Viaje Full Moon Collector’s Edition 2016

For four years now Viaje has been releasing a Halloween-themed cigar called the Full Moon.

Both 2013 and 2014 saw the same blend, while 2015 had both the regular blend and an Edición Limitada blend. All four versions stayed the same 5 x 58 size, up until 2016. Viaje decided to do the 2016 release as a Collector’s Edition, which means it’s a special, previously unreleased size for the line, using the same blend and is limited production. Viaje has previously done this with four other lines: the Viaje Oro Collector’s Edition 2012 Fuerza, Viaje Exclusivo Collector’s Edition 2013 Double Edged Sword II, and then in 2014 the Viaje Skull and Bones Ten Ton Tess Collector’s Edition and Viaje Skull and Bones Ten Ton Tess Gold Collector’s Edition.

This will mark the fifth release in the Full Moon line:

• Viaje Full Moon 2013 (5 x 58) — 400 Bundles of 24 Cigars (9,600 Total Cigars) — $11.42 (Bundles of 24, $274)
• Viaje Full Moon 2014 (5 x 58) — n/a — $11.42 (Bundles of 24, $274)
• Viaje Full Moon 2015 (5 x 58) — 300 Bundles of 24 Cigars (7,200 Total Cigars) — $11.42 (Bundles of 24, $274)
• Viaje Full Moon Edición Limitada 2015 (5 x 58) — n/a — $14.75 (Bundles of 24, $354)
• Viaje Full Moon Collector’s Edition 2016 (6 x 56) – n/a – $10.42 (Boxes of 24, $250)

• Cigar Reviewed: Viaje Full Moon Collector’s Edition 2016
• Country of Origin: n/a
• Factory: n/a
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Length: 6
• Ring Gauge: 56
• Vitola: Toro Gordo
• MSRP: $10.42 (Boxes of 24, $250)
• Release Date: October 2016
• Number of Cigars Released: n/a
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

The Full Moon Collector’s Edition has the same band as the regular release, with the addition of the “Collector’s Edition” band on the foot. It’s dark brown wrapper has a soft, oily feel to it. Three different samples give me three different results when squeezed, with one having many soft spots, another only having a couple and the third which has no soft spots at all and only a little uniform give to it. The wrapper doesn’t offer much in the way of an aroma, with only a little light cinnamon, spice and hay. Quite similar is the cold draw, with very mild flavors of spice and a touch of fruit.

Starting into the first third there is a blast of black pepper and some harsh spice – it’s quite dominating and I can’t really detect anything else at this point. On the first sample, the burn starts out perfect and continues impressively, while the other two experience wavy burn lines almost from the very start. SImilarly, the ash varies wildly, one quite dense, another that holds on but has some flakiness to it, and the third barely able to hold on to a quarter inch, practically disintegrating everywhere. After about an inch the black pepper and harsh spice have all but disappeared, instead leaving a warmer, pleasant spice note, with hints of hazelnut, cedar and a touch of worcestershire sauce.

Moving into the second third the warm spice note continues, with cinnamon, hazelnut, cedar and a touch of the worcestershire sauce still hanging around. The burn lines of two samples continue to be quite wavy, while the third that was doing so well in the first third, needs a little touch up to keep it going evenly. A roasty coffee note emerges to add to the mix, pairing nicely with the cinnamon, hazelnut and cinnamon. The worcestershire sauce note hanging in the background has faded all the way out, which while an odd addition to the mix, does leave it somewhat less interesting. A slight bitterness is starting to show it’s head, which is an unfortunate development, but one that isn’t overly affecting the profile too much.

The final third of the Viaje Full Moon Collector’s Edition 2016 starts with the bitterness having grown, drowning out the more subtle notes of hazelnut and cinnamon, enhancing the cedar note in an less than appealing way and mostly allowing the spice and coffee to continue as is. Again the samples vary, with two cigars needing more touch ups and the other sample performing almost flawlessly. Reaching the final inch of the cigar the bitterness hasn’t grown any more, but was persistent enough to make it somewhat of a relief that I’ve gotten to the end.

 

Final Notes

• This year’s release comes in new boxes of a more traditional shape, where before they shipped a limited number of round boxes along with additional cellophane wrapped bundles.
• The pigtail cap was quite difficult to keep intact when removing the cigar from the cellophane. Two out of the three samples had it break off in the process. Not really a big deal as it was just going to be cut off anyway, but it just seemed like a weird decision.
• Taking a look at Brooks Whittington and Charlie Minato’s reviews of the regular Full Moon blend, there were certainly some similarities in profiles, though the different size or vintage more than likely played into some slightly different flavors.
• There was a lot of inconsistency in all three samples, so much so I couldn’t really average out the experience for the sake of readability in the review, forcing awkward sentences describing all three samples.
• To expand on the differences in samples, one sample had almost perfect construction, producing the best flavors of all three. Another sample only had a couple of soft spots, mostly a good burn and ash, and all the flavors were mostly the same as the first one. The final sample was underfilled, causing an airy, open draw, lots of burn issues, terrible ash retention and a quicker burn, which in turn produced a harsher and more bitter profile.
• Cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time averaged around two hours.