November 28, 2018 Brooks Whittington Cigars,  Limited Edition,  Reviews,  Viaje

Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery (2018)

Eight years ago, Viaje Cigars debuted a line that would eventually come to encompass more than 30 different releases, including multiple sub-lines and one-offs. As one of Viaje Cigars owner Andre Farkas’ first series, the Skull and Bones releases have included cigars named after nuclear bombs and weapons of mass destruction as well as more pedestrian ordinances.

As with most of the M?stery releases, not much is known about the 2018 incarnation of the line: the blend, the total number cigars released and where it was rolled has not been confirmed. However, we do know that it measures 4 3/4 inches, it is box-pressed and it features a closed foot. We also know that the newest incarnation of the Skull and Bones line was shipped to retailers late last month packaged in boxes of 25 with each cigar retailing for $9.92.

Note: The following shows the various Viaje Skull and Bones vitolas. Some of these cigars may have been released after this post was originally published. This picture is not in the correct order. We are working to get an updated picture. The list was last updated on Feb. 7, 2024.

  1. Viaje Skull and Bones Daisy Cutter (4 x 54) — May 2010 — 150 Boxes of 25 Cigars (3,750 Total Cigars)
  2. Viaje Skull and Bones “?” (5 x 54) — October 2010 — 150 Boxes of 25 Cigars (3,750 Total Cigars)
  3. Viaje Skull and Bones MOAB (4 1/4 x 54) — March 2011 — 100 Boxes of 50 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
  4. Viaje Skull and Bones WMD (3 3/4 x 54) — March 2011 — 250 Boxes of 25 Cigars (6,250 Total Cigars)
  5. Viaje Skull and Bones Fat Man (4 1/4 x 56) — August 2011 — 125 Boxes of 25 Cigars (3,125 Total Cigars)
  6. Viaje Skull and Bones Little Boy (4 1/4 x 52) — August 2011 — 125 Boxes of 25 Cigars (3,750 Total Cigars)
  7. Viaje Skull and Bones “?” Box-Pressed (4 1/2 x 54) — October 2011 — 125 Boxes of 25 Cigars (3,125 Total Cigars)
  8. Viaje Skull and Bones “?” (4 1/2 x 54) — October 2011 — 250 Boxes of 25 Cigars (6,250 Total Cigars)
  9. Viaje Skull and Bones WMD (2012) (3 3/4 x 54) — March 2012 —300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  10. Viaje Skull and Bones MOAB (4 1/2 x 52) — March 2012— 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  11. Viaje Skull and Bones FOAB (4 1/2 x 56) — March 2012— 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  12. Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery (4 1/2 x 54) — October 2012 — Undisclosed
  13. Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery BP (4 1/2 x 54) — October 2012 — Undisclosed
  14. Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery Vintage (4 1/2 x 54) — October 2012 — Undisclosed
  15. Viaje Skull and Bones Fat Man (4 1/4 x 52) — February 2013 — Undisclosed
  16. Viaje Skull and Bones Little Boy (4 1/4 x 56) — February 2013 — Undisclosed
  17. Viaje Skull and Bones Big Ivan (5 x 60) — February 2013 — Undisclosed
  18. Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery (2013) (4 3/4 x 52) — October 2013 — 200 Boxes of 25 Cigars (5,000 Total Cigars)
  19. Viaje Skull and Bones WMD (2014) (3 3/4 x 54) — February 2014 — 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  20. Viaje Skull and Bones FOAB (2014) (4 1/2 x 56) — May 2014 — 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  21. Viaje Skull and Bones MOAB (2014) (4 1/2 x 52) — May 2014 — 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  22. Viaje Skull and Bones Cloudmaker (5 x 60) — May 2014 — Undisclosed
  23. Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery (2014) (4 3/4 x 54) — October 2014 — Undisclosed
  24. Viaje Skull and Bones Ten Ton Tess Collector’s Edition (6 x 54) — July 2015 — 1,000 Jars of 19 Cigars (19,000 Total Cigars)
  25. Viaje Skull and Bones Ten Ton Tess Gold Collector’s Edition (6 x 54) — July 2015 — 100 Jars of 19 Cigars (1,900 Total Cigars)
  26. Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery (4 1/2 x 58) — October 2015 — 300 Boxes of 25 Cigars (7,500 Total Cigars)
  27. Viaje Skull and Bones Red Little Boy (4 1/4 x 52) — February 2016 — Undisclosed
  28. Viaje Skull and Bones Red Fat Man (4 1/4 x 56) — February 2016 — Undisclosed
  29. Viaje Skull and Bones Red Big Ivan (5 x 60) — February 2016 — Undisclosed
  30. Viaje Skull and Bones Daisy Cutter Edición Limitada (4 x 54) — February 2017 — Undisclosed
  31. Viaje Skull and Bones Green The Hulk 56 (5 1/4 x 56) — June 2017 — 50 Bundles of 25 Cigars (1,250 Cigars)
  32. Viaje Skull and Bones Green The Hulk 58 (5 1/4 x 58) — June 2017 — 50 Bundles of 25 Cigars (1,250 Cigars)
  33. Viaje Skull and Bones WMD (2017) (3 3/4 x 54) — June 2017 — Undisclosed*
  34. Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery (4 1/2 x 58) — October 2018 — Undisclosed
  35. Viaje Skull and Bones FOAB (2019) (4 1/2 x 56) — March 2019 — Undisclosed*
  36. Viaje Skull and Bones MOAB (2019) (4 1/4 x 54) — March 2019 — Undisclosed*
  37. Viaje Skull and Bones Cloudmaker (2019) (5 x 60) — March 2019 — Undisclosed*
  38. Viaje Skull and Bones Red Little Boy (2019) (4 1/4 x 52) — September 2019 — Undisclosed
  39. Viaje Skull and Bones Red Fat Man (2019) (4 1/4 x 56) — September 2019 — Undisclosed
  40. Viaje Skull and Bones Red Big Ivan (2019) (5 x 60) — September 2019 — Undisclosed
  41. Viaje Skull and Bones Johnny Blaze (6 x 56) — December 2019 — Undisclosed
  42. Viaje Skull and Bones Ghost Rider (6 x 56) — December 2019 — Undisclosed
  43. Viaje Skull and Bones Mephisto (6 1/2 x 56) — December 2019 — Undisclosed
  44. Viaje Skull and Bones The Hulk (2020) (5 1/4 x 60) — April 2020 — Undisclosed
  45. Viaje Skull and Bones Bruce Banner (5 1/4 x 56) — April 2020 — Undisclosed
  46. Viaje Skull and Bones Daisy Cutter (2020) (4 x 50) —August 2020 — Undisclosed
  47. Viaje Skull and Bones WMD (2020) (3 3/4 x 52) — August 2020 — Undisclosed
  48. Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery (6 1/4 x 56) — October 2020 — Undisclosed
  49. Viaje Skull and Bones Frank Castle (6 1/4 x 54) — April 2021 — Undisclosed
  50. Viaje Skull and Bones The Punisher (6 1/4 x 54) — April 2021 — Undisclosed
  51. Viaje Skull and Bones FOAB (2022) (4 1/2 x 56) — February 2022 — Undisclosed
  52. Viaje Skull and Bones MOAB (2022) (4 1/4 x 54) — February 2022 — Undisclosed
  53. Viaje Skull and Bones Cloudmaker (2022) (5 x 60) — February 2022 — Undisclosed
  54. Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery (2022) (5 x 56) — October 2022 — Undisclosed
  55. Viaje Skull and Bones Red Little Boy (2023) (4 1/4 x 52) — April 2023 — Undisclosed
  56. Viaje Skull and Bones Red Fat Man (2023) (4 1/4 x 56) — April 2023 — Undisclosed
  57. Viaje Skull and Bones Red Big Ivan (2023) (5 x 60) — April 2023 — Undisclosed
  58. Viaje Skull and Bones Tsar Bomba Camo Blue (6 x 56) — December 2023 — Undisclosed*
  59. Viaje Skull and Bones Tsar Bomba Camo Gray (6 x 56) — December 2023 — Undisclosed*
  60. Viaje Skull and Bones Tsar Bomba Camo Red (6 x 56) — December 2023 — Undisclosed*

*Not pictured.

90 Overall Score

I mentioned in my review of the 2014 incarnation of the Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery—incidentally, the last cigar in the series I reviewed until now—that it was so lacking in nuance that I would not be smoking it again. Thus, I was a bit concerned when I saw that I was reviewing the newest version of the same cigar. Thankfully, any concerns I had about the 2018 release proved groundless, as it is everything the previous version was not: complex, balanced and flavorful. In addition, this cigar retained the best part of the 2014 version—namely the extremely good construction—with a near perfect draw and very few touchups needed on the burn. While far from the best cigar Viaje has put out, the Skull and Bones M?stery 2018 is miles above most others in the line, and easily worth picking up to try if you happen to be lucky enough to see them.

  • Cigar Reviewed: Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery (2018)
  • Country of Origin: n/a
  • Factory: n/a
  • Wrapper: n/a
  • Binder: n/a
  • Filler: n/a
  • Length: 4 1/2 Inches
  • Ring Gauge: 58
  • Vitola: Petit Gordo
  • MSRP: $9.92 (Boxes of 25, $248)
  • Release Date: October 2018
  • Number of Cigars Released: n/a
  • Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

Other than an obviously smaller ring gauge, the Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery 2018 is not noticeably different than its direct predecessor, including an extremely dark chocolate brown wrapper that is silky smooth to the touch and a covered foot. There are a number of prominent veins running up and down the length and the cigar features a nice soft box-press. Aroma from the wrapper is a combination of sweet bourbon, sweet oak, manure, hay, cocoa nibs and leather while the cold draw brings flavors of dark and bitter powdered chocolate, espresso beans, leather, grass, earth, raisin sweetness and a small amount of both spice and black pepper.

I had already noticed an enormous amount of sweetness on both the aroma and cold draw, so it was no great shock when the first few puffs after lighting the Skull and Bones M?stery brought some significant brown sugar sweetness on the palate. However, that was soon displaced by the dominant flavors of charred meat and mesquite as well as some strong spice on my tongue, interspersed with other notes of hay, bitter chocolate, freshly roasted coffee beans, floral and slight vegetal. There is some relatively strong raisin sweetness on the finish pulled over from the cold draw, as well as some fairly significant black pepper on the retrohale and spice on my tongue, all of which seem to be increasing as the first third burns down. In terms of construction, the smoke production is both dense and copious as it flows from the foot, while both the draw is excellent so far after a straight cut and the burn is not giving me any issues so far, it or the ash won’t win any awards for how attractive they are. Strength-wise, the Viaje starts off close to medium, and while it increases, it fails to make it to a solid medium by the time the first third ends.

The dominant flavors remain both charred meat and mesquite during the second third of the Viaje, but the big change is the raisin sweetness from the first third, which has increases noticeably leading to a more complex profile. Other flavors of creamy cedar, leather, hay, yeast and slight espresso bean bitterness flit in and out, and there is a touch of spice on my lips as well. Smoke production is still well above average, and while the draw remains excellent, but burn has gotten a bit out of hand, forcing me to touch it up a couple of times. The strength has not budged much, and as a result, fails once again to hit the medium mark by the end of the second third.

While the dominant flavor shifts to more of an espresso bean bitterness in the final third of the Skull and Bones M?stery 2018, the charred meat and mesquite are still present on the retrohale along with some black pepper. Additional flavors include hay, leather, bitter dark cocoa, oak and black licorice. While the raisin sweetness from the previous two thirds is still present, it is noticeably reduced from its high point early in the second third. Construction-wise, remains as good as ever and the burn has evened up as well, while the smoke production continues to be both copious and thick off of the foot. Finally, the overall strength increases enough to reach a point just north of the medium mark by the end of the final third, but never really threatens to go any further, and I put the nub down with less than an inch to go.

Final Notes

  • For some reason, whenever I see the question mark logo on the box of Skull and Bones M?stery, I instantly think of Frank Gorshin as The Riddler in early episodes of the original Batman television show.
  • I have always found the dark black logo on top of the (slightly lighter) black band to be extremely annoying to photograph well.
  • As has been the case with Viaje in the last few years, the Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery (2018) shipped with other releases, namely three sizes of the 2018 incarnation of Exclusivos as well as another release of the Viaje Friends and Family Le Joueur, which debuted in 2013.
  • While Viaje has had some construction issues in the past, each one of the three samples I smoked of this release was quite good in that regard. Not amazing—I still had to touch up two of the samples at least once—but nothing even close to complaining about either.
  • The cigars smoked for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
  • Final smoking time for all three samples averaged one hour and 27 minutes.
  • If you would like to purchase any of the Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery (2018) cigars, site sponsors Cigars.com and Serious Cigars have them in stock.
90 Overall Score

I mentioned in my review of the 2014 incarnation of the Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery—incidentally, the last cigar in the series I reviewed until now—that it was so lacking in nuance that I would not be smoking it again. Thus, I was a bit concerned when I saw that I was reviewing the newest version of the same cigar. Thankfully, any concerns I had about the 2018 release proved groundless, as it is everything the previous version was not: complex, balanced and flavorful. In addition, this cigar retained the best part of the 2014 version—namely the extremely good construction—with a near perfect draw and very few touchups needed on the burn. While far from the best cigar Viaje has put out, the Skull and Bones M?stery 2018 is miles above most others in the line, and easily worth picking up to try if you happen to be lucky enough to see them.

Petit Gordo Viaje Viaje Skull and Bones Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery Viaje Skull and Bones M?stery (2018)
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Brooks Whittington

I have worn many hats in my life up to this point: I started out as a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, then transitioned to photographing weddings—both internationally and in the U.S.—for more than a decade. After realizing that there was a need for a cigar website containing better photographs and more in-depth information about each release, I founded my first cigar blog, SmokingStogie, in 2008. SmokingStogie quickly became one of the more influential cigar blogs on the internet, known for reviewing preproduction, prerelease, rare, extremely hard-to-find and expensive cigars, and it was one of the predecessors to halfwheel, which I co-founded.

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