Double Torpedo, 5.75" x 52 ring gauge / approx. $12, Burns
After the less than stellar performance by the Platino version of this cigar, I have to say I was not overly enthusiastic about lighting up this Viaje Oro Reserva Double Torpedo, VOR DT for short. It really has not taken long for the shiny newness to wear off Viaje cigars altogether for me...seems like it was just a year ago (because it was) that I had my first Viaje (a Summerfest) and thought, "Pretty decent...what else they got?" The regular release Oro quickly became my favorite stick, easily beating out pretty much all special release cigars from the company simply because it was flavorful without needing to virtually take a 2x4 to your palate and the price is actually reasonable. This VOR blend was named the number two cigar of the year by that lifestyle magazine, though, so there must be something to it...right? It's all Nicaraguan, as are most of Viaje's offerings.
And it looks fantastic! Who are we kidding? If cigar ratings were judged more heavily on how they look, this vitola would win many points just because it is awesome. Double-torpedo with both ends closed, a brilliantly oily wrapper leaf and not one, not two, but THREE bands...oh, and I forgot to mention that it is mildly box-pressed, too. I want to preserve this cigar forever and be able to look at it, because it is one of the most beautiful things in my humidor. Smells good, too...a sweet tobacco and leather mix on the wrapper made my mouth water in anticipation of lighting this up. I clipped both ends and got a nice whiff of honey sweetness on the foot and a better-than-anticipated draw from the head. The cold draw had a sweet and spicy flavor, with natural tobacco and syrupy notes. When clipping the wrapper did crack a bit near the head, which looked like it might unravel...which always seems to be a danger with torpedo cigars.
While I can't say the draw was brilliant at the beginning of the VOR, it was at least better than that of the VPR. It started off with primary earthy notes with cedar underlying on the palate, along with a nutty and extra spicy retrohale. As the first third continued, I noted it to have sweet natural tobacco notes every now and then...verging on honey sweetness, but not quite there...as well as plenty of pepper spice on the palate and retrohale. The body started out as medium to full and I definitely did not think it would move down on that scale.
The second third actually saw an improvement in the flavor department. I was getting a beautifully balanced mix of earth, sweet tobacco, and spice in a creamy, smooth smoke that made me see why this blend (in a different vitola) was the number two cigar of last year. It also vindicated my opinion that the Oro blend, which this is based on, is the best thing in the Viaje catalog.
As the final third got going, I noticed the earthier aspects taking control although some of the sweetness did remain. There was little spice left at all by this point. The cigar did threaten to unravel pretty much the entire way, but I was able to keep it in check so no real harm done. After the disappointing experience I had with the Platino version of this, I was really surprised that this cigar was as good as it was. As far as the draw on the Platino, maybe I got the "bum stick" in the box, but at $12, I expect better quality control...maybe it's just me. This one had a great draw nearly the entire way and when it was not "great" it was at least acceptable. The flavor was fantastic throughout, though, and that is the real mark of a great cigar...one that hits your flavor receptors just right and continues to do so. As with most Viaje products, this one is not for beginners, but those looking to move up from milder smokes might be okay with this as it did not overwhelm with either body or strength.
Body: 7/10
Strength: 7/10
Complexity: 8/10
AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
After the less than stellar performance by the Platino version of this cigar, I have to say I was not overly enthusiastic about lighting up this Viaje Oro Reserva Double Torpedo, VOR DT for short. It really has not taken long for the shiny newness to wear off Viaje cigars altogether for me...seems like it was just a year ago (because it was) that I had my first Viaje (a Summerfest) and thought, "Pretty decent...what else they got?" The regular release Oro quickly became my favorite stick, easily beating out pretty much all special release cigars from the company simply because it was flavorful without needing to virtually take a 2x4 to your palate and the price is actually reasonable. This VOR blend was named the number two cigar of the year by that lifestyle magazine, though, so there must be something to it...right? It's all Nicaraguan, as are most of Viaje's offerings.
And it looks fantastic! Who are we kidding? If cigar ratings were judged more heavily on how they look, this vitola would win many points just because it is awesome. Double-torpedo with both ends closed, a brilliantly oily wrapper leaf and not one, not two, but THREE bands...oh, and I forgot to mention that it is mildly box-pressed, too. I want to preserve this cigar forever and be able to look at it, because it is one of the most beautiful things in my humidor. Smells good, too...a sweet tobacco and leather mix on the wrapper made my mouth water in anticipation of lighting this up. I clipped both ends and got a nice whiff of honey sweetness on the foot and a better-than-anticipated draw from the head. The cold draw had a sweet and spicy flavor, with natural tobacco and syrupy notes. When clipping the wrapper did crack a bit near the head, which looked like it might unravel...which always seems to be a danger with torpedo cigars.
While I can't say the draw was brilliant at the beginning of the VOR, it was at least better than that of the VPR. It started off with primary earthy notes with cedar underlying on the palate, along with a nutty and extra spicy retrohale. As the first third continued, I noted it to have sweet natural tobacco notes every now and then...verging on honey sweetness, but not quite there...as well as plenty of pepper spice on the palate and retrohale. The body started out as medium to full and I definitely did not think it would move down on that scale.
The second third actually saw an improvement in the flavor department. I was getting a beautifully balanced mix of earth, sweet tobacco, and spice in a creamy, smooth smoke that made me see why this blend (in a different vitola) was the number two cigar of last year. It also vindicated my opinion that the Oro blend, which this is based on, is the best thing in the Viaje catalog.As the final third got going, I noticed the earthier aspects taking control although some of the sweetness did remain. There was little spice left at all by this point. The cigar did threaten to unravel pretty much the entire way, but I was able to keep it in check so no real harm done. After the disappointing experience I had with the Platino version of this, I was really surprised that this cigar was as good as it was. As far as the draw on the Platino, maybe I got the "bum stick" in the box, but at $12, I expect better quality control...maybe it's just me. This one had a great draw nearly the entire way and when it was not "great" it was at least acceptable. The flavor was fantastic throughout, though, and that is the real mark of a great cigar...one that hits your flavor receptors just right and continues to do so. As with most Viaje products, this one is not for beginners, but those looking to move up from milder smokes might be okay with this as it did not overwhelm with either body or strength.
Body: 7/10
Strength: 7/10
Complexity: 8/10
AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
3 bands!?!?! WTF? This is getting ridiculous.
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