Viaje Collaboration 2014 Toro Review

[Cardinal]

Cigar: Viaje Collaboration 2014
Vitola: Toro 6" x 52
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
MSRP: ~$11.50

Initial Impression/Prelight
The Viaje Collaboration had an even, medium-brown wrapper. It appeared oilless, if that's a word, and was very smooth, almost skin-like. The cigar had a nice triple cap, a medium box press, and a partially closed foot, and looks and well put together.

The aroma from the wrapper and foot was leathery and spicy. The cold draw gave a little bit of nuttiness and more spices, and was fairly firm which is what I prefer.

I nearly always let my new arrivals rest for 3 months nowadays, but based on what I've heard about this project I was too eager to wait. This cigar has been in my humi at 65% for 5 weeks.



1st Third
The primary flavor in the first section is a generic woodiness with a tinge of bitterness through the first inch. I also picked up leather and not a lot else but some light, undefined spices. Smoke production is good, and the burn is wavy. No touch-ups required though, and I'll give the cigar a pass here given the short time in my humidor to acclimate.

2nd Third
Mostly woodiness still, maybe oak. Honestly I didn't didn't up much change coming into this section, although I did need a relight as the cigar went out unexpectedly once.



Final Third
The profile has been fairly dry to this point, but comes more to a middle-of-the-road for me - not creamy but not entirely dry either. I picked up some bitter cocoa power and light spiciness, with just a touch of pepper. I had to retouch a few times, but nothing too serious. Strength ended at medium for me, and around medium flavor as well.



Overall Impression
The Collaboration was ok, but I thought it was pretty one-dimensional for the first 2/3 of the cigar. I can't knock the burn line, given the short period of time I gave it to adjust to my preferred smoking humidity. However, the flavors didn't wow me. The woodiness dominated most of the smoking session while I wished for more leather, but I will say the final section was much better with the spiciness and cocoa powder coming in.

I've got four more in the humidor, and I'll wait a couple months and come back here to update. In the meantime, I'd give it a shot as a single if you're a corojo fan, but otherwise I'd hold off.

[jp1979]

The size and shape reminds me of the Casa Fernandez Miami 35th with a different wrapper on it. I almost pulled the trigger on these 10x's and now I am glad I didn't. Thanks for the review!