danthebugman
BoM Nov '10
Viaje Skull & Bones - 2nd Release
Size: 4.5 x 54
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Criollo '98
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Beverage: Water
Here we are, the first review of the weekend and I'm starting it off with the Viaje Skull & Bones 2nd Release. I reviewed the original S&B (aka Daisy Cutter) back in August of last year and loved it so have been looking forward to this one, but it kept getting burried toward the bottom of the humidor. Wife's gone, kid's asleep, let's get to smokin'...
Initial inspection reveals a well constructed cigar. Hell it's downright sexy looking. A gorgeous dark brown wrapper with reddish mottling. Features a closed foot, which is always cool. The band is still bad ass, though didn't glow in the dark as much as I thought it would. No biggie as I'm smoking the cigar not the band. Feels well packed and has a good weight to it.
The bands were sliding around and it was annoying me so I went ahead and just took 'em off. Scalped the cap with my Palio and reveals a slightly loose draw. Cold draw flavor was a light cinnamon. Not a cooking spice cinnamon...more of a Big Red gum cinnamon. Only not as intense. With the closed foot it was a little difficult to get the cigar lit evenly. Once lit, it thundered out smoke like a freight train.
Initial flavors were a lively peppercorn with an underlying cinnamon (again the Big Red kind). Burn was nice and sharp. After about an inch or so into the cigar the peppercorn died down a little and let a mild leathery flavor join in. Definitely a unique profile and one I was digging quite a bit.
Ash has been layering well and the bright white color contrasts nicely against the darker cigar. Flavors remained much the same, maybe a little weakening of the peppercorn.
By about the half way point the peppercorn had toned down quite a bit and I was getting a slight meaty flavor with some leather and that cinnamon still. Unfortunately around this time is also when I started experiencing some burn issues. At first I was blaming the slightly loose draw, I really feel that it needed a bit more resistance to get a good burn when drawing on the cigar. But then it went out without any warning. Tapped off the ash, re-lit, and no detectable deterioration in the flavors.
Since re-lighting the ash has gotten a little flaky and the cigar has been burning unevenly. The flavors were starting to get a little muted also. Not sour or anything, just not as prominent.
I ended it shortly after the last pic, the burn issues were just becoming a pain to keep up with. Overall I liked the flavors I got from this cigar, they were definitely not something you see very often. However the burn issues were a pain and I wish I had another one or two to see if it was just this stick or if it's something more. But I don't so maybe some guys can chime in with their experiences. I would recommend this cigar if you can find some. They've all been snatched up at this point and I think you may have a hard time prying them from the back of someone's vinotemp.
Dan
Size: 4.5 x 54
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Criollo '98
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Beverage: Water
Here we are, the first review of the weekend and I'm starting it off with the Viaje Skull & Bones 2nd Release. I reviewed the original S&B (aka Daisy Cutter) back in August of last year and loved it so have been looking forward to this one, but it kept getting burried toward the bottom of the humidor. Wife's gone, kid's asleep, let's get to smokin'...
Initial inspection reveals a well constructed cigar. Hell it's downright sexy looking. A gorgeous dark brown wrapper with reddish mottling. Features a closed foot, which is always cool. The band is still bad ass, though didn't glow in the dark as much as I thought it would. No biggie as I'm smoking the cigar not the band. Feels well packed and has a good weight to it.
The bands were sliding around and it was annoying me so I went ahead and just took 'em off. Scalped the cap with my Palio and reveals a slightly loose draw. Cold draw flavor was a light cinnamon. Not a cooking spice cinnamon...more of a Big Red gum cinnamon. Only not as intense. With the closed foot it was a little difficult to get the cigar lit evenly. Once lit, it thundered out smoke like a freight train.
Initial flavors were a lively peppercorn with an underlying cinnamon (again the Big Red kind). Burn was nice and sharp. After about an inch or so into the cigar the peppercorn died down a little and let a mild leathery flavor join in. Definitely a unique profile and one I was digging quite a bit.
Ash has been layering well and the bright white color contrasts nicely against the darker cigar. Flavors remained much the same, maybe a little weakening of the peppercorn.
By about the half way point the peppercorn had toned down quite a bit and I was getting a slight meaty flavor with some leather and that cinnamon still. Unfortunately around this time is also when I started experiencing some burn issues. At first I was blaming the slightly loose draw, I really feel that it needed a bit more resistance to get a good burn when drawing on the cigar. But then it went out without any warning. Tapped off the ash, re-lit, and no detectable deterioration in the flavors.
Since re-lighting the ash has gotten a little flaky and the cigar has been burning unevenly. The flavors were starting to get a little muted also. Not sour or anything, just not as prominent.
I ended it shortly after the last pic, the burn issues were just becoming a pain to keep up with. Overall I liked the flavors I got from this cigar, they were definitely not something you see very often. However the burn issues were a pain and I wish I had another one or two to see if it was just this stick or if it's something more. But I don't so maybe some guys can chime in with their experiences. I would recommend this cigar if you can find some. They've all been snatched up at this point and I think you may have a hard time prying them from the back of someone's vinotemp.
Dan
