As always, when I walk into my favorite B&M in New Orleans, there is something special waiting for me to try. Armando, the proprietor, pulls me aside and in hushed conspiratorial tones asks me if I have had the cigar in question. My answer is almost always no. This time was no exception. There is something about a B&M that caters to rare boutique finds that just lights the fire inside a cigar guy like me. The ability to find, and smoke, items that are just not available in the main stream is something very special and Armando always affords me this little luxury that means so much in my pursuit to smoke rare and unique cigars on a regular basis.
Viaje is the current small batch, boutique cigar, champion of the world if you ask around. In fairness, I have smoked much of their stuff and found it to be hit or miss. The hits are very good and the misses are spectacular flameouts sometimes, but that is part of the fun of this endeavor. This cigar was one that I had not heard of, but when Armando pulls you aside you should listen and then smoke. No other questions are needed, just do it and sit back in his lounge and cavort with the boys and whatever whackos walk in off Bourbon St.
The cigar presents well, if simply (as Viaje is wont to do, you won't ever see many fancy adornments or bells and whistles), and looks workmanlike and powerful. The wrapper is a nice medium brown that has few veins and is well applied. No size is given, and the cigar is too new to find anything on the Googleplex, but it is definitely a Robusto. The band work is also simple and easy to look at. I always know that with this company I am not paying for box wood and fancy artist renderings, I am just paying for a smoke. The construction seems solid, maybe a touch tight, but I really have no concerns performance wise from the start. The pre light aroma is full of wood notes with some hints of loamy earth. The pre light draw shows some pepper and something metallic tasting that makes me a bit nervous.
The cigar opens with a profile that is painfully one dimensional and a touch bitter. The one flavor coming through is metallic in nature and not pleasant to experience. I can only hope that it opens up some, and soon. The back of the palate and the nose show some interesting hints of pepper and earth, but the metallic flavors from the forward portion of the palate make evaluation tough. The draw is a little tight early on, but I can feel it getting better with each pull. The burn is right on the money.
The first half of the cigar actually begins to improve nicely as it progresses. The core profile picks up some very solid dark wood flavors and some dashes of roasted nuts, but there is still a tinge of metallic flavors here that are tough to overlook. The back of the palate has really started to deliver on some very solid pepper and earth notes, and I find myself wishing for more of these flavors to show through. The draw is loosening nicely and delivers plenty of smoke. The burn is still very solid to this point.
The final half of the cigar was really quite enjoyable. The core profile becomes a complex balance of rich dark wood, tobacco and spice with just a little bit of honey sweetness in it. This was definitely something unexpected and the experience really captures my attention in the closing moments. The back of the palate really closes strong, showing pepper and earth for miles and some clover notes that set off the peppery qualities beautifully. The draw is solid in the final half and the burn is strong all the way through.
The finish was long and earthy with hints of wood.
All in all this ranks in the top third of the Viaje cigars I have smoked.
Appearance- 88 workmanlike and solid
Taste- 89 came on strong, but the early notes hurt the score
Construction- 92 some tightness early, but really came into it's own late
Strength- 87 a nice full that complemented the overall profile well
Overall- 89.5 a very solid effort
Showing posts with label Viaje. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Viaje. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Viaje Honey and Hand Grenades The Rapier (6.5x44)
I have been on a real paw through the depths of the humidor run lately. If there is some off the beaten path, seldom heard of, potential dog rocket hiding in my cedar trays I want to find it and smoke and give it the hairy eyeball. I do this, of course, with you the readers in mind. You may send gifts, no ticking packages though please. It is somewhat appropriate that this cigar bears the name Rapier. I have often been accused of having a somewhat rapier wit, additionally this blog has been criticized and lauded equally for being rapier sharp in assessing a cigar. Finally, some may just want to run me clean through with a rapier and soothe their tired and bleeding eyes from reading my piles of dreck over the years. If you are in any one of those categories I would think that you would appreciate the irony in the name of this particular cigar.
This cigar presents with some adornments that I find to be, well....quite something, and maybe not in a good way. The red tin foil that covers the cigar is visually jarring and it feels like I am hefting some Christmas ornament as I lift it from it's humidor cocoon. The band has a honey bee and a grenade on it, as near as I can tell, and I find the imagery cute, but not particularly valuable or noteworthy. Once I unwrap the thing I can get down to the business of inspecting the cigar. The size is fantastic, I love the length and ring. The taper at the foot is very Fuente Hemingwayesque, I like this feature. The wrapper is nicely applied and has a dark chocolate appearance to it. I notice some tooth in the leaf and some nice oils. The pre light draw has some licorice and wood flavors. The pre light aroma is earthy with a hint of sweet clover.
The cigar opens with a profile that is not great and fairly one dimensional. The core flavor is sweet, trying for something like honey or clover, but coming off as something artificial like saccharine, with a touch of bitterness to it. The back of the palate and the retrohale show some infusions of licorice and earth, but the saccharine flavor is still persistent in this part of the smoke. This heavy, and oft bitter, sweetness that permeates the profile is really not great and threatens to become something quite nasty. The draw in the early stages is too tight, but I attribute that to the taper at the end of the foot and believe this to be a common trait amongst cigars rolled this way. The burn is a touch wonky as well, and I again lend this to the construction of the vitola.
The first half of the cigar really does not develop, on the good side though it does not deteriorate either. The core profile maintains the bitter taste of artificial sweetener, it's really not good. I strain to find something else in the profile, but I just can't do it. The back of the palate and the nose continue to show some wispy hints of licorice and earth, but it never breaks through the barrier of bitter artificial sweetness that the front of the profile creates. The draw loosens some, but it is still too tight for my liking at this stage. The burn levels out nicely as the smoke progresses.
The final half, and especially the final third, finally show some redeeming qualities. The core profile finally sheds the bitter and artificial parts and segues into something more robust and flavorful. I am picking up some pine nut, clover and dark fruit along with some white pepper bursts that are interesting. I could only wish the whole cigar was this good. Alas, it was not. The back of the palate and the nose show some hearty earthiness and some wonderful dark wood notes. The draw is still just too tight for me, but there is not any heat in the smoke. The burn is solid to the finish.
The finish was a bit tart, some artificial sweetener snuck back in here, but also had some nice lingering traces of fruit and clover.
All in all not the best smoke, and I would probably shy away from it in the future.
Appearance- 83 garish and overdone with all the wrapping and bells and whistles
Taste- 85 saved late to become average
Construction- 87 tight draw throughout
Strength- 86 a nice medium
Overall- 85.5 mundane at best
This cigar presents with some adornments that I find to be, well....quite something, and maybe not in a good way. The red tin foil that covers the cigar is visually jarring and it feels like I am hefting some Christmas ornament as I lift it from it's humidor cocoon. The band has a honey bee and a grenade on it, as near as I can tell, and I find the imagery cute, but not particularly valuable or noteworthy. Once I unwrap the thing I can get down to the business of inspecting the cigar. The size is fantastic, I love the length and ring. The taper at the foot is very Fuente Hemingwayesque, I like this feature. The wrapper is nicely applied and has a dark chocolate appearance to it. I notice some tooth in the leaf and some nice oils. The pre light draw has some licorice and wood flavors. The pre light aroma is earthy with a hint of sweet clover.
The cigar opens with a profile that is not great and fairly one dimensional. The core flavor is sweet, trying for something like honey or clover, but coming off as something artificial like saccharine, with a touch of bitterness to it. The back of the palate and the retrohale show some infusions of licorice and earth, but the saccharine flavor is still persistent in this part of the smoke. This heavy, and oft bitter, sweetness that permeates the profile is really not great and threatens to become something quite nasty. The draw in the early stages is too tight, but I attribute that to the taper at the end of the foot and believe this to be a common trait amongst cigars rolled this way. The burn is a touch wonky as well, and I again lend this to the construction of the vitola.
The first half of the cigar really does not develop, on the good side though it does not deteriorate either. The core profile maintains the bitter taste of artificial sweetener, it's really not good. I strain to find something else in the profile, but I just can't do it. The back of the palate and the nose continue to show some wispy hints of licorice and earth, but it never breaks through the barrier of bitter artificial sweetness that the front of the profile creates. The draw loosens some, but it is still too tight for my liking at this stage. The burn levels out nicely as the smoke progresses.
The final half, and especially the final third, finally show some redeeming qualities. The core profile finally sheds the bitter and artificial parts and segues into something more robust and flavorful. I am picking up some pine nut, clover and dark fruit along with some white pepper bursts that are interesting. I could only wish the whole cigar was this good. Alas, it was not. The back of the palate and the nose show some hearty earthiness and some wonderful dark wood notes. The draw is still just too tight for me, but there is not any heat in the smoke. The burn is solid to the finish.
The finish was a bit tart, some artificial sweetener snuck back in here, but also had some nice lingering traces of fruit and clover.
All in all not the best smoke, and I would probably shy away from it in the future.
Appearance- 83 garish and overdone with all the wrapping and bells and whistles
Taste- 85 saved late to become average
Construction- 87 tight draw throughout
Strength- 86 a nice medium
Overall- 85.5 mundane at best
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Viaje Friends and Family Le Joueur (5x52)
This cigar with the somewhat odd appellation, I mean when I hear friends and family I think of a sale at Macy's, has had much hype over the last several months in my world. Almost everyone that has tried this has been anxious to tell me it is the strongest cigar they have ever smoked. I am used to this over the top hyperbole in the cigar world it is just par for the course. Every strength whore out there finds the next strongest cigar and shouts from the rooftops about how it's the strongest ever! I have heard it with no fewer than one billion cigars...Ok some hyperbole on my part there, but you get the gist I think.
The cigar presents very well. The wrapper is crisp looking and well applied. The white double band is clean looking and not overwrought with horrible art work. There are very few veins and the wrapper has a rich, dark chocolate color. In looking at the bunch I can see quite a bit of what I believe is ligero in there (Viaje does not disclose their blends) and I am thinking maybe some of what I have been hearing could be true. Then I worry because the recent ligero trend has been to be long on palate tingling strength and short of depth and complexity in the profile. I cast aside those shadowy thoughts and continue my assessment. The pre light aroma smacks of pepper and dark chocolate. The pre light draw shows some ligero tickling the palate and a very interesting not of anise and wood.
The cigar opens with a profile that is a real palate blaster. The blend immediately kicks the palate in the face, the tingle at the back of the throat is reminding me of the onset of a sore throat. Something interesting is happening though, there is actually some complexity and depth showing through here. The core profile has miles and miles of flavor as it shows some nice notes of dark chocolate, dark wood and red pepper. None of these flavors exhibit any subtlety at all, they are right up in your business, nose to nose with you from the get go. The back of the palate and through the nose show some more very satisfying wood notes and there is still a hint of anise coming through here that adds something nice to the mix. The burn is very solid right away. The draw is firm, but smooth and it delivers plenty of smoke from the first pull.
The first half of this cigar is certainly strong, as advertised. Is it the strongest cigar I have ever smoked? No, I will always reserve that distinction for the first Pepin JJ Maduro I smoked many years ago when my palate was not used to full bodied and full strength smokes (I was green during that experience). This cigar though is up there in strength for me, and out of the cigars I have smoked in the last year it ranks amongst the strongest. The core profile is still very complex though, and I am so pleased that it is not losing this feature as so many other strength bombs do. The are still some hints of dark chocolate and there is a tone of black cherry showing through here now as well, this is all combined with the continuing show of dark wood that binds it all together. The back of the palate is holding a very smoky wood characteristic that I find interesting and it makes me feel kind of rural, like I should be camping or something. The draw is still nice and firm and it performs well. The burn is still on the money and I don't see any issues down the line.
The final half of this cigar is a real ass kicker. The strength really ramps up and the nicotine tingle swathes the palate all the way to the back of the throat. The beauty of this cigar though is that it is not losing the profile at all, in fact the profile gets better the stronger the cigar gets. The core notes here a still dark chocolate, but they are turning more like cocoa as the process continues to the end. Additionally the pepper notes here are profound. I am getting some red pepper at the back of the palate, but a softer white pepper note in the front part of the tongue and mouth. The back of the palate and the nose continue to show some nice dark wood flavors and there is a touch of mineral here that I am not finding hateful (which is unusual for me, I am usually lost at mineral flavor). The draw is solid right through to the end. The burn shows nary an issue throughout.
The finish is long and holds pepper and wood notes for some satisfying long moments after the conclusion of the smoke.
All in all this is the best Viaje blend that I have smoked.
Appearance- 94 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 92 I was very impressed with a complex and balanced approach
Construction- 94 the only thing stopping perfection was a firm draw
Strength- 93 a very nice full bodied/full strength offering
Overall- 93.25 just wonderful
The cigar presents very well. The wrapper is crisp looking and well applied. The white double band is clean looking and not overwrought with horrible art work. There are very few veins and the wrapper has a rich, dark chocolate color. In looking at the bunch I can see quite a bit of what I believe is ligero in there (Viaje does not disclose their blends) and I am thinking maybe some of what I have been hearing could be true. Then I worry because the recent ligero trend has been to be long on palate tingling strength and short of depth and complexity in the profile. I cast aside those shadowy thoughts and continue my assessment. The pre light aroma smacks of pepper and dark chocolate. The pre light draw shows some ligero tickling the palate and a very interesting not of anise and wood.
The cigar opens with a profile that is a real palate blaster. The blend immediately kicks the palate in the face, the tingle at the back of the throat is reminding me of the onset of a sore throat. Something interesting is happening though, there is actually some complexity and depth showing through here. The core profile has miles and miles of flavor as it shows some nice notes of dark chocolate, dark wood and red pepper. None of these flavors exhibit any subtlety at all, they are right up in your business, nose to nose with you from the get go. The back of the palate and through the nose show some more very satisfying wood notes and there is still a hint of anise coming through here that adds something nice to the mix. The burn is very solid right away. The draw is firm, but smooth and it delivers plenty of smoke from the first pull.
The first half of this cigar is certainly strong, as advertised. Is it the strongest cigar I have ever smoked? No, I will always reserve that distinction for the first Pepin JJ Maduro I smoked many years ago when my palate was not used to full bodied and full strength smokes (I was green during that experience). This cigar though is up there in strength for me, and out of the cigars I have smoked in the last year it ranks amongst the strongest. The core profile is still very complex though, and I am so pleased that it is not losing this feature as so many other strength bombs do. The are still some hints of dark chocolate and there is a tone of black cherry showing through here now as well, this is all combined with the continuing show of dark wood that binds it all together. The back of the palate is holding a very smoky wood characteristic that I find interesting and it makes me feel kind of rural, like I should be camping or something. The draw is still nice and firm and it performs well. The burn is still on the money and I don't see any issues down the line.
The final half of this cigar is a real ass kicker. The strength really ramps up and the nicotine tingle swathes the palate all the way to the back of the throat. The beauty of this cigar though is that it is not losing the profile at all, in fact the profile gets better the stronger the cigar gets. The core notes here a still dark chocolate, but they are turning more like cocoa as the process continues to the end. Additionally the pepper notes here are profound. I am getting some red pepper at the back of the palate, but a softer white pepper note in the front part of the tongue and mouth. The back of the palate and the nose continue to show some nice dark wood flavors and there is a touch of mineral here that I am not finding hateful (which is unusual for me, I am usually lost at mineral flavor). The draw is solid right through to the end. The burn shows nary an issue throughout.
The finish is long and holds pepper and wood notes for some satisfying long moments after the conclusion of the smoke.
All in all this is the best Viaje blend that I have smoked.
Appearance- 94 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 92 I was very impressed with a complex and balanced approach
Construction- 94 the only thing stopping perfection was a firm draw
Strength- 93 a very nice full bodied/full strength offering
Overall- 93.25 just wonderful
Friday, May 24, 2013
Viaje Zombie 2013 Edition
I once was searching the Internet for something and found a link to a PHD dissertation about what to do in the event of a Zombie Apocalypse. It was at that very moment that I realized I had probably reached the end of the Internet, I didn't read the thing when I had the chance and now I regret it. The Zombie Apocalypse is now upon us and I don't know what to do about it. There are legions of slow walking, bug eyed and drooling fools descending upon the four stores in the country that have these cigars. Indeed, I saw some of them in my favorite B and M in New Orleans, it was a scary sight to behold and forced me to ask the question, what is it about this release every year that turns people into mindless drones? I decided I would have to smoke one for myself and find out. Hopefully I won't end up wandering aimlessly through dark corners of the city looking for human flesh to feed on, or whatever Zombies do.
The cigar itself has a somewhat rough appearance, much as I think an actual Zombie would, the wrapper is dark and mottled and the cigar itself has some lumps and bumps. A quick inspection of the cigar leads me to believe that it is well made and I can't find any issues in the bunch. The pre light aroma has a very earthy tone to it. The pre light draw smacks of dark wood and earth.
The cigar opens with a profile that is a touch thin for me, but still shows some nice flavors. The core profile shows some hints of earth and wood, but it is not fully developing in a way that shows any real depth to the flavor. At the back of the palate there are some developing hints of pepper and some slight raisin notes, but again they are not developed enough to provide any depth. The draw is very fluid and delivers plenty of smoke with every puff, this is exactly how I like a cigar to perform. The burn is a touch off from the start, but I don't think I need to do any touch ups as it looks like these issues will even out on their own.
The first half of the cigar is really not much to write home about. The core profile continues to be too thin. The main flavors are earth and dark wood, but they carry no depth and my palate struggles to find depth or nuance in the profile. The back of the palate and through the nose show some development as pepper, raisin and anise mingle to provide something that is at least close to a flavor experience. I am disappointed at this point in the cigar, and I am starting wonder what all the hype is. The burn has evened out nicely and the draw is still performing very well.
The final half of the cigar really does nothing for me either, this experience is mundane at best. The core profile continues to wallow in mediocrity as thin flavors of earth and wood continue to plod along in a uninteresting Zombie shuffle like you would see in a movie. The back of the palate is still pleasing, but it is not enough to carry the cigar at this point. The profile here continues to show nice pepper and anise flavors, but they just don't elevate the experience enough. The burn continues to be solid after some early issues and the draw stays excellent throughout.
The finish was short and had some ashy qualities that were not pleasant.
As with many Viaje's I have smoked I just don't see what all the hype is about. The name though is appropriate as they seem to turn otherwise intelligent people into brainless dolts with a genius marketing campaign.
Appearance- 88 a very plain looking smoke
Taste- 86 too thin in too many places
Construction- 90 early burn issues complicate the smoke, but the draw was a dream
Strength- 87 a reedy and thin full
Overall- 87.75 an average cigar at best
The cigar itself has a somewhat rough appearance, much as I think an actual Zombie would, the wrapper is dark and mottled and the cigar itself has some lumps and bumps. A quick inspection of the cigar leads me to believe that it is well made and I can't find any issues in the bunch. The pre light aroma has a very earthy tone to it. The pre light draw smacks of dark wood and earth.
The cigar opens with a profile that is a touch thin for me, but still shows some nice flavors. The core profile shows some hints of earth and wood, but it is not fully developing in a way that shows any real depth to the flavor. At the back of the palate there are some developing hints of pepper and some slight raisin notes, but again they are not developed enough to provide any depth. The draw is very fluid and delivers plenty of smoke with every puff, this is exactly how I like a cigar to perform. The burn is a touch off from the start, but I don't think I need to do any touch ups as it looks like these issues will even out on their own.
The first half of the cigar is really not much to write home about. The core profile continues to be too thin. The main flavors are earth and dark wood, but they carry no depth and my palate struggles to find depth or nuance in the profile. The back of the palate and through the nose show some development as pepper, raisin and anise mingle to provide something that is at least close to a flavor experience. I am disappointed at this point in the cigar, and I am starting wonder what all the hype is. The burn has evened out nicely and the draw is still performing very well.
The final half of the cigar really does nothing for me either, this experience is mundane at best. The core profile continues to wallow in mediocrity as thin flavors of earth and wood continue to plod along in a uninteresting Zombie shuffle like you would see in a movie. The back of the palate is still pleasing, but it is not enough to carry the cigar at this point. The profile here continues to show nice pepper and anise flavors, but they just don't elevate the experience enough. The burn continues to be solid after some early issues and the draw stays excellent throughout.
The finish was short and had some ashy qualities that were not pleasant.
As with many Viaje's I have smoked I just don't see what all the hype is about. The name though is appropriate as they seem to turn otherwise intelligent people into brainless dolts with a genius marketing campaign.
Appearance- 88 a very plain looking smoke
Taste- 86 too thin in too many places
Construction- 90 early burn issues complicate the smoke, but the draw was a dream
Strength- 87 a reedy and thin full
Overall- 87.75 an average cigar at best
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge Corojo (3.5x52)
There is something so right about the fact that as I smoke this cigar I am watching a coward hide in a boat in a Boston suburb waiting to hopefully meet his maker. You see when I am not pontificating and waxing rhapsodic about cigars I do have a real job. I work in the security industry and some of what we do is in the field of Counter Terrorism, and nothing gets my time and attention faster than some bastards making a run at our great country. In all my years in this business I can tell you that I have observed that there is nothing more immutable than the American spirit and no matter how many times these yellow liver factions (foreign or domestic) take a crack at what is quintessentially American they should stand by for hell fire and brimstone as the patriotic spirit of this country rises up and crushes evil. So as I watch Boston's finest use their restraint and surround this lesser man I smoke a Super Shot, and hope that at the end of all of this there will be a super shot for the terrorist at some point...
The cigar itself is a little spark plug of a thing. It is short and stout, just like a shotgun shell, and screams power with it's dark and oily wrapper. I can't find any issues with this smoke, and I love that it is unbanded as if to say,"You know what I am!". The pre light aroma is sharp but smacks of earth and anise. The pre light draw has some tobacco essence and shows some earth and coffee notes.
I usually review cigars in sections, but I won't do that here because the cigar is so small, I will just present it as it smoked for me. The cigar opens with a profile that is all earth and coffee, this is not a complex arrangement of flavors, but I find it very pleasurable anyway. Through the nose and at the back of the palate there are some peppery notes, but there is also a heavy note of anise. Anise is a flavor I usually don't care for in a cigar, but in this case it is not causing me a bother.
As the cigar progresses the profile really does not develop much. The core maintains earth and coffee notes all the way through without gaining any complexity or depth. The back of the palate transitions slightly and becomes a more mellowed out mix of dark wood and pepper, I find this change to be very satisfying for me and the cigar starts to gain some momentum.
The draw for this particular cigar was little tight for me, but it did not cause any real issues, it just was not what I prefer. The burn was solid all the way through to the end and performed very well.
All in all this was a fine cigar. More importantly they caught the chicken shit in the boat and I hope they put a car battery to his testes and find out all he knows.
(As a disclaimer I do understand law and order and the value of the Constitution in our country and I know he will have his day in court, I am really ok with that. What I am not ok with is people taking innocent lives for whatever bat shit crazy cause or belief structure they adhere to, it makes me sick)
Appearance- 91 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 88 not complex or deep, but the flavors were good
Construction- 89 some draw tightness took away some of the enjoyment for me
Strength- 87 a nice full
Overall- 88.75 I would smoke this again and may make it part of my lineup on a more permanent basis for when I need a short smoke and I am not long on time
The cigar itself is a little spark plug of a thing. It is short and stout, just like a shotgun shell, and screams power with it's dark and oily wrapper. I can't find any issues with this smoke, and I love that it is unbanded as if to say,"You know what I am!". The pre light aroma is sharp but smacks of earth and anise. The pre light draw has some tobacco essence and shows some earth and coffee notes.
I usually review cigars in sections, but I won't do that here because the cigar is so small, I will just present it as it smoked for me. The cigar opens with a profile that is all earth and coffee, this is not a complex arrangement of flavors, but I find it very pleasurable anyway. Through the nose and at the back of the palate there are some peppery notes, but there is also a heavy note of anise. Anise is a flavor I usually don't care for in a cigar, but in this case it is not causing me a bother.
As the cigar progresses the profile really does not develop much. The core maintains earth and coffee notes all the way through without gaining any complexity or depth. The back of the palate transitions slightly and becomes a more mellowed out mix of dark wood and pepper, I find this change to be very satisfying for me and the cigar starts to gain some momentum.
The draw for this particular cigar was little tight for me, but it did not cause any real issues, it just was not what I prefer. The burn was solid all the way through to the end and performed very well.
All in all this was a fine cigar. More importantly they caught the chicken shit in the boat and I hope they put a car battery to his testes and find out all he knows.
(As a disclaimer I do understand law and order and the value of the Constitution in our country and I know he will have his day in court, I am really ok with that. What I am not ok with is people taking innocent lives for whatever bat shit crazy cause or belief structure they adhere to, it makes me sick)
Appearance- 91 a nice looking cigar
Taste- 88 not complex or deep, but the flavors were good
Construction- 89 some draw tightness took away some of the enjoyment for me
Strength- 87 a nice full
Overall- 88.75 I would smoke this again and may make it part of my lineup on a more permanent basis for when I need a short smoke and I am not long on time
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Viaje 5th Anniversary Perfecto (6.5x52)
Ohhh said everyone when I selected this smoke at a local B&M recently. I raised an eyebrow as if to say, "what's the BFD?" (if you don't know what BFD means you are probably too young to read this blog, or too old to understand curse word shorthand and it's time for your nap). Everyone saw my skepticism and then the conga line of accolades for this Viaje creation began. "Best anniversary cigar I've ever had!" extolled one nearby dog rocket connoisseur. "Fantastic, I wish I could buy them all the time!" shouted a frequent partaker of bundled seconds. You get the idea, the accolades were strong, but the palates of those shouting out may be somewhat in question. I may come off sounding like some snobby elitist here, and I really don't give a Punch Champion what I sound like at this point. When I am spending thirteen dollars on a cigar I want to make my own judgments. Alejandro Robaina could rise up from his grave and sing the praises and I would tell him to shut his yam hole and let me smoke in peace. (I will leave it up to you to judge the validity of this story, but if you know me you know it's probably all true with little embellishment)...
The cigar itself is nice looking, but it is really nothing to write home about. It is an awkward perfecto with strange dimensions and an oddly lopsided look to it. The wrapper is a nice light brown and could be a Connecticut if it were a few shades lighter. The band work is all white, and I struggle to make out what it says on it, if you didn't know you would mistake it for a 5 Vegas on sight alone (not a great attribute if you ask me, but if you ask some of those that were shouting at me the 5 Vegas might be a cigar of the year). The pre light aroma smacks of cedar and balsa wood with some hints of grass and summer clover. The pre light draw is dry and full of muted mint notes with some strange spice and sweetness.
The cigar opens with a profile that is one dimensional and dry. The smoke is so dry that I am scrambling to put the glands in order so they can produce some saliva, it is a real struggle. I am wondering if part of the blend is one of those do not eat desiccants that they put in clothes, after all they say do not eat not do not smoke. Dryness aside, the profile smacks of grass and cedar, there are some papery textures involved here as well and I believe that the papery essences create dryness. At the back of the palate there are some dry hints of leaves and some minty strangeness that don't help the overall impressions at all. The burn is on the money, which is nice when considering this oddly shaped perfecto, they usually don't burn well. The draw is ok, but it is a little bit tight for me.
The first half of the cigar has me continuing the line of questions about the people that were shouting from the rooftops earlier, but I am not letting my face betray my impending loathing (for the cigar, not the people). The core profile still has some cedar and balsa notes that could be pleasant, but they are offset by blasts of dry grass and paper that leave the palate screaming for moisture. The back of the palate continues to show some dry mint flavors. Thankfully the leafy flavors have left at this point and a dusty sweetness has settled in. The burn continues to perform well. The draw is still just too tight for me.
The final half of the smoke improves, but it won't be enough to save the smoke. The core profile contains some nice flavors of wood and spice, and the dryness starts to dissipate (my saliva glands and throat have never been so grateful). The back of the palate shows nice mint and a dusty sweetness that is pleasing in the closing moments. The draw was too tight throughout for me. The burn was solid all the way to the end.
The finish was short and had some dry notes of wood.
All in all a poor effort. Not even close to being worth the price.
Appearance-87 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 82 some nice flavors late, but nothing great anywhere
Construction- 83 draw tightness hurt the score
Strength- 88 a nice medium
Overall- 84.25 below average
The cigar itself is nice looking, but it is really nothing to write home about. It is an awkward perfecto with strange dimensions and an oddly lopsided look to it. The wrapper is a nice light brown and could be a Connecticut if it were a few shades lighter. The band work is all white, and I struggle to make out what it says on it, if you didn't know you would mistake it for a 5 Vegas on sight alone (not a great attribute if you ask me, but if you ask some of those that were shouting at me the 5 Vegas might be a cigar of the year). The pre light aroma smacks of cedar and balsa wood with some hints of grass and summer clover. The pre light draw is dry and full of muted mint notes with some strange spice and sweetness.
The cigar opens with a profile that is one dimensional and dry. The smoke is so dry that I am scrambling to put the glands in order so they can produce some saliva, it is a real struggle. I am wondering if part of the blend is one of those do not eat desiccants that they put in clothes, after all they say do not eat not do not smoke. Dryness aside, the profile smacks of grass and cedar, there are some papery textures involved here as well and I believe that the papery essences create dryness. At the back of the palate there are some dry hints of leaves and some minty strangeness that don't help the overall impressions at all. The burn is on the money, which is nice when considering this oddly shaped perfecto, they usually don't burn well. The draw is ok, but it is a little bit tight for me.
The first half of the cigar has me continuing the line of questions about the people that were shouting from the rooftops earlier, but I am not letting my face betray my impending loathing (for the cigar, not the people). The core profile still has some cedar and balsa notes that could be pleasant, but they are offset by blasts of dry grass and paper that leave the palate screaming for moisture. The back of the palate continues to show some dry mint flavors. Thankfully the leafy flavors have left at this point and a dusty sweetness has settled in. The burn continues to perform well. The draw is still just too tight for me.
The final half of the smoke improves, but it won't be enough to save the smoke. The core profile contains some nice flavors of wood and spice, and the dryness starts to dissipate (my saliva glands and throat have never been so grateful). The back of the palate shows nice mint and a dusty sweetness that is pleasing in the closing moments. The draw was too tight throughout for me. The burn was solid all the way to the end.
The finish was short and had some dry notes of wood.
All in all a poor effort. Not even close to being worth the price.
Appearance-87 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 82 some nice flavors late, but nothing great anywhere
Construction- 83 draw tightness hurt the score
Strength- 88 a nice medium
Overall- 84.25 below average
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Viaje Roman Candle (9x50)
I was wandering through a Tampa B&M recently and I came across something that looked like a box of road flares. I cautiously checked out the surroundings. Cedar walls, glass entry door, boxes of cigars and the hum of a humidifier all suggest that I am actually in a humidor and not in some hardware store or a place for various auto equipment. So, I wonder, what is with these damn flares? Imagine my surprise when I pick one up and realize that it's no flare at all, but a cigar instead! It dawns on me that this must be the Viaje Roman Candle and after quickly checking the box provenance I realize that it is one and the same. Needless to say, this now has my attention. I quickly select one and head for the register. I was not sure when I would fine time to smoke a nice inch cigar, but I was sure that someday I would.
That day came recently during the RNC, I knew that at some point I would be listening to some speeches that would drone on and on and I would need a long smoke to get through it with my mental faculties still in tact. I was not wrong and I decided to head for the Roman Candle one of the nights. After removing the red flare paper I am confronted with a cigar that is certainly every bit of nice inches long, but I am concerned about the ring gauge being a touch smaller than the fifty that is advertised. I slap in on my iPhone app, yes there is an app for this, and measure the ring gauge. It comes in at closer to a 48 or 49 so in my mind it comes up short of what is advertised, but it does not bother me because I prefer a thinner ring anyway. The cigar is otherwise unadorned and I find that to be refreshing, sometimes a cigar should just be a cigar, in this case I guess the maker thought the Roman Candle theme was enough. The cigar appears to be well made and I can't find any issues in it that have me concerned. The pre light aroma smacks of dried peach and apricot. The pre light draw has some pepper and spice notes.
This cigar opens with a profile that is nice. The core flavors are some nice spice and crisp, rich tobacco flavors. Not very complex and not very deep, but the flavors are nice. What does get my attention is the power here. This cigar is strong, coming from me that is a huge strength factor as I smoke strong cigars all the time. This one however, has strength that I have not encountered in some time and I find it is making me a touch dizzy early in the smoke. The back of the palate is woody and has some earthy tones that are nice, but not overwhelming or particularly deep. The draw is exceptional for a cigar of this size. The burn is off right from the beginning, but I don't see any reason to touch up this early in the smoke.
The first half of the cigar has some profile shifts and I am enjoying the experience. The profile has spice and dried fruit notes and there are some tobacco flavors that bind it all together nicely. The strength is still buzzing me a little bit and I am still shocked by this, it just shows that no matter how experienced a smoker is each cigar can have a different effect on anyone. The back of the palate continues to be coated in earthy flavors that become richer as the cigar carries on, there are some nice balances of wood here as well. The draw is still very good. The burn has deteriorated and I am forced to purge and relight three times in the first half of the smoke. This is not a good sign as I absolutely despise a cigar that won't stay lit.
The final half of the cigar becomes somewhat muddled as the flavors lose definition and character, but the cigar is still enjoyable, just not a connoisseur's dream. The core profile has some mint, spice, fruit and tobacco flavors, but they are not joined in any significant way at all. The strength is still humming along and I am still in awe of the power of this smoke. The back of the palate still holds some wood and earth flavors but the richness has disappeared here and that is disappointing. The draw is still right on the money, but the burn has issues and three more relights are required in the last half.
The finish was strong, with heavy spice and earth flavors.
Appearance- 88 a nice appearance, but a bit too gimmicky
Taste- 87 some nice flavors here, the muddling of ideas in the last half hurt the score
Construction- 82 the constant burn issues really took away from the cigar
Strength- 86 ultra powerful, but that power did nothing for the overall presentation of the cigar
Overall- 85.25 a very average experience in the end
That day came recently during the RNC, I knew that at some point I would be listening to some speeches that would drone on and on and I would need a long smoke to get through it with my mental faculties still in tact. I was not wrong and I decided to head for the Roman Candle one of the nights. After removing the red flare paper I am confronted with a cigar that is certainly every bit of nice inches long, but I am concerned about the ring gauge being a touch smaller than the fifty that is advertised. I slap in on my iPhone app, yes there is an app for this, and measure the ring gauge. It comes in at closer to a 48 or 49 so in my mind it comes up short of what is advertised, but it does not bother me because I prefer a thinner ring anyway. The cigar is otherwise unadorned and I find that to be refreshing, sometimes a cigar should just be a cigar, in this case I guess the maker thought the Roman Candle theme was enough. The cigar appears to be well made and I can't find any issues in it that have me concerned. The pre light aroma smacks of dried peach and apricot. The pre light draw has some pepper and spice notes.
This cigar opens with a profile that is nice. The core flavors are some nice spice and crisp, rich tobacco flavors. Not very complex and not very deep, but the flavors are nice. What does get my attention is the power here. This cigar is strong, coming from me that is a huge strength factor as I smoke strong cigars all the time. This one however, has strength that I have not encountered in some time and I find it is making me a touch dizzy early in the smoke. The back of the palate is woody and has some earthy tones that are nice, but not overwhelming or particularly deep. The draw is exceptional for a cigar of this size. The burn is off right from the beginning, but I don't see any reason to touch up this early in the smoke.
The first half of the cigar has some profile shifts and I am enjoying the experience. The profile has spice and dried fruit notes and there are some tobacco flavors that bind it all together nicely. The strength is still buzzing me a little bit and I am still shocked by this, it just shows that no matter how experienced a smoker is each cigar can have a different effect on anyone. The back of the palate continues to be coated in earthy flavors that become richer as the cigar carries on, there are some nice balances of wood here as well. The draw is still very good. The burn has deteriorated and I am forced to purge and relight three times in the first half of the smoke. This is not a good sign as I absolutely despise a cigar that won't stay lit.
The final half of the cigar becomes somewhat muddled as the flavors lose definition and character, but the cigar is still enjoyable, just not a connoisseur's dream. The core profile has some mint, spice, fruit and tobacco flavors, but they are not joined in any significant way at all. The strength is still humming along and I am still in awe of the power of this smoke. The back of the palate still holds some wood and earth flavors but the richness has disappeared here and that is disappointing. The draw is still right on the money, but the burn has issues and three more relights are required in the last half.
The finish was strong, with heavy spice and earth flavors.
Appearance- 88 a nice appearance, but a bit too gimmicky
Taste- 87 some nice flavors here, the muddling of ideas in the last half hurt the score
Construction- 82 the constant burn issues really took away from the cigar
Strength- 86 ultra powerful, but that power did nothing for the overall presentation of the cigar
Overall- 85.25 a very average experience in the end
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Viaje Late Harvest 2012 Robusto (5x50)
Certain members of the cigar community to which I belong have been raving about this cigar for some time now. They have been pressuring me to smoke one and do a review, because they believe that I will think it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I cautioned them, as I always do, that me reviewing their favorite cigars often leads to hurt feelings, anger and the potential for me to be ambushed in the dark recesses of some cigar lounge, thrown in the trunk of some car and transported to a warehouse in El Salvador to be tortured by people that like that particular cigar until I relent and agree that I too liked the cigar. A bit too dramatic you think? I always say that one can never be too careful, I smoke with some distasteful looking characters (you know who you are)!
Anyway, this cigar is from the long and seemingly endless supply of cigars from Viaje. I have reviewed many of their other cigars before and I have not been as highly impressed as some. This cigar presents well. The wrapper is excellent looking, it is supple and deep brown in color. There are very few veins in the wrapper and I am sure that it will smoke nicely. The band work is intricate, but too busy for my taste and some of the script is hard to decipher. The flair on the cigar was saved for the whimsical pigtail cap that adorns the head of this vitola. I am not usually one for unnecessary affectations, but this one seems to make the cigar seem more appealing. The pre light aroma shows some muted spice notes and some nice tobacco notes. The pre light draw was sweet and left some dusty residues on the lips and tongue.
The cigar opens with a profile that could best be described as weird. The flavor here is something in the spice family, but it is tart and has an odd sweetness as well. I am immediately put off with this flavor and I am starting to plot exit strategies from my El Salvadorian warehouse. The back of the palate has some woody flavors, but the odd flavors from the front of the palate are giving me fits in this area as I try to divine something redeeming about the smoke. The draw is, sadly, right on the money. Someone over there really knows how to make a cigar as I can't recall having a Viaje that ever performed poorly. The burn is right in the swim lane as well and I can't see that I will have any issues with performance with this smoke.
The first half of the cigar stays way to one dimensional, and the dimension that we are in is very poor. The core profile continues to have some strange spice characteristics and I still can't put my finger on what this reminds me of. The back of the palate continues to show some wood notes, but there is a mineral like quality starting to show here as well. The lack of development here is really disappointing and it has me wondering about some of the people I smoke with, but to each his or her own goes that old saying. The draw is still spot on and I am saddened that such a solid performance is being wasted on a cigar that is not delivering the goods. The burn is still very solid.
The final half of the cigar stays in the same dimension as the rest. The profile shows no development, complexity or depth. The singular presentation of strange spice is doing nothing for me to this point at all. The back of the palate continues to show wood flavors, but the mineral impressions are coming on strong for me at this point and it really detracts from the experience. The draw stays very solid and I have been very impressed with the construction of this smoke from the word go. The burn catches a slight run in the last third, but I let it correct on it's own.
The finish was short and lingering sweet flavors that had some tartness lingered.
To say that I was disappointed here would be an understatement.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 80 just too one dimensional and that dimension was poor
Construction- 91 a very solid performance here
Strength- 85 a medium that was hard to judge against a poor profile
Overall- 85.75 construction really saves this smoke, I would not buy it again
Anyway, this cigar is from the long and seemingly endless supply of cigars from Viaje. I have reviewed many of their other cigars before and I have not been as highly impressed as some. This cigar presents well. The wrapper is excellent looking, it is supple and deep brown in color. There are very few veins in the wrapper and I am sure that it will smoke nicely. The band work is intricate, but too busy for my taste and some of the script is hard to decipher. The flair on the cigar was saved for the whimsical pigtail cap that adorns the head of this vitola. I am not usually one for unnecessary affectations, but this one seems to make the cigar seem more appealing. The pre light aroma shows some muted spice notes and some nice tobacco notes. The pre light draw was sweet and left some dusty residues on the lips and tongue.
The cigar opens with a profile that could best be described as weird. The flavor here is something in the spice family, but it is tart and has an odd sweetness as well. I am immediately put off with this flavor and I am starting to plot exit strategies from my El Salvadorian warehouse. The back of the palate has some woody flavors, but the odd flavors from the front of the palate are giving me fits in this area as I try to divine something redeeming about the smoke. The draw is, sadly, right on the money. Someone over there really knows how to make a cigar as I can't recall having a Viaje that ever performed poorly. The burn is right in the swim lane as well and I can't see that I will have any issues with performance with this smoke.
The first half of the cigar stays way to one dimensional, and the dimension that we are in is very poor. The core profile continues to have some strange spice characteristics and I still can't put my finger on what this reminds me of. The back of the palate continues to show some wood notes, but there is a mineral like quality starting to show here as well. The lack of development here is really disappointing and it has me wondering about some of the people I smoke with, but to each his or her own goes that old saying. The draw is still spot on and I am saddened that such a solid performance is being wasted on a cigar that is not delivering the goods. The burn is still very solid.
The final half of the cigar stays in the same dimension as the rest. The profile shows no development, complexity or depth. The singular presentation of strange spice is doing nothing for me to this point at all. The back of the palate continues to show wood flavors, but the mineral impressions are coming on strong for me at this point and it really detracts from the experience. The draw stays very solid and I have been very impressed with the construction of this smoke from the word go. The burn catches a slight run in the last third, but I let it correct on it's own.
The finish was short and lingering sweet flavors that had some tartness lingered.
To say that I was disappointed here would be an understatement.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 80 just too one dimensional and that dimension was poor
Construction- 91 a very solid performance here
Strength- 85 a medium that was hard to judge against a poor profile
Overall- 85.75 construction really saves this smoke, I would not buy it again
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Viaje Holiday Blend 2011 Petit Robusto (4.25x54)
It seems that there is no end to the Viaje lineup, every time I think that I have reached the promised land I find another blend that I have not tried. Why does this matter you may ask? Well, I have two reasons. First, I have made a commitment to you my friends, I will smoke every new cigar I can get my hands on and bring you my usual hard hitting reviews that I believe are some of the most honest in the blogosphere. After all, I am beholden to no one in the industry and I spend my own duckets on these smokes so I feel free to say what I experience. Second, I personally like to smoke as many new cigars as I can, I find it an entertaining way to expand my cigar horizons after twenty three years of smoking. With Viaje going the way they seem to be I will never be out of new smokes to sample.
This cigar is a short, thick log. The wrapper has a beautiful red/brown coloration that reminds me of a Colorado. It has a great sheen to it and looks good enough to eat. The band work is kind of simple, but I like the lack of pretension, almost as if the manufacturer would like the cigar to speak for itself without fancy adornments. The foot is unfinished which makes for some interesting visuals. The wrapper is well applied and has very few veins. The construction seems very nicely done to me, I can't find any voids or firm spots that would cause me concern. The pre light draw is fluid and smooth while imparting nice favors of coffee and cocoa. The pre light aroma also shows coffee and some nice spice.
The cigar opens with a profile that lacks some complexity and depth, but the core flavors are of coffee and light cocoa. I would like some more flavor to bind the early experience together a bit, but it is still nice for now. At the back of the palate there is a nice tobacco flavor and a light white pepper that provides a nice backdrop for a subtle opening experience. The draw is dead solid perfect, it is very seldom that I find a cigar that draws this way. The burn is pure and razor sharp producing a firm ash that doesn't fall off until about halfway through the smoke.
The first half of the cigar maintains a core profile of coffee flavors with some wisps of cocoa, but the depth of these flavors picks up a bit, which is a nice development. At the back of the palate a nice cedar flavor comes in and it complements the crisp tobacco flavor and intensifying notes of pepper in a nice little flavor package. As far as development of flavors goes I am very happy with the progression here. The draw continues to be a dream as it imparts perfect amounts of smoke with ease. The burn is still very solid and the construction of this cigar is a real highlight.
The final half of the smoke really does not progress much further. The core profile maintains coffee and cocoa flavors, but there is a bitter note that sneaks in during the last third that has a wet wood aftertaste to it. The back of the palate continues to show some cedar notes that become sharp which is a distraction in the last third. There also continues to be some nice pepper and tobacco notes in the last half. The draw and burn stay very solid right through to the end and construction is by far the most impressive attribute of this cigar.
The finish was a touch short and showed sharp cedar and wet wood flavors.
As far as the Viaje line goes this is not my favorite effort.
Appearance- 91 a very attractive smoke
Taste- 87 some nice moments in the first half, but the open and final half were sub par
Construction- 97 a real winner in this category
Strength- 88 a nice medium, Viaje claims it is full, I find that it misses that mark
Overall- 91.25 when a cigar performs this well construction wise it is always a winner, it could have been classic with a more developed profile
This cigar is a short, thick log. The wrapper has a beautiful red/brown coloration that reminds me of a Colorado. It has a great sheen to it and looks good enough to eat. The band work is kind of simple, but I like the lack of pretension, almost as if the manufacturer would like the cigar to speak for itself without fancy adornments. The foot is unfinished which makes for some interesting visuals. The wrapper is well applied and has very few veins. The construction seems very nicely done to me, I can't find any voids or firm spots that would cause me concern. The pre light draw is fluid and smooth while imparting nice favors of coffee and cocoa. The pre light aroma also shows coffee and some nice spice.
The cigar opens with a profile that lacks some complexity and depth, but the core flavors are of coffee and light cocoa. I would like some more flavor to bind the early experience together a bit, but it is still nice for now. At the back of the palate there is a nice tobacco flavor and a light white pepper that provides a nice backdrop for a subtle opening experience. The draw is dead solid perfect, it is very seldom that I find a cigar that draws this way. The burn is pure and razor sharp producing a firm ash that doesn't fall off until about halfway through the smoke.
The first half of the cigar maintains a core profile of coffee flavors with some wisps of cocoa, but the depth of these flavors picks up a bit, which is a nice development. At the back of the palate a nice cedar flavor comes in and it complements the crisp tobacco flavor and intensifying notes of pepper in a nice little flavor package. As far as development of flavors goes I am very happy with the progression here. The draw continues to be a dream as it imparts perfect amounts of smoke with ease. The burn is still very solid and the construction of this cigar is a real highlight.
The final half of the smoke really does not progress much further. The core profile maintains coffee and cocoa flavors, but there is a bitter note that sneaks in during the last third that has a wet wood aftertaste to it. The back of the palate continues to show some cedar notes that become sharp which is a distraction in the last third. There also continues to be some nice pepper and tobacco notes in the last half. The draw and burn stay very solid right through to the end and construction is by far the most impressive attribute of this cigar.
The finish was a touch short and showed sharp cedar and wet wood flavors.
As far as the Viaje line goes this is not my favorite effort.
Appearance- 91 a very attractive smoke
Taste- 87 some nice moments in the first half, but the open and final half were sub par
Construction- 97 a real winner in this category
Strength- 88 a nice medium, Viaje claims it is full, I find that it misses that mark
Overall- 91.25 when a cigar performs this well construction wise it is always a winner, it could have been classic with a more developed profile
Monday, March 12, 2012
Viaje Fifty Fifty Red Label No.3 (7x47)
I have been on a detour from my trip through the Viaje world recently. Frankly, I just have not enjoyed many of the blends thus far and there have been other, more interesting smokes to conquer in the meantime. There really is a ton of buzz amongst industry bloggers about this manufacturer and the overall impression from most of them would have us believe that these cigars are all classics. I don't get it, but I guess even the Edsel and the Corvair became classics at one point or another despite their poor performance.
This particular cigar has been hanging around in my humi for several months as I looked for a time to get to it. It is capped with a pigtail that gives the cigar a somewhat whimsical visual impression. The wrapper is nice looking, with few veins and no visible flaws. An inspection reveals a nice bunch and roll and I can't find any areas that cause me any concern at all. The pre light aroma is full of rich spices. The pre light draw shows some serious red pepper influences.
The cigar opens with a profile that is all hickory and red pepper, it is charming and enticing array of flavor as the wood provides a robust background for some serious pepper flavors early on. It is not as complex or deep as I would like, but it is showing some serious promise for development, after all it is very early in this smoke. At the back of the palate there are some very fine spice flavors that are showing through and some different pepper flavors that complement the front of the palate. The draw is exceptional, it is just the way I like it, fluid with a full provision of smoke with every draw. The burn is solid, but the ash is flaky.
The first half of the cigar continues to develop flavors. The core profile stays woody, mainly hickory, but there are some solid oak and cedar notes here as well. Red pepper continues to dance across the palate, but it is tantalizing, rather than overpowering and I find this subtle mix of flavor to be quite good. At the back of the palate there are still some spice notes, but a sweet oatmeal essence is also present and it takes some of the sting out of the peppery front of the experience. The draw is still fabulous. The burn has gone off just a bit due to a void in the very center of the bunch, but it is not terrible at this point.
The final half of the cigar performs solidly as well. The core profile become a full presentation of woods. Hickory, Oak and Pine are all present at one time or another and they are pleasing, but not as complex as I would like this late in an experience. The back of the palate continues to show spice notes, but not much else. The draw is one of the best I have experienced in awhile. The burn stays wonky to the end, and some retouch is necessary in the last third.
The finish was solid and showed some nice pepper and spice flavors.
In the end I am slightly disappointed that there was not more to this cigar in terms of profile, but was there was more than satisfactory, there just could have been so much more. This is by far my favorite Viaje blend to this point.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 89 a very solid performance that just came up a bit short
Construction- 89 also solid, but some burn issues take away points
Strength- 88 a very nice medium that transitions to full late in the smoke
Overall- 88.75 just short of being exceptional
This particular cigar has been hanging around in my humi for several months as I looked for a time to get to it. It is capped with a pigtail that gives the cigar a somewhat whimsical visual impression. The wrapper is nice looking, with few veins and no visible flaws. An inspection reveals a nice bunch and roll and I can't find any areas that cause me any concern at all. The pre light aroma is full of rich spices. The pre light draw shows some serious red pepper influences.
The cigar opens with a profile that is all hickory and red pepper, it is charming and enticing array of flavor as the wood provides a robust background for some serious pepper flavors early on. It is not as complex or deep as I would like, but it is showing some serious promise for development, after all it is very early in this smoke. At the back of the palate there are some very fine spice flavors that are showing through and some different pepper flavors that complement the front of the palate. The draw is exceptional, it is just the way I like it, fluid with a full provision of smoke with every draw. The burn is solid, but the ash is flaky.
The first half of the cigar continues to develop flavors. The core profile stays woody, mainly hickory, but there are some solid oak and cedar notes here as well. Red pepper continues to dance across the palate, but it is tantalizing, rather than overpowering and I find this subtle mix of flavor to be quite good. At the back of the palate there are still some spice notes, but a sweet oatmeal essence is also present and it takes some of the sting out of the peppery front of the experience. The draw is still fabulous. The burn has gone off just a bit due to a void in the very center of the bunch, but it is not terrible at this point.
The final half of the cigar performs solidly as well. The core profile become a full presentation of woods. Hickory, Oak and Pine are all present at one time or another and they are pleasing, but not as complex as I would like this late in an experience. The back of the palate continues to show spice notes, but not much else. The draw is one of the best I have experienced in awhile. The burn stays wonky to the end, and some retouch is necessary in the last third.
The finish was solid and showed some nice pepper and spice flavors.
In the end I am slightly disappointed that there was not more to this cigar in terms of profile, but was there was more than satisfactory, there just could have been so much more. This is by far my favorite Viaje blend to this point.
Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 89 a very solid performance that just came up a bit short
Construction- 89 also solid, but some burn issues take away points
Strength- 88 a very nice medium that transitions to full late in the smoke
Overall- 88.75 just short of being exceptional
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Viaje Fifty Fifty Black Label No.2 (6x50)
My tour of the much hyped Viaje line of cigars continues with this offering. To be perfectly frank, with the first couple of tries of this brand I have been decidedly confused about all the hullabaloo surrounding this frontmark. The cigars have been abundantly average and I have had some noted construction issues with the ones that I have smoked thus far. Always the cigar optimist (laughter not necessary), I trudge onward in search of the perfect cigar.
This one presents fairly well in a workman like fashion. The wrapper is robust looking and shows some nice amounts of tooth. The roll is finished with a pigtail cap, pigtails always seem to show some whimsical flair for me and I like the looks of them (on cigars, not necessarily women). An examination of the smoke leads to me to believe that I will not experience the issues I have found in some of the smokes from this line. The pre light aroma is spicy with some hints of bread and wheat. The pre light draw is really plain, showing some cardboard qualities and it makes the mouth a bit dry.
The cigar opens with a profile that is all wheat with some odd cereal or oatmeal qualities that are unexpected and not necessarily pleasant or welcome. At the back of the palate there is a floral sweetness that is paired with a wisp of cedar flavor that is coming off a touch charred. The burn is excellent to this point. The draw is a dream and I am relieved because of my prior experiences that have been trying to say the least.
The first half of the smoke really lacks depth, character and complexity. The profile is papery and sour, there may be some wheaty type flavors in the background, but they are not readily evident. The back of the palate still contains some floral flavors, but there is a metallic flavor here that is starting to taste like a mouthful of nickels. This really isn't all that great at this point and I am disappointed. The burn stays solid but I am seeing the formation of a small canoe and I am becoming concerned about what that will mean for the final half of the smoke. The draw stays solid to this point.
The final half of the cigar begins to warm up a little bit. The main profile begins to show some cinnamon flavors and some nice notes of wood, but it really lacks depth and that is what I am always looking for. Don't just talk to me about flavor, I want to know how deep the flavor is and whether it has balance and some nuance, this is still falling short. At the back of the palate there are still some metallic notes running through the experience, but they have faded and a more sharp cedar presentation is coming through. The burn is coming apart, the canoe extends for nearly an inch at this point and I am waiting to see what will happen (it eventually reverts back to normal around the canoe and I have to tap a burned out canoe husk into the tray). The draw stays solid to the end.
The finish was mediocre and showed some cedar flavor that was sharp.
All in all I continue to be unimpressed with these offerings.
Appearance- 87 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 81 no depth or complexity with metallic elements
Construction- 85 the burn issue was distracting, but the draw was solid
Strength- 85 a solid medium that did not add or subtract from the experience
Overall- 84 a below average smoke that has me wondering what all the hype has been about
This one presents fairly well in a workman like fashion. The wrapper is robust looking and shows some nice amounts of tooth. The roll is finished with a pigtail cap, pigtails always seem to show some whimsical flair for me and I like the looks of them (on cigars, not necessarily women). An examination of the smoke leads to me to believe that I will not experience the issues I have found in some of the smokes from this line. The pre light aroma is spicy with some hints of bread and wheat. The pre light draw is really plain, showing some cardboard qualities and it makes the mouth a bit dry.
The cigar opens with a profile that is all wheat with some odd cereal or oatmeal qualities that are unexpected and not necessarily pleasant or welcome. At the back of the palate there is a floral sweetness that is paired with a wisp of cedar flavor that is coming off a touch charred. The burn is excellent to this point. The draw is a dream and I am relieved because of my prior experiences that have been trying to say the least.
The first half of the smoke really lacks depth, character and complexity. The profile is papery and sour, there may be some wheaty type flavors in the background, but they are not readily evident. The back of the palate still contains some floral flavors, but there is a metallic flavor here that is starting to taste like a mouthful of nickels. This really isn't all that great at this point and I am disappointed. The burn stays solid but I am seeing the formation of a small canoe and I am becoming concerned about what that will mean for the final half of the smoke. The draw stays solid to this point.
The final half of the cigar begins to warm up a little bit. The main profile begins to show some cinnamon flavors and some nice notes of wood, but it really lacks depth and that is what I am always looking for. Don't just talk to me about flavor, I want to know how deep the flavor is and whether it has balance and some nuance, this is still falling short. At the back of the palate there are still some metallic notes running through the experience, but they have faded and a more sharp cedar presentation is coming through. The burn is coming apart, the canoe extends for nearly an inch at this point and I am waiting to see what will happen (it eventually reverts back to normal around the canoe and I have to tap a burned out canoe husk into the tray). The draw stays solid to the end.
The finish was mediocre and showed some cedar flavor that was sharp.
All in all I continue to be unimpressed with these offerings.
Appearance- 87 a nice looking smoke
Taste- 81 no depth or complexity with metallic elements
Construction- 85 the burn issue was distracting, but the draw was solid
Strength- 85 a solid medium that did not add or subtract from the experience
Overall- 84 a below average smoke that has me wondering what all the hype has been about
Monday, December 5, 2011
Viaje Skull and Bones 2011 Short Torpedo (4.5x54)
I continue my tour of the Viaje blends with the 2011 edition of the Skull and Bones collection. It seems fitting that I put light to flame on this cigar while watching Tiger Woods play golf, a man whose career could be symbolized by a Skull and Bones in the last two years. Of course as I smoke Tiger is in contention for his first win in nearly two years.
The name of these smokes is supposed to evoke an image of strength and a full bodied experience. If I were to judge a book by it's cover I would say that it will be just that. The wrapper is nearly black and glistens with heavy oils, it has few veins and looks somewhat intimidating despite a diminutive size. As to the dimensions of this smoke, I am no fan of short fat smokes, but this one looks pretty interesting to me for some reason. An examination reveals few flaws, of course an examination of Tiger a few years ago would yield no flaws either. My point being you can't always believe what you see. The pre light aroma is decidedly of dark fruit. The pre light draw is full of nicotine with some pepper flavors.
The cigar opens much like Tiger's first decade on the tour, nearly flawless. The profile is redolent with splendid flavors of pepper, wood and coffee. There is a slight sweetness here as well that hints strongly of pomengranate and cherry. At the back of the palate there is a deep and hearty tone of earth with a nicotine kick that puts the palate on notice. The draw is excellent, providing ample smoke with very little effort. The burn is solid and a sharp and crisp white ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar continues to perform very well, much like Tiger always did. The profile settles into a more simple presentation of pepper and wood, the sweetness fades away here and removes some complexity but the balance remains. At the back of the palate the earth notes have a complement of spice that is most pleasing and there are some sprays of a sturdy nutty flavor that is providing some nice character. The draw stays strong, though I note some tightening towards the middle of the cigar. The burn is still very solid.
The final half of the cigar closely parallels the last couple years of Tiger's career, in that there is some serious slippage in the performance. The profile becomes more one dimensional as the pepper flavors begin to dominate the front part of the palate. At the back of the palate the earthy flavors remain, but all else has fled the experience. This one dimensional development really detracts from the experience in the closing moments. The draw continues to tighten, but it does not become occluded, thus it is still smokeable. The burn stays solid to the end of the smoke.
The finish is smooth, but still shows only pepper and earth. In the end Tiger won in an impressive way by finishing birdie, birdie. I'm not sure the cigar get anything better than a double bogey in the closing moments.
Appearance- 92 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 87 some nice moments early, declining dimensions of character late in the smoke led to deductions
Construction- 88 a nice performance, but the tightening draw in the las half hurt the score
Strength- 87 a full offering, but it could have used some more power
Overall- 88.25 a well above average experience, that could have been so much more
The name of these smokes is supposed to evoke an image of strength and a full bodied experience. If I were to judge a book by it's cover I would say that it will be just that. The wrapper is nearly black and glistens with heavy oils, it has few veins and looks somewhat intimidating despite a diminutive size. As to the dimensions of this smoke, I am no fan of short fat smokes, but this one looks pretty interesting to me for some reason. An examination reveals few flaws, of course an examination of Tiger a few years ago would yield no flaws either. My point being you can't always believe what you see. The pre light aroma is decidedly of dark fruit. The pre light draw is full of nicotine with some pepper flavors.
The cigar opens much like Tiger's first decade on the tour, nearly flawless. The profile is redolent with splendid flavors of pepper, wood and coffee. There is a slight sweetness here as well that hints strongly of pomengranate and cherry. At the back of the palate there is a deep and hearty tone of earth with a nicotine kick that puts the palate on notice. The draw is excellent, providing ample smoke with very little effort. The burn is solid and a sharp and crisp white ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar continues to perform very well, much like Tiger always did. The profile settles into a more simple presentation of pepper and wood, the sweetness fades away here and removes some complexity but the balance remains. At the back of the palate the earth notes have a complement of spice that is most pleasing and there are some sprays of a sturdy nutty flavor that is providing some nice character. The draw stays strong, though I note some tightening towards the middle of the cigar. The burn is still very solid.
The final half of the cigar closely parallels the last couple years of Tiger's career, in that there is some serious slippage in the performance. The profile becomes more one dimensional as the pepper flavors begin to dominate the front part of the palate. At the back of the palate the earthy flavors remain, but all else has fled the experience. This one dimensional development really detracts from the experience in the closing moments. The draw continues to tighten, but it does not become occluded, thus it is still smokeable. The burn stays solid to the end of the smoke.
The finish is smooth, but still shows only pepper and earth. In the end Tiger won in an impressive way by finishing birdie, birdie. I'm not sure the cigar get anything better than a double bogey in the closing moments.
Appearance- 92 a very nice looking smoke
Taste- 87 some nice moments early, declining dimensions of character late in the smoke led to deductions
Construction- 88 a nice performance, but the tightening draw in the las half hurt the score
Strength- 87 a full offering, but it could have used some more power
Overall- 88.25 a well above average experience, that could have been so much more
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Viaje Platino Lancero (7.5x38)
After speaking with many other smokers about what is hot, and what is not, in the world of cigars I have heard about all sorts of brands. Of these mentioned brands Viaje seems to be the most often loved. Oddly, of the brands that have been mentioned it is also the most often maligned. How is it that a cigar becomes so polarizing amongst so many smokers? I have recently purchased just about every blend they make and I will be putting them to the rigid testing processes of the Czar and we will see how they stack up. Further, I will be looking for answers about the enigmatic nature of the cigars and the feedback that I have been getting.
This cigar already scores points with me because it comes in a lancero vitola, one of my favorite sizes. The cigar is touch rough looking and it really has no visual charm. The band work is drab and the band at the foot is applied too tightly and I have to remove it carefully because it will not slide off. Is there anything worse than nicking a wrapper because some nit wit put the foot band on too tight? The cigar is way underpacked, I can feel it when I roll it through my fingers. This is a bad sign because lanceros can be very temperamental if not made correctly. I am nervous about this smoke from the get go. The pre light aroma is full of spice and wood notes. The pre light draw is decidedly robust and woody.
The cigar opens with a profile that is pleasing, but somewhat thin in presentation of flavors. There are some nice notes of dark wood, light spice and some dark fruit, but they are all shallow and teasing rather than satisfying. At the back of the palate there are some really nice flavors of cocoa and tobacco, this really saves the first part of the smoke. The draw is far, far too loose, this is most likely the result of the loose construction that I noted in the pre light inspection. The burn is all over the place and runners and voids are everywhere in the opening moments.
The first half of the smoke moves very quickly, the combustion rate is far too high for a cigar of this size, and I again fault the loose bunch of the cigar. This leads to a hot burn as well, so I really slow it down to avoid the accumulating heat in the smoke. The flavor is nice, and some more depth and complexity is seeping into the offering. The profile shows some very nice wood and pepper notes that are robust and enticing. At the back of the palate there are some excellent flavors of earth and tobacco that are showing through. The issue continues to be the construction. The draw is too loose and the burn is a mess however, I have not had to re light to this point.
The final half of the smoke continues to be hindered by poor construction. The profile continues to show notes of wood and pepper and there is a light creamy aftertaste through the nose that is vanilla like. At the back of the palate a crisp tobacco flavor takes center stage and delivers a solid, if not spectacular, base of flavor. The draw continues to be inferior and the burn is a complete disaster by this point.
The finish was a touch harsh (I attribute this to the quick burn), but there were some wood and tobacco flavors.
Appearance- 87 not winning any looks contests
Taste- 88 the early issues hinder the smoke, but it was above average
Construction- 74 very, very poor and it led to a cigar that could have easily been unsmokable
Strength- 85 a solid medium
Overall- 82.75 killed by poor construction
This cigar already scores points with me because it comes in a lancero vitola, one of my favorite sizes. The cigar is touch rough looking and it really has no visual charm. The band work is drab and the band at the foot is applied too tightly and I have to remove it carefully because it will not slide off. Is there anything worse than nicking a wrapper because some nit wit put the foot band on too tight? The cigar is way underpacked, I can feel it when I roll it through my fingers. This is a bad sign because lanceros can be very temperamental if not made correctly. I am nervous about this smoke from the get go. The pre light aroma is full of spice and wood notes. The pre light draw is decidedly robust and woody.
The cigar opens with a profile that is pleasing, but somewhat thin in presentation of flavors. There are some nice notes of dark wood, light spice and some dark fruit, but they are all shallow and teasing rather than satisfying. At the back of the palate there are some really nice flavors of cocoa and tobacco, this really saves the first part of the smoke. The draw is far, far too loose, this is most likely the result of the loose construction that I noted in the pre light inspection. The burn is all over the place and runners and voids are everywhere in the opening moments.
The first half of the smoke moves very quickly, the combustion rate is far too high for a cigar of this size, and I again fault the loose bunch of the cigar. This leads to a hot burn as well, so I really slow it down to avoid the accumulating heat in the smoke. The flavor is nice, and some more depth and complexity is seeping into the offering. The profile shows some very nice wood and pepper notes that are robust and enticing. At the back of the palate there are some excellent flavors of earth and tobacco that are showing through. The issue continues to be the construction. The draw is too loose and the burn is a mess however, I have not had to re light to this point.
The final half of the smoke continues to be hindered by poor construction. The profile continues to show notes of wood and pepper and there is a light creamy aftertaste through the nose that is vanilla like. At the back of the palate a crisp tobacco flavor takes center stage and delivers a solid, if not spectacular, base of flavor. The draw continues to be inferior and the burn is a complete disaster by this point.
The finish was a touch harsh (I attribute this to the quick burn), but there were some wood and tobacco flavors.
Appearance- 87 not winning any looks contests
Taste- 88 the early issues hinder the smoke, but it was above average
Construction- 74 very, very poor and it led to a cigar that could have easily been unsmokable
Strength- 85 a solid medium
Overall- 82.75 killed by poor construction
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