TX Duo Review - Viaje Birthday Collector's Edition Part II (2024)

[Çnote]

I tried to review this cigar, but I ended up smoking it. I didn't even take pictures, so we're really leaning on @Capn_Jackson for anything significant. I'll just ramble about Viaje for a minute.

Viaje doesn't make core lines. They've announced core production at least once, but for whatever reason it hasn't happened. They do make certain bands regularly, and at least one blend annually, but constant production isn't the theme. Birthday Blend is a special blend for the owner's birthday, usually packed in 38 per box (interesting story involving FDA regulations), always a torpedo, and has been released every year since 2016 except 2021. In 2022 two blends were released, both in 38s, one in a maduro wrapper with gold trim. In 2024, two blends were again released, this time in 25s, both with Collectors Editions bands, part II with a Criollo wrapper announced, and part I with a SA maduro wrapper allegedly. Viaje uses the Collectors Edition band occasionally for cigars that have had multiple releases and signifies a blend/vitola combination that will not be used again for that particular band.

If you wanted to use a couple words to describe Viaje's collective style, I'd say "big & nuanced." They are certainly cigars that IMHO improve with age. There's a fair amount of discussion about a perceived  marketing shell game of constant limited releases of freshly rolled, young tobacco, but I'd say that's pretty much what all NC marketing has become over the past few years (and let's face it, CC as well). Perhaps in response to this, some of this year's Viaje releases had extra resting time before shipping. Viaje has also avoided big price increases on boxes, so you'll often see releases of bands years apart at about the same price. 

My words of caution would be that Viaje smokes reasonably well ROTT and then is often in a dumb phase for a couple months, if not a year or more. To me, they ship 'wet' and perform much better in the low 60%s humidity-wise. Does any of this sound familiar?

Some pepper, lots of rich tobacco, not a lot of nuance. Dates. oatmeal, touch of toasted sugar. Very enjoyable, but I'm pretty sure this will be better down the road.

[Capn_Jackson]

So for my part, knowing less about the business of cigars, I’m just going to spout what I tasted 😆

Viaje Birthday Blend 2024, Criollo 98

Lovely medium-dark sheen on this wrapper, just a little bumpy and with the slightly slightest bit of tooth.

The draw on this is very open, maybe just a touch too free. Cold draw gives me a nutty aroma, tiny bits of candy sugar, and a saccharine finish. Not unpleasant saccharine, just an interesting touch.

Light-up puff has a bit more sweetness, less saccharine. More of a dark agave. Some red fruits and coffee. Going on, somewhat the same, but there’s a nice Cointreau wash over the finish. Very NC in its presentation and balance. Only a hint of baking spice, and just a touch of pepper in the nose. Very rich, and loads of flavor, but also easy to smoke. Strength seems to be a few notches over medium, hard to tell yet, and a very dry thick powdery texture. 

Occasionally throughout the opening third, traces of dark cherry or prunes make their way into the envelope, combining with a little bit of stout in the mix. Eventually, this settles into a honeyed almond, sort of baclava with almonds instead of walnut, with some candied cherry and vanilla. Still more than a bit of orange liqueur.

The second act shifts to slightly more earthy flavors, some coffee and some hay,  it still retains that sweet baklava from before. Instead of almond, it’s a more traditional walnut baclava now. The mouthfeel has also become oily, a great viscous mouthfeel.

Around the halfway point, still great sweet flavors and voluminous smoke. The burn line, too, has remained constant throughout. Less honeyed baclava here, mostly citrus liquor and agave, also a little bit of treacle. Still getting some candied cherries here and there.

The last third of this stick has somewhat fizzled. There is still a sweet nuttiness, and lots of coffee notes, but all the richness from before has disappeared. Still pleasant enough, but this was such a flavor bomb for the first two thirds, that this ending is pretty anticlimactic. Somewhat like a Led Zeppelin concert would be if they started with Immigrant Song, then finished with an acoustic set. Again, can’t complain about the last third in and of itself, it’s just a very mild ending after such richness that had been up to that point.

With a little over an inch left, some agave sweetness comes back, but turns bitter quickly. Excellent construction throughout this smoke, great burn, volumes of smoke, and very rich on the palate for most of the stick. Strength, to me, hovered a few notches over medium, close to medium-full. Because of the lack-luster final act, and bitterness at the end, I rate this about an 86.