diff --git a/cli/recipe/release.go b/cli/recipe/release.go
index f9c10b19..e266eb59 100644
--- a/cli/recipe/release.go
+++ b/cli/recipe/release.go
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import (
 	"coopcloud.tech/tagcmp"
 	"github.com/AlecAivazis/survey/v2"
 	"github.com/go-git/go-git/v5"
-	"github.com/go-git/go-git/v5/plumbing"
 	"github.com/go-git/go-git/v5/plumbing/object"
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/urfave/cli/v2"
@@ -51,6 +50,14 @@ var CommitFlag = &cli.BoolFlag{
 	Destination: &Commit,
 }
 
+var TagMessage string
+var TagMessageFlag = &cli.StringFlag{
+	Name:        "tag-comment",
+	Usage:       "tag comment. If not given, user will be asked for it",
+	Aliases:     []string{"t", "tm"},
+	Destination: &TagMessage,
+}
+
 var recipeReleaseCommand = &cli.Command{
 	Name:      "release",
 	Usage:     "tag a recipe",
@@ -85,6 +92,7 @@ or a rollback of an app.
 		PushFlag,
 		CommitFlag,
 		CommitMessageFlag,
+		TagMessageFlag,
 	},
 	Action: func(c *cli.Context) error {
 		recipe := internal.ValidateRecipe(c)
@@ -109,6 +117,16 @@ or a rollback of an app.
 			}
 		}
 
+		if TagMessage == "" {
+			prompt := &survey.Input{
+				Message: "tag message",
+			}
+			survey.AskOne(prompt, &TagMessage)
+		}
+
+		var createTagOptions git.CreateTagOptions
+		createTagOptions.Message = TagMessage
+
 		if Commit || (CommitMessage != "") {
 			commitRepo, err := git.PlainOpen(directory)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -178,9 +196,7 @@ or a rollback of an app.
 				return nil
 			}
 
-			repo.CreateTag(tagstring, head.Hash(), nil) /* &git.CreateTagOptions{
-				Message: tag,
-			})*/
+			repo.CreateTag(tagstring, head.Hash(), &createTagOptions)
 			logrus.Info(fmt.Sprintf("created tag %s at %s", tagstring, head.Hash()))
 			if Push {
 				if err := repo.Push(&git.PushOptions{}); err != nil {
@@ -193,27 +209,30 @@ or a rollback of an app.
 		}
 
 		// get the latest tag with its hash, name etc
-		var lastGitTag *object.Tag
-		iter, err := repo.Tags()
+		var lastGitTag tagcmp.Tag
+		iter, err := repo.TagObjects()
 		if err != nil {
 			logrus.Fatal(err)
 		}
-		if err := iter.ForEach(func(ref *plumbing.Reference) error {
-			obj, err := repo.TagObject(ref.Hash())
-			if err == nil {
-				lastGitTag = obj
-				return nil
+		if err := iter.ForEach(func(obj *object.Tag) error {
+			tagcmpTag, err := tagcmp.Parse(obj.Name)
+			if err != nil {
+				logrus.Fatal(err)
 			}
-			return err
+			if (lastGitTag == tagcmp.Tag{}) {
+				lastGitTag = tagcmpTag
+			} else if tagcmpTag.IsGreaterThan(lastGitTag) {
+				lastGitTag = tagcmpTag
+			}
+			return nil
 
 		}); err != nil {
 			logrus.Fatal(err)
 		}
-		newTag, err := tagcmp.Parse(lastGitTag.Name)
-		if err != nil {
-			logrus.Fatal(err)
-		}
 
+		fmt.Println(lastGitTag)
+
+		newTag := lastGitTag
 		var newTagString string
 		if bumpType > 0 {
 			if Patch {
@@ -238,20 +257,17 @@ or a rollback of an app.
 				newTag.Minor = "0"
 				newTag.Major = strconv.Itoa(now + 1)
 			}
-			newTagString = newTag.String()
 		} else {
 			logrus.Fatal("we don't support automatic tag generation yet - specify a version or use one of: --major --minor --patch")
 		}
-
-		newTagString = fmt.Sprintf("%s+%s", newTagString, mainAppVersion)
+		newTag.Metadata = mainAppVersion
+		newTagString = newTag.String()
 		if Dry {
 			logrus.Info(fmt.Sprintf("dry run only: NOT creating tag %s at %s", newTagString, head.Hash()))
 			return nil
 		}
 
-		repo.CreateTag(newTagString, head.Hash(), nil) /* &git.CreateTagOptions{
-			Message: tag,
-		})*/
+		repo.CreateTag(newTagString, head.Hash(), &createTagOptions)
 		logrus.Info(fmt.Sprintf("created tag %s at %s", newTagString, head.Hash()))
 		if Push {
 			if err := repo.Push(&git.PushOptions{}); err != nil {