Today I will be reviewing another one of the cigars the guys over at SmallBatchCigar.com gave me to review. Like most Viaje's this one is a Nicaraguan puro and only comes in this one size. It is packed in boxes of 75 cigars each with the total production for this year being around 9,375 produced. I was only able to smoke this one for the review.
The wrapper on this sample was very rustic in color and texture. It kind of reminded me of a paper bag. It had a very long pigtail on it, reminiscent of a fuse, and sort of like another cigar. Even though it wasn't packed in cellophane there was still a good amount of oils to the wrapper. When I gave it a squeeze I noted a slight amount of give but with no soft spots. When I put my nose to the wrapper I wasn't able to get much aroma from it, with some barnyard coming from the foot. After clipping and taking a cold draw on it I got notes of sugar, taffy and leather with a good draw.
Lighting up the cigar brought about lots of sweet leather and red pepper spice on the tongue, with a wasabi like burn on the retrohale. The draw produced a large volume of smoke and was very easy. After about half an inch the spice did tone itself down, but never went away. Some coffee, earth, cinnamon, molasses and grilled meat flavors starting showing up every few puffs throughout this third. I would classify this in the medium full range to start. The burn started to canoe pretty bad, but I decided to let it go and see what happened.
During the second third the flavors mellowed to earth, leather, coffee a hint of cinnamon with some light spice on the finish. The strength also fell into the medium range. The draw, while not plugged, wasn't as free as during the first third and the burn was still uneven.
As I moved into the final third the flavors pretty much stayed the same as the previous third. The spice and strength did build back up, but never our of the medium full range in my opinion. The construction continued to be about the same as well.
Overall this was an ok cigar. There wasn't anything bad, just nothing exciting. If the first third of the cigar continued throughout the entire thing it would have been great. However with the flavors kind of falling down I was sort of bored with it by the end. It probably wouldn't be something I'd buy again.
Body: 7/10
Strength: 7/10
Complexity: 6/10
AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 3.5/5
Value: .5/1
Total: 7.5/10
I have said it before Viajes just don't seem to do it for me. It seems like they come out with a new stick every other month and they are some super rare LE kinda thing. I have no need to search these out, and for that price I could buy 2 sticks I actually enjoy
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