Viaje Zombie Super Shot

Today we’re looking at a mash-up of two of Viaje’s limited release lines—the Zombie and the Super Shot—into a new cigar named the Zombie Super Shot. The Zombie Super Shot is based off the blend from the Zombie line and packed into the size of the Super Shot 10 Gauge. Originally released in 2011, the Zombie returned in 2012, but in 2013 it was announced that another blend was going to be released in addition to the regular Zombie blend.

To date there have been five Zombie releases:

• Viaje Zombie (4 3/4 x 52) – April 2011 – 100 Boxes of 20 Cigars (2,000 Total Cigars)
• Viaje Zombie (2012) (4 5/8 x 52) – May 2012 – 150 Boxes of 20 Cigars (3,000 Total Cigars)
• Viaje Zombie Super Shot  (3 1/2 x 54) – May 2013 – 400 Boxes of 25 Cigars (10,000 Total Cigars)
• Viaje Zombie Black Box (5 x 52) – May 2013 – 100 Boxes of 20 Cigars (2,000 Total Cigars)
• Viaje Zombie Natural Box (5 x 52) –May 2013 – 100 Boxes of 20 Cigars (2,000 Total Cigars)

The Super Shot was first released in 2012 with two sizes. In 2013 the Super Shot release has been expanded to feature both sizes in a Criollo wrapper and a Corojo wrapper. In addition there has been a WLP release of the Super Shot, which was the original blend but was rolled in the wrong size.

In case you lost count there have been eight Super Shot releases to date:

• Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge (3 1/2 x 54) — February 2012 — 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
• Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge (3 1/4 x 52) — March 2012 — 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
• Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge Criollo (3 1/2 x 54) — February 2013 — 200 Boxes of 25 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
• Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge Criollo (3 1/4 x 52) — February 2013 — 200 Boxes of 25 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
• Viaje Super Shot 10 Gauge Corojo (3 1/2 x 54) — February 2013 — 200 Boxes of 25 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
• Viaje Super Shot 12 Gauge Corojo (3 1/4 x 52) — February 2013 — 200 Boxes of 25 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
• Viaje White Label Project Super Shot 12 Gauge (3 1/2 x 52) — May 2013 — 300 Bundles of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
• Viaje Zombie Super Shot (3 1/2 x 54) — May 2013 — 400 Boxes of 25 Cigars (10,000 Total Cigars)

The Zombie Super Shot box is also a mash-up of the two line’s boxes. Packaged in a vintage looking shotgun shell box, the Zombie Super Shot box features the Zombie logo along the bottom and a zombie on one side of the box with a bullet hole in its head. Here’s what it looks like:

And here’s what it looks like next to the original Super Shot box:

• Cigar Reviewed: Viaje Zombie Super Shot
• Country of Origin: Honduras
• Factory: Fábrica de Tabacos Raíces Cubanas S. de R.L.
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Criollo ‘98
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Size: 3 1/2 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 54
• Vitola: Petit Robusto Gordo
• MSRP: $7.00 (Box of 25, $175.00)
• Date Released: May 2, 2013
• Number of Cigars Released: 400 Boxes of 25 Cigars (10,000 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked for Review: 2

The mottled dark brown wrapper has a few visible veins, though I can’t feel any when I run my finger over them. The wrapper is actually pretty smooth and has a supple, oily feel to it. It’s also applied nicely and the cigar is finished with a triple cap. Sticking with the theme of a shotgun shell, the cigar is the same length and approximate width as a shotgun shell and even has a covered foot just like the folded in end of a shell. Squeezing the cigar there are only a couple of minor places that might be considered soft, but overall the cigar has a nice give to it without being too squishy. The aroma coming off the wrapper is a mouth watering mix of chocolate, cinnamon and strong earthy barnyard notes. The cold draw has notes of cocoa powder, very light cinnamon and the slightest hint of raisins.

The first third explodes with a peppery dark chocolate profile that has some strong earthy undertones and some pleasant old, musty lumber notes hanging out in the background. The Zombie Super Shot has an ideal draw and a beautiful burn line. The dark grey and cream colored ash holds tight to over an inch and actually refuses to fall off even with a light tap. Smoke production is medium and not too overwhelming like you might expect from most Nicaraguan puros.

In the second third I’m noticing the pepper smoothing out a little, with the dark chocolate being overtaken by earthy, leather notes. Construction continues to be impeccable with the draw, burn, and ash retention all remaining excellent. Smoke production has actually increased some as well.

The final third has developed further into a rich fruity and dark chocolate combo with the earth going back to just undertones. The cigar’s strength started at a medium and moved to strong and had an overall full body. Unfortunately, since the Viaje is only three and a half inches, the final third is already down to the last inch of the cigar, making it a short, but delicious ending.

Final Notes:

• In the 2011 review of the Zombie, Brooks quoted Andre Farkas as saying that the, “The name comes from peoples transformation into Zombies after being exposed to radiation from the WMD release.” So the atomic bomb themed Skull and Bones (WMD, Fat Man, Little Boy) created the Zombie line, and in sticking with the weapon of choice of most zombie movies – a shotgun – the Zombie Super Shot falls right into the theme.
• Last year for the Zombie and Super Shot releases, one retailer even put together a Zombie Survival Kit. It included some various apocalyptic themed survival items, including a Super Shot 12 Gauge, though the Super Shot line was originally created out of Farkas’ new hobby clay shooting and wasn’t intentionally tied into the other post-nuclear apocalypse themed cigars.
• With all the recent construction issues Viaje releases have seen coming out of Raíces Cubanas, the impeccable construction of the Zombie Super Shot was a very pleasant surprise, although both Brooks and Charlie have noted the construction excellence in prior reviews.
• Final smoking time was an hour and 15 minutes.
• While all of our sponsors are currently sold out, Atlantic Cigar (1.800.887.7877), BestCigarPrices (1.888.412.4427) and Tobacco Grove (763.494.6688) all carry Viaje. Given the limited nature of these releases, it is probably best to call once you are aware of a release that is shipping if you are interested in purchasing some.