Viaje to Release Platino Samurai Maduro

Since late 2011, the idea of a Viaje Samurai Maduro has been floating around as a possible release for BURN Premium Cigar Specialist’s fifth anniversary.

Earlier this week, James Succio of BURN confirmed that 99 boxes of a Maduro Samurai had arrived in Minnesota, a few months before the store’s actual anniversary.

The Samurai is the limited edition Corona Gorda size of the Platino blend that was first released in 2010 and then released again in January of this year. (We have reviewed both the 2010 version and the 2012 version.) Both times, the cigar has been released to both BURN and its sister store Tobacco Grove.

This is the first time that Viaje has released a cigar that they specifically designated as a Maduro, choosing a San Andrés wrapper, also an extreme departure from Viaje’s consistent record of Nicaraguan puros. (The 2011 version of the Satori also used a San Andrés wrapper.)

Outside of the wrapper change, the Platino Samurai Maduro mimics the January release: 99 boxes of 25, $8.50 per single, $212.50 per box for out of state customers.

Only 50 of the 99 boxes will be offered for out of state customers, with 25 going to BURN and 25 going to Tobacco Grove. The remainder will be sold to in store customers.

Pre-orders will begin on Monday February 27, 2012 and the boxes will ship a week later on March 5, 2012.

Both BURN (952.808.9259) and Tobacco Grove (763.494.6688) will be taking pre-orders via phone, and the latter will also offer boxes online.

Update: Link to order via to Tobacco Grove.

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.