Tatuaje Cigars, and continue to explore Pete Johnson's genre-defining creations while trying something new at the same time.