Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo 99 (Cafe Rosado)

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Shape: Torpedo

Size: 6 1/2 x 50 (8 inches if including the foot)

Country: Honduras

Production: 200 boxes of 30 (50 boxes for robusto)

Well it’s that time of year again with the release of Viaje Summerfest 2011 approaching very soon. I thought I would review the Viaje Summerfest 2010 just because I haven’t and it would give everyone an idea on last year’s Summerfest and what to possibly look forward to this year. I decide to review the Torpedo shape with the large shaggy foot, 1.5 inches to be exact. These were easier to come across instead of the very limited release of the robusto, without the shaggy foot. The robusto which are 5 x 50 were not meant to be made as the story goes because they were an accident but, Andre decided to release them anyways as a ultra limited release. This Viaje has the biggest foot I have ever seen so far, making the Gurkha Vintage Shaggy look like nothing. This cigar is a excellent annual smoke that Viaje puts each year but, to start off it’s not something that’s mind blowing. Don’t get me wrong I’m not bashing on Viaje at all this is just the kind of stick that I would suggest you have as a higher end everyday, medium-bodied smoke. Viaje in my mind hasn’t yet to put out something that’s sub par.

To start off the construction on this cigar is great and the initial light flavors evoke a woody tobacco that’s not overwhelming. The initial third after getting past the foot has a mild spice with a toasty wood flavor and a mild underlying earth tone that rounds out good. Some of you might be thinking you didn’t say how the foot was? The foot just basically had just your standard tobacco flavor to it. In my opinion taking the foot off brings out a bit more flavor in this cigar. I suggest taking off the foot if you don’t like that kind of thing, it’s decently windy where ever you are because there were embers that came off occasionally, or you don’t have all the time in the world to smoke because it adds some time to smoking. I’ll leave that decision to you. As for the second third the spice relaxes down and the wood/earth mix pops out more with the smoke becoming more creamy with some bitterness like a dark cocoa. The ash at this point is a dark gray, a decent amount of smoke, draw smooth, and a tight burn with no touch ups needed. The last third and finish had the toasty wood become most prominent along with the cocoa bitterness that was overpowering at all. This cigar is great down to the very last bit. If the new Summerfest is anything like the 2010 then this will be another great annual treat. My suggestion is to pick up yourself one of these before the release Viaje Summerfest 2011. Especially if you have yet to try a cigar with a foot because its a fun, different experience from the norm.