Black Label Trading Co. Shipping Viaticum This Month

Black Label Trading Co. has announced that its Viaticum line will be heading to stores this week. The line was first released in November 2019 as a limited edition that was available only to retailers who attended the 2019 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show. Now, it gets a wider release and is available to all of the company’s retailers after being shown off at the 2021 PCA Convention & Trade Show.

“Viaticum is an evolution of the Last Rites blend and a testament to what Black Label Trading Co is all about,” said James Brown, creator of BLTC and partner at Fabrica Oveja Negra, via a press release. “It uses most of the same tobaccos but in different proportions and primings. It’s the perfect balance between strength and complexity. This cigar is bold but also very refined. It’s all about balance. The dark fruit and earth flavors are wrapped in soft floral notes and elevated with a multitude of spice on the finish,” he added.

The blend uses an Ecuadorian maduro wrapper, Honduran habano binder and a mix of Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers. It is made at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Estelí, Nicaragua and offered in three box-pressed sizes:

• Black Label Trading Co. Viaticum Robusto (5 x 54) — $15 (Box of 20, $300)
• Black Label Trading Co. Viaticum Toro (6 x 48) — $15.25 (Box of 20, $305)
• Black Label Trading Co. Viaticum Lancero (6 3/4 x 40) — $15 (Box of 20, $310)

The company has released 800 boxes of each size. A spokesperson for the company added that there will also be an additional release made for the German market.

Of note about the Viaticum’s connection to the Last Rites line, that blend was the first cigar that James Brown blended on his own and one of the company’s original releases.

Update — Shortly after this story was published, the company announced production numbers and confirmed a more specific shipping date, as well as that there will be a release for Germany.