In its upcoming shipment to retailers, Viaje will be including Circa ’45, a cigar that had previously been a European exclusive release, as well as the Oro Reserva #5 in updated packaging.

The Circa ’45 was introduced at the 2016 Intertabac trade show as a European exclusive and it now heads stateside with a few changes. It is a Nicaraguan puro with tobacco coming from AGANORSA Leaf, and the company has moved production to the AGANORSA Leaf factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, i.e. Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A., after having been previously made by PDR Cigars in the Dominican Republic.

It is offered in three sizes:

  • Viaje Circa ’45 No. 1 (5 x 52)
  • Viaje Circa ’45 No. 2 (6 x 54)
  • Viaje Circa ’45 No. 3 (5 1/2 x 58)

However, this won’t be the first time that the Circa ’45 line has been sold in the United States. Near the end of 2017, the company shipped boxes of the Circa ’45 Maduro to at least two retailers in the U.S., Anthony’s Cigar Emporium and Atlantic Cigar Co. What showed up in the U.S. isn’t the same as the original, using a Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper leaf over an Indonesian binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic, according to information posted by the retailers.

Viaje declined to discuss the details of that cigar when asked by halfwheel about it at the time of its release. It was made available in the same three sizes as the European version.

Additionally, Viaje will be shipping its Oro Reserva #5 with new packaging, as each cigar now comes wrapped in gold foil. It remains a Nicaraguan puro measuring offered in a 5 1/2 x 52 robusto vitola.

A retailer has informed halfwheel that the pricing for Oro Reserva #5 is $280 per box of 25 cigars.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.