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The Surrogates Big Ten is a 5 1/4 x 52 robusto with an Ecuadorian habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler, made at My Father Cigars S.A. for Tatuaje’s Surrogates brand. It became a regular-production size in 2023 after the blend’s 2022 tenth-anniversary debut, and we sell it as singles.
31 in stock
Description
The Surrogates Big Ten is a 5 1/4 x 52 robusto that wraps an Ecuadorian habano leaf around a Nicaraguan binder and filler, rolled at My Father Cigars S.A. in EstelÃ, Nicaragua. The blend first marked the Surrogates brand’s tenth anniversary in 2022, and this robusto is the regular-production size that followed in 2023.
What It Tastes Like
A five-person panel at Blind Man’s Puff smoked the Big Ten Robusto and judged it medium-strong. Early on they noted bread pudding, toasted almonds and toffee; salted peanuts and building pepper took over the middle; and the final stretch blended sweetness with spice, bringing cedar and a cinnamon-graham note.
Who It’s For
- Pete Johnson fans who want a Surrogates blend in an everyday robusto.
- Smokers who enjoy sweet, bakery-like notes cut with pepper.
- Habano wrapper fans who like an all-Nicaraguan core under an Ecuadorian leaf.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- A regular-production size, according to Cigar Coop’s July 2023 report
- Blind Man’s Puff’s panel praised its draw and burn
Cons
- Outlets disagree on the wrapper’s exact shade name
About the Surrogates Line
According to Cigar Coop, Surrogates started as a New Havana Cigars shop exclusive, moved to L’Atelier Imports (formed in 2012) for a national release, and became a Tatuaje brand after the 2018 merger of the two companies. The Big Ten, its tenth blend, first appeared in 2022 as a perfecto. For the 2023 robusto, Pete Johnson told halfwheel the project team preferred the taste of a wrapper leaf picked from a bit lower on the plant.
Compare Similar Cigars
- Surrogates Crystal Baller: an earlier blend from the same Surrogates family.
- Tatuaje Reserva J21: a 5 x 50 from Tatuaje’s Reserva range, listed by Tatuaje with an Ecuador wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler.
- My Father La Union for Tatuaje (Black Humidor): a 7 1/4 x 50 Ecuadorian habano cigar blended by My Father and, per halfwheel, rolled at the same My Father Cigars S.A. factory.
Surrogates Big Ten FAQ
Who makes the Surrogates Big Ten?
Surrogates is a Tatuaje brand, and halfwheel and Cigar Coop both report production at My Father Cigars S.A. in EstelÃ.
How strong is the Surrogates Big Ten?
Sources differ. The Blind Man’s Puff panel rated the robusto medium-strong, our store listing says medium.
How does the Big Ten Robusto differ from the Britanicas Extra?
The Britanicas Extra was the 5 3/8 x 48 perfecto that debuted the blend in 2022. The 5 1/4 x 52 robusto followed in 2023 as a regular-production size.
What wrapper does the Big Ten use?
An Ecuadorian habano leaf, though outlets name its shade differently: Cigar Coop says habano, Blind Man’s Puff says habano rosado, and halfwheel says habano rosado oscuro.
Browse more of Pete Johnson’s Surrogates blends on our Surrogates cigars page.
Additional information
| Packaging Type | Single |
|---|---|
| Strength | Medium |
| Origin | |
| Shape | Robusto |
| Wrapper | Ecuadorian Habano Rosado |
| Binder | Nicaragua |
| Filler | Nicaragua |
| Length | 5 1/4" |
| Gauge | 52 |
