Originally released in early 2012, the Super Shot Series was originally intended as a cigar to be smoked by Viaje Cigars owner Andre Farkas in-between rounds of clay target shooting. Each of the two vitolas is named after a different sized shotgun shell caliber, while boxes for the release also modeled after the boxes that shotgun shells are sold in.

Unlike some previous releases, the two newest Super Shots are available in just one blend that incorporates a Nicaraguan criollo wrapper covering Nicaraguan tobacco in both the binder and filler. Both of the sizes are packaged in boxes of 25, with the 10 Gauge retailing for $6.80 while the 12 Gauge carries an MSRP of $6.40.

Only 300 boxes of 25 (7,500 total cigars) were produced of each size as part of the latest release.

Note: The following shows the various Viaje Super Shot vitolas. Some of these cigars may have been released after this post was originally published. The list was last updated on May 11, 2023.

  1. Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge (3 1/2 x 54) — February 2012 — 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  2. Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge (3 1/4 x 52) — March 2012 — 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  3. Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge Criollo (3 1/2 x 54) — February 2013 — 200 Boxes of 25 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
  4. Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge Criollo (3 1/4 x 52) — February 2013 — 200 Boxes of 25 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
  5. Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge Corojo (3 1/2 x 54) — February 2013 — 200 Boxes of 25 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
  6. Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge Corojo (3 1/4 x 52) — February 2013 — 200 Boxes of 25 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
  7. Viaje White Label Project Super Shot 12 Gauge (3 1/2 x 52) — May 2013 — 300 Bundles of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  8. Viaje Zombie Super Shot (3 1/2 x 54) — May 2013 — 400 Boxes of 25 Cigars (10,000 Total Cigars)
  9. Viaje Zombie Super Shot (3 1/2 x 54) — April 2014 — 400 Boxes of 25 Cigars (10,000 Total Cigars)
  10. Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge Criollo (3 1/2 x 54) — January 2015 — n/a
  11. Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge Criollo (3 1/4 x 52) — January 2015 — n/a
  12. Viaje Zombie Super Shot (3 1/2 x 54) — April 2015 — n/a
  13. Viaje Zombie Super Shot (3 1/2 x 54) — March 2016 — n/a
  14. Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge (3 1/2 x 54) — February 2017 — 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  15. Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge (3 1/4 x 52) — February 2017 — 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  16. Viaje Zombie Super Shot (3 1/2 x 54) — April 2017 — n/a
  17. Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge (3 1/2 x 54) — February 2018 — 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  18. Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge (3 1/4 x 52) — February 2018 — 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  19. Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge (3 1/2 x 54) — February 2019 — 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  20. Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge (3 1/4 x 52) — February 2019 — 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  21.  Viaje Zombie Super Shot (2019) (3 1/2 x 54) — April 2019 — Undisclosed
  22. Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge (2020) (3 1/2 x 54) — January 2020 — Undisclosed
  23. Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge (2020) (3 1/4 x 52) — January 2020 —Undisclosed
  24. Viaje Buckshot 10 Gauge (2020) (3 1/2 x 54) — January 2020 — Undisclosed
  25. Viaje Buckshot 12 Gauge (2020) (3 1/4 x 52) — January 2020 —Undisclosed
  26. Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge (2021) (3 1/2 x 54) — January 2021 — Undisclosed
  27. Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge (2021) (3 1/4 x 52) — January 2021 —Undisclosed
  28.  Viaje Zombie Super Shot (2022) (3 1/2 x 54) — April 2022 — Undisclosed
  29. Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge (2023) (3 1/2 x 54) — January 2023 — Undisclosed
  30. Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge (2023) (3 1/4 x 52) — January 2023 —Undisclosed
  31. Viaje Buckshot 10 Gauge (2023) (3 1/2 x 54) — January 2023 — Undisclosed
  32. Viaje Buckshot 12 Gauge (2023) (3 1/4 x 52) — January 2023 —Undisclosed
89 Overall Score

There is quite a bit to like about this years Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge, including a moderately complex profile and extremely good construction. After an explosion of pepper and spice for the first few puffs, the cigar calms down dramatically, allowing more flavors to be come noticeable. The big surprise is the strength, which ramps up quickly, easily hitting the full mark by the halfway point and staying there. A well made, nicely balanced smoke that is well worth tracking down if you can find them.

Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge (2017) 1

  • Cigar Reviewed: Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge (2017)
  • Country of Origin: n/a
  • Factory: n/a
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan Criollo
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Length: 3 1/2 Inches
  • Ring Gauge: 54
  • Vitola: Short Robusto
  • MSRP: $6.80 (Boxes of 25, $170)
  • Release Date: February 2017
  • Number of Cigars Released: 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  • Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

Covered in a rustic mocha brown wrapper that is relatively smooth to the touch, the Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge features a number of prominent viens running up and down the length of the cigar. There is a touch of oil present that I can see and it is a bit spongier than normal when squeezed, albeit not bad enough for me to think there will be a problem. Aroma coming from the wrapper is a combination of creamy cedar, manure, grass, cinnamon and earth, while the cold draw brings flavors of sawdust, cedar, sweet earth, leather, barnyard and dark fruit sweetness.

Immediately after lighting the foot, the profile of the Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge starts off with a distinct earth and leather flavors, along with an espresso bean bitterness on the finish. There is an almost overwhelming amount of black pepper on the retrohale combined with quite a bit of spice on my tongue, and while both calm down a bit after about 10 puffs, they are still very much a part of the profile going forward. In addition, other notes of almonds, bread, creamy oak, dark chocolate and salt on my lips becomes more noticeable as the pepper fades. Construction-wise, the draw is a bit loose, but still easily smokable, and while the burn is far from perfect, it is not bad enough for me to have to touch it up yet. There is plenty of smoke emanating from the foot of the cigar, and the strength easily hits the medium mark by the end of the first third.

Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge (2017) 2

The combination of gritty earth and black pepper takes over the dominant flavor combination early in second third of the Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge, while the overall strength picks up as well, easily passing the full mark by the halfway point with no signs of slowing down. Other flavors of doughy bread, creamy oak, leather, dark chocolate, espressos beans and nuts flit in and out, while I am also picking up some nice maple sweetness on the retrohale that is only becoming stronger as the black pepper recedes. The draw is still a bit loose, but the burn has evened up nicely, and the smoke production is still quite copious off of the foot.

Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge (2017) 3

Unfortunately, the maple sweetness that really made things interesting is long gone by the start of the final third of the Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge, replaced with the very familiar earth and black pepper combination. There does seem to be more dark chocolate in the profile as well, along with notes of peanuts, oak, licorice, leather, tobacco, yeast and a touch of dark fruit. The draw is still a touch loose for by tastes, but the burn is excellent, and the smoke production continues to pour from the foot like a house on fire. As expected, the overall strength continues to increase, hitting a point just above the full mark before I put the nub down with less than an inch left.

Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge (2017) 4

Final Notes

  • I really hate photographing cigars without bands.
  • While the construction on all three samples was quite good overall, the first sample I smoked had a draw that was much too loose, albeit still smokable. Learning from that, I cut just a bit off of the cap for the other two samples, and was rewarded with the perfect amount of resistance.
  • In addition to the above, the smoke production on these cigars was absolutely insane. In fact, it got so bad that I had to constantly move the cigar while it was sitting so that the smoke did not blow back in my face.
  • The foot is actually glued closed, so I had to break it open in order to get any cold draw notes.
  • I happened to smoke the first of three of these on my 42nd birthday.
  • The cigars smoked for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
  • Final smoking time for all three samples averaged just under an hour at 58 minutes.
  • Site sponsor Cigar Hustler has the Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge in stock.
89 Overall Score

There is quite a bit to like about this years Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge, including a moderately complex profile and extremely good construction. After an explosion of pepper and spice for the first few puffs, the cigar calms down dramatically, allowing more flavors to be come noticeable. The big surprise is the strength, which ramps up quickly, easily hitting the full mark by the halfway point and staying there. A well made, nicely balanced smoke that is well worth tracking down if you can find them.

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Brooks Whittington

I have been smoking cigars for over eight years. A documentary wedding photographer by trade, I spent seven years as a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star Telegram. I started the cigar blog SmokingStogie in 2008 after realizing that there was a need for a cigar blog with better photographs and more in-depth information about each release. SmokingStogie quickly became one of the more influential cigar blogs on the internet, known for reviewing preproduction, prerelease, rare, extremely hard-to-find and expensive cigars. I am a co-founder of halfwheel and now serve as an editor for halfwheel.