Viaje Hamaki Omakase (2019)

Two years ago, Viaje shipped a variant of its White Label Project Hamaki release that was round instead of box-pressed and measured 6 x 52 instead of 6 x 54. The cigar was the Hamaki Omakase, which returned in May and gets its name from the Japanese language: while Hamaki translates to cigar, the Omakase directly translates to I will leave it to you, a reference to a Japanese dining term where diners allow the chef to choose their meal, most commonly as sushi restaurants.

“Limited information beforehand creates a memorable dining experience for the guest; it will not be like any other meal,” explains a post on Viaje’s Instagram account. “The best approach is to clear your palette, let go of expectations and focus on the experience the chef has created for you.”

As with the original version in 2017, Viaje has been very tight-lipped about many of the details in this sophomore release, but we do know three things other than the vitola size: it was produced at Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A.(TABSA) in Estelí, Nicaragua, it is packaged in boxes of 18 and the foot ribbon on the cigar can be turned into a paper star using an origami technique.

In addition, Viaje graduated the Hamakai out of the White Label Project Series, meaning the cigars are now packaged with distinctive and more creative bands and boxes.

• Viaje Hamaki (6 x 54) — October 2017 — n/a
• Viaje Hamaki Omakase (6 x 52) — October 2017 — n/a
• Viaje Hamaki (6 x 54) (2019) — May 2019 — n/a
• Viaje Hamaki Omakase (6 x 52) (2019) — May 2019 — n/a

• Cigar Reviewed: Viaje Hamaki Omakase 2019
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A.
• Wrapper: n/a
• Binder: n/a
• Filler: n/a
• Length: 6 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 52
• Vitola: Toro
• MSRP: $9.88 (Box of 18, $179)
• Release Date: May 13, 2019
• Number of Cigars Released: n/a
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

The first thing I notice when I pick up the Viaje Hamaki Omakase is the metallic red logo that visually jumps off the band attached to a dark-as-night espresso brown wrapper. Speaking of the wrapper leaf, it is so oily it looks like it was dipped in a vat of oil and is extremely smooth to the touch with just a bit of give when squeezed and the closed foot is a nice touch. Aroma from the wrapper is a combination of creamy cedar, hay, manure, sweet leather and corn chips while the cold draw brings flavors of strong leather tack, sweet hay, black pepper, dark bitter chocolate, gritty earth and rich raisin sweetness.

The first third of the Viaje Hamaki Omakase features a dominant combination of strong hay and leather combination that is pulled directly from the cold draw, followed closely by notes of creamy cedar, oak, floral and dark chocolate, along with a slight vanilla bean sweetness on the finish. There is a slight amount of spice on my tongue as well as some noticeable black pepper on the retrohale, but both already seem to be decreasing in strength as the first third continues. In terms of combustion, the smoke production is both thick and copious flowing from the foot, the draw is excellent and the burn gives me no issues whatsoever. Strength-wise, the Viaje starts off fairly mild but increases enough to sniff the medium mark as the first third ends.

While dominant flavors continue to be a combination of strong hay and leather, the second third of the Omakase adds a couple of new flavors, most notably espresso beans and dried tea leaves. There are also the familiar notes of dark chocolate, oak and floral that flit in and out while the vanilla bean sweetness remains noticeable and both the black pepper on the retrohale and spice on my tongue have all but disappeared. The smoke production remains well above average while the draw continues along its excellent path, and although the burn has become a bit wavy, it is far from needing a touchup at this point. In terms of strength, the Hamaki Omakase has stalled just short of the medium mark and is seemingly content to remain there for the foreseeable future.

Unfortunately, the profile does not change much in the final third of the Viaje Hamaki Omakase, with the strong hay and leather combination continuing to dominate the profile while lesser flavors of oak, bitter chocolate, espresso, floral and very slight tea leaves bring up the rear. The vanilla sweetness has bumped up a small notch and the black pepper on the retrohale has increased a bit as well, but the spice from the first third never returns. Construction-wise, the draw gives me no issues at all and the burn has evened up nicely, while the smoke production remains quite high off of the foot and the overall strength ends up just shy of the medium mark by the time I put the nub down with about an inch left.

Final Notes

• We purchased a box for the review, and the cigars inside were hard as rocks when we opened it to photograph. For the record, according to our internal system, the box showed up at the office on May 20 and the first cigar was not smoked for the review until July 14, meaning they had seven weeks of rest.
• I absolutely love the logo design, the box design and the entire imagery of this release. Having said that, there are very obvious similarities to Suntory’s Japanese whisky, which is best known for the Hibiki and Yamazaki brands.

• I am very impressed with the fact you can make an origami star with the foot band, something that I don’t recall ever seeing on a cigar release before. In fact, after quite a bit of time, some cussing and a couple of failed starts, I ended up with the above.
• If you are wondering, I found the instructions on how to make the star on this website.
• Speaking of the foot band, I really wish that they came in different colors. In fact, I am not sure what happened between the time this photograph was posted and the release, but the foot band on our cigars were a pale brown, not red.
• The cigars smoked for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time for all three samples averaged one hour and 22 minutes.