Review: Viaje Holiday Blend (2009)
In December of 2009, Viaje introduced one of their first Limited Releases, dubbed the Holiday Blend; a 5 x 54 full bodied Nicaraguan puro with a Criollo wrapper. It will be an annual release, introduced every year around the winter holidays. Last years release (2009) was limited to 100 boxes of 30 cigars (so only 3,000 total cigars), so if you haven’t got around to getting some you might have a hard time now as they sold out very quickly. In recent months Viaje has come out with numerous Limited Release cigars, (including the Skull and Bones, Double Edged Sword, Summerfest and the TNT, to name a few), all of which have been very well received. Let’s take a look at the limited release that opened the flood gates.
- Cigar Reviewed: Viaje Holiday Blend (2009)
- Country of Origin: Honduras
- Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Raíces Cubanas S. de R.L. (Raíces Cubanas)
- Wrapper: Nicaragua Criollo
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Size: 5 Inches
- Ring Gauge: 54
- Vitola: Robusto Gordo
- MSRP $8.75
- Release Date: December 2009
- Number of Cigars Released: 100 Boxes of 30 Cigars (3,000 Total Cigars)
- Number Of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3
The Viaje Holiday Blend is very well constructed and has a nice deep chocolate colored wrapper with minimal veins and a gorgeous triple cap. It also has a covered foot, which adds to the overall beauty of the cigar. The stick has a very firm feel with no soft spots anywhere and is also an extremely dense cigar, one that has a great weight in your hand when holding it. The prelight aroma is a very sweet tobacco scent, with some chocolate and a light nuttiness and the pre-light draw has just an overall sweet tobacco taste with a touch of woodiness.
The Holiday Blend gets right into stride in the First Third, with a strong cedar flavor as well as a blast of spice. It’s full bodied right away and the smoke has a very heavy and “hot” feel to it. Mid-way through the first third I started to get a nice coffee and some leather notes as well. It has a very long finish with a bit of pepper at the very end. A very nice opening!
As I come into the Second Third, the cedar, coffee and leather are still making up the main profile, but the cigar has turned even richer. An overall earthy flavor takes hold as well; a very heavy flavor like wet earth or damp wood, and it’s very enjoyable. The burn is fine so far and the cigar is giving off lots of smoke with each puff.
Coming into the Final Third, the flavors haven’t changed much from the first two. The boldness has increased, and is more “in your face”. Towards the end the cigar heated up a bit too much for me, and I nubbed it just shortly after taking the band off.
Final Notes:
- The over all performance of the cigar was wonderful. It has an excellent draw, amazing burn and it produced a good amount of smoke with every puff.
- The only negative I have is the way the cigar got hot at the end. I am thinking some age in the humidor will solve this problem as it is still a very young cigar.
- The Final Smoking Time was 1 hour 9 minutes.
The Bottom Line: I think the Viaje Holiday Blend is an extremely good cigar. I definitely feel that, like most of the Limited Editions Viaje has released, it is a much better cigar than any of their regular line. It has bold flavors of cedar, coffee and leather and was nice and full bodied. Even though it has a very large ring gauge at 54, it doesn’t feel overly massive in your hand and isn’t quite as much of a jawbreaker as you might think. Along with the great flavors, it also had wonderful construction, and if I come across more of these I will be buying them, for sure, I also feel it will age beautifully down the road.
Final Score: 91
I've heard both positive and negartive comments on the Viaje. The only ones I have smoked were the TNTs, but I wasn't overly impressed by them.
Nice review Steve. I've only had one Viaje and that was a 50/50. Which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Very interesting
Wish I could find a shop that carried these locally. Their LE lines are highly reviewed.
never tried a viaje, maybe this will be the first...
nice review.....they rock!!
Great review - these are right up my alley. I adore the new DES.
Thanks for the review. I enjoyed the Skull & Bones Daisy Cutter and look forward to trying other Viaje smokes.
Awesome,
Never ever seen one of these!
T ron,
The correct amount is 3,000 cigars total. Thanks for catching that typo!
-steve
Always thought about buying it at NHC...but....would love to try one?
What are your thoughts on their non=special releases?
Nice Review Steve! I guess I need to try and hunt a few of these down.
These things rock, great review! I did a review right when they came out and scored it a 90 I think... had one recently and must agree that they aged quite well
aj
I have not had the pleasure of trying this one..but I did smoke another summerfest torp tonight and I absolutely love that cigar..if this is anything like that one (and from what I have heard there are some similarities) then it must be a winner...thanks for the review Steve!
Great review...I love this cigar.
The intro says they made 100 boxes of 30 or 30,000. Which one is right? 3,000 or 30,000 cigars produced.
Thanks again for an awesome review! Keep 'em coming.
Just throwing my name into the hat for this tasty looking stick.
Tried extremely hard to get my hands on a single...no success :) Everyone who has reviewed it has loved it.
Thanks for the review. Looking forward to some of the special releases
Great review!
Have not had a chance to try anything from Viaje yet. This looks and sounds like a great addition to a relaxing night with a few Guiness Extra Stouts!
Great Review.
These Viaje cigars are starting to peak my interest. Thanks!
Great review. Although I'm not too familiar with Viaje cigars, I'm definitely interested in smoking this blend after reading your review.
This was a great review for the Holiday...
Interesting that they have their special blends down, while the regular line in not overly impressive.
Like the covered foot.
nice review! I havent had a chance to smoke many Viajes.
I have yet to try any Viajes... though I have a number of them through CA forum contests. I guess I need to jump on the bandwagon and see what its all about considering how well they are reviewing here.
Seems I too am a member of the Never Had a Viaje Club...my nearest tobacconist is a four hour drive one way though, so it's not for lack of want on my part...
Thanks for the review!
Nice Review. I have yet to try Viaje (anything), so I guess I should get some smokes!
wasn't able to get any of these....
Great review! Missed out on these when my local had them.
love the closed foot
Great review! Haven't seen any of these or viajes in general at my shops.
Haven't been able to get my hands on a Viaje LR, but the platino is fantastic... haven't had an oro or 50/50 yet.
Why didn't they give it a better looking band? I suppose that isn't too important, though.
Ring gauge of 54 wow. There seems to be more and more large rg cigars coming out.
Great review; I haven't tried any Viaje yet; but I got a Viaje Oro as part of a gift I will try it soon.
Great review!
Is there no end to the viaje limited editions? Merry Christmas to me.
Great review steve, will probably pick up some on this years release....
Muy Bueno Brooks,
keep on smokin dude!
Great review, wish they sold these where im from.
Nice review. The Holiday/Skull/and DES are definitely my favorite so far of the Viajes lineup.
Thanks for the review! I haven't tried many Viaje's because none of my local shops carry them. Would be interested in trying this one.
Low traffic day... Summer?
Nice smoke!
don't know why, but i've never even picked a viaje up.
Looks like a great smoke. Would love to try one of these. Thanks for the review!