Assessment Updates will be posted on this web-site to: 1) Assess “pre-review” cigars that were not given a rating or score (typically pre-release cigars); 2) Provide numeric ratings to cigars previously assessed prior to the implementation of the numeric scoring system; 3) Provide a re-assessment and re-score of previously assessed/score cigars. Today, we provide a numerical score to the Viaje Satori Edicion Limitada 2012 This  was a cigar we assessed back in September, 2012

Viaje Satori Edicion Limitada 2012

The Viaje Satori Edicion Limitada 2012 marks the third year that Viaje has released a batch of its Satori series.   The Satori series has been one of Viaje’s most consistent batches over the past three years.  We were proud to provide one of the first pre-release reviews of this cigar.  Today we will provide an assessment rating and score.

The Satori was first released in 2010 and was done with a unique Oscuro wrapper.  The Satori 2010 would finish as our #3 Cigar of 2010.  In 2011, Viaje president Andre Farkas changed the wrapper to a San Andreas wrapper and this blend finished as our #13 Cigar for 2011.   The first two years saw vitolas in a robust, toro, and a box-press torpedo.  For 2012, the San Andreas wrapper remains, but there have been some changes to the vitolas.  While the three vitolas are the same size, the vitolas that were parejo and box-press have reversed. The Zen (perfecto) now is no longer box-pressed and is now is parejo for 2012. The  previously parejo-shaped Karma (Robusto) and Nirvana (Toro) are now box-pressed for 2012.  The change in the shapes was the rationale for dubbing this year’s Satori an “Edicion Limitada”.  In this assessment update, we will look at the Karma (Robusto) vitola – which was our favorite for the previous two years.

Viaje Satori 2010 (Left) and Viaje Satori 2011 (Right)

As I mentioned in the pre-review, there were some parallels to the smoking experience of the Satori 2011 – after all they do have a similar blend.  I did think the Viaje Satori Edicion Limitada 2012 brought its own unique qualities to the table.   The flavor profile for this smoke was similar to the pre-release as I detected to notes of Coffee, cherry citrus, wood, leather and pepper.  For this version of the Satori 2012 that was smoked, it seemed as though the coffee notes were more prominent while the cherry and citrus notes seemed to play less of a role.   The notes are medium to full-bodied, but progress to full-bodied by the end.   The strength pretty much holds medium to full throughout the smoking experience.

The draw was excellent on the Satori 2012.  The only negative with this cigar is that on both the pre-release and post production released Satori 2012s, I did seem to have some battles with the burn as these Satori 2012 Karmas required multiple touch-ups.

In the end the Satori remains one of Viaje’s best, and the Satori 2012 is another fine addition.

Click here for our pre-release review of the Viaje Satori 2012.

Assessment: Memorable
Score: 92


Source:  The cigars for this assessment update were purchased from Outland Cigars in Charlotte, NC