Viaje Cigars

[whodeeni]

I think the best of the recent releases are the HHG's. I smoked one last week
and was blown away. The 2011 Holiday Blend are stellar, and the Exclusivo Lancero's
are finally smoking GRRREAT! (I smoked on last night as a part of my Bday lineup, and
it never went out!) *lol*

I'll agree, in recent years, a lot of their releases have been hit/miss, but if you can find
a local (in your area) that has them on the shelf, you can always smoke one before
buying a box to see if they fit your palate.

 

[StocktonJohn]

The VOR and VPR don't get much love but they are solid IMHO. If you can find these they are worth a try... Especially with a bit of age.

 

[MarkJr]

Viajes are a polarizing subject for me. Some of my favorite smokes of all time are Viaje, but then on the other hand some of the smokes that I was pissed about buying the most were Viaje as well. This year definitely represents a change in my attitude towards them. They have come out with so much stuff in terms of limited editions and most have been a real let down. For instance the Super Shot releases were really good, but almost everything else has been disappointing. I have reached a point where I am simply not interested in spending my time and money chasing these down. But that being said if you can find some of the aged Oro and Platino, exclusive blend and Daisy cutters you should rellly try them

 

[SDShark]

I have a few Viajes I got through trade resting in the humi. I always hear/read great things about this brand and the blends.

 

[Goalee1]

Always an interesting topic. IMO a company needs to first start off with a solid base line and any LE's should be for example, if there happened to be a fantastic tobacco that's come across and there is only enough to produce a limited run, or a difficult to roll shape/size where you just couldn't roll enough for it to be a regular production stick.
Viaje started off with a decent base line but just not compelling or different enough to sell regularly. Then the daisy cutter comes out and news travels through the grapevine that this LE is good. That sells out, and people who were driven to the brand want to try other violas so they try the oro and platinos, and while decent, are just average. Instead of making improvements/changes to the base lines, concentration is placed on the next LE, that sells but people are not buying the base line. Fast foward, they decide that since the base lines arent selling, they'll concentrate on LEs. This is a shame for consumers as most of us are tired of the chase.
Also, 9/10 of their sticks are just not ready. I've come to the point where I can for the most part anticipate how a stick will taste with a little bit of down time so that helps a little. Not complaining as its the same with wine, but being limited in nature, and anticipating that they'll not be ready now, they just aren't on the top of my list of sticks to procure.
Again IMO, with the recent, "re-releases" of a couple of the LE's, I think that they're just rationing the sticks/tobacco and rolling/releasing them as LE's so that they'll sell out.
Best thing to do is if you have a B&M that sells them by stick, buy one or two that way you're not stuck with a box you won't like.
This being said, I am a fan of their exclusivo blend, but most the other sticks are good but not great. There are too many other sticks that are good which are more accessible and at a better price point. Interestingly, one of the best Viaje sticks I've smoked is one that was a factory second.
When it comes down to it, smoke what you like and spend the time chasing them down if you wish, if you don't want to, move on to the next one. There is a huge pool out there now so choices are great. G1

 

[bigbwalls]

Here are a few I've smoked:

White Label - It was horrible. Horrible.

Late Harvest - Love 'em. Strong and peppery.

Skull and Bones (not the originals, the one with the black band and white skull and is a petite torpedo) - Not bad at all. A little one dimensional, but decent enough flavors.

TNT - A very unique flavor but the cigar was incredibly boring.

Exclusivo Lancero - Pretty good when I could keep it lit. I have some resting right now and intend to return to them with some age.

Holiday Blend 2011 - I wasn't blown away by any means. A little overpriced for being a small robusto. I wouldn't buy them again.


As you can see I've only smoked a few of their lines. The only one that shined was the Late Harvest.

 

[mjohop]

Viaje, in my opinion, is really hit and miss and struggle with it. Some of the stuff has great flavor, I really enjoy the Friends and Family, Late Harvest, and Reserva. Some of the WLP stuff has been kind of a let down and some of the stuff, like the Skull and Bones has an over-powering strength unless it sits for a while.

 

[ATL]

Viaje, in my opinion, is really hit and miss and struggle with it. Some of the stuff has great flavor, I really enjoy the Friends and Family, Late Harvest, and Reserva. Some of the WLP stuff has been kind of a let down and some of the stuff, like the Skull and Bones has an over-powering strength unless it sits for a while.

This.

The new honey and hand grenades is awful but some of the other stuff is great.

 

[Mickeymorris626]

Always an interesting topic. IMO a company needs to first start off with a solid base line and any LE's should be for example, if there happened to be a fantastic tobacco that's come across and there is only enough to produce a limited run, or a difficult to roll shape/size where you just couldn't roll enough for it to be a regular production stick.
Viaje started off with a decent base line but just not compelling or different enough to sell regularly. Then the daisy cutter comes out and news travels through the grapevine that this LE is good. That sells out, and people who were driven to the brand want to try other violas so they try the oro and platinos, and while decent, are just average. Instead of making improvements/changes to the base lines, concentration is placed on the next LE, that sells but people are not buying the base line. Fast foward, they decide that since the base lines arent selling, they'll concentrate on LEs. This is a shame for consumers as most of us are tired of the chase.
Also, 9/10 of their sticks are just not ready. I've come to the point where I can for the most part anticipate how a stick will taste with a little bit of down time so that helps a little. Not complaining as its the same with wine, but being limited in nature, and anticipating that they'll not be ready now, they just aren't on the top of my list of sticks to procure.
Again IMO, with the recent, "re-releases" of a couple of the LE's, I think that they're just rationing the sticks/tobacco and rolling/releasing them as LE's so that they'll sell out.
Best thing to do is if you have a B&M that sells them by stick, buy one or two that way you're not stuck with a box you won't like.
This being said, I am a fan of their exclusivo blend, but most the other sticks are good but not great. There are too many other sticks that are good which are more accessible and at a better price point. Interestingly, one of the best Viaje sticks I've smoked is one that was a factory second.
When it comes down to it, smoke what you like and spend the time chasing them down if you wish, if you don't want to, move on to the next one. There is a huge pool out there now so choices are great. G1

I completely agree with you! I'm just sick of even spending $8 for a single to find out its a muddled "too young" cigar that might taste okay in a few months/years. Too many other good blends/brands.
But the S&B fat man was one of my all time favorite "full body" sticks. I guess it's just the newer stuff that I have lost interest in

 

[KcJason1]

Most viaje are just ok sticks. They are way overpriced IMO.. Rather take a couple great habanos for the price of one mediocre viaje!