Vitola: Corona Gorda?
Size: 4.5″ x 48 ring gauge
Price ~$7
Obtained From SmallBatchCigar.com as a review sample
Background
This is one of the latest small batch releases from Viaje. This release was paired with the Jalapeño that came out shortly after. For all of you that don’t live along the southern border chicharrones are Mexican pork rinds. Like their namesake this release comes in Original, Bold, and Spicy. They come packed in bundles of 30 with each box containing one bundle of each “flavor”. The differences as far as I can tell are a different wrapper. The Original has a corojo, Bold a maduro, and Spicy a criollo. This was the second of this blend I was able to try.
Prelight
The wrapper on this cigar was a medium brown in color with a hint of ruddiness to it. There were some good oils and some tooth to the wrapper. When I gave it a squeeze there was a slight amount of give with no soft spots. I did notice that the band was a bit long for the cigar as it covered part of the C. It could have been adjusted a bit and not done this I think though. As I put my nose to the wrapper I noted a light barnyard with a slightly more intense barnyard from the foot. After clipping it and taking a cold draw on it I noted a slight amount of sweetness with a good draw.
Flavor
As with most Viaje’s I’ve tried this one starts off with a blast of spice on the retrohale and tongue. After a few puffs the spice mellowed out a bit and I was able to discern some other flavors, cinnamon, leather and a bit of marshmallow all with a sweet finish. The cigar started off at the bottom end of full strength. When I got to the second third the spice had mellowed a bit, but not gone completely away. The flavors changed slightly to leather, green herbs and earth all with the sweet finish. The cigar actually went down in strength to medium. Once I got into the final third the spice did start to come back. The flavors were slightly changed to leather, earth and graham all with the same sweet finish. The cigar built into the medium-full range by the end.
Construction
The draw throughout was perfect and it produced a large volume of smoke. The burn line was a bit uneven and needed one correction but by the final third it was just about even.
Value
It is nice to see a limited run Viaje that isn’t $10+.
Conclusions
I definitely enjoyed this cigar. The spice was nice but not the overwhelming flavor like I’ve had from some Viaje’s before. While it has a bit of strength to it it should be approachable by most. And for those of you that have accused me of reviewing cigars made of unobtanium you can pick up yours from our sponsor here. And don’t forget to use the ‘leafenthusiast’ discount code!
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
Good to see a Viaje release that doesn’t overpower you at some point.The profile sounds great and the price is reasonable.
Happy Earth Day!
Nice. I think I’d love this one.
Looks like a nice stick. Worth a try ! Thanks
Sounds good, pepper with some sweetness…awesome.
Ehhhh Viaje, has never been one that I was really excited about the few I have had were ok but in my opinion very over priced, plus I think their cigar names have a lot to be desired.