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) A re-assessment and re-score of a previously assessed/score cigars. Today, we provide an assessment rating and score for the Viaje Exclusivo Super Lance.  This was a cigar we did a pre-release review back in April 2013.

Viaje Exclusivo Super Lance

The Viaje Exclusivo Super Lance is the ninth vitola in Viaje’s Exclusivo line of cigars. The Exclusivo Series is a blend based on a personal blend of Viaje founder Andre Farkas.  It falls in line with Viaje’s small batch, limited release model – namely while there have been nine vitolas, these have pretty much been released in individual batches per size.  The Viaje Exclusivo has one of those blends which really produces a different cigar experience from vitola to vitola.  The Super Lance is no exception – and this one ranks as one of the better ones.   We had an opportunity to smoke the pre-release of this back in April.  Now we revisit it and provide a rating and score.

As the case with many Viaje Cigars, the Exclusivo Super Lance blend is all-Nicaraguan featuring Aganorsa leaf tobacco as well as a Nicaraguan Criollo wrapper.  When I first talked about the Super Lance, I described the vitola as a cross between a lancero and a corona gorda.  Namely it has the ring gauge of a Corona Gorda (46) and the length of a lancero (7 1/2).   It is worth noting the final Exclusivo Super Lance product is 1/4 inch longer than the pre-release we sampled (which was a 7 1/4 x 46).

The Viaje Exclusivo Super Lance vs. a Pre-Release

The flavor profile to the Super Lance consisted of natural tobacco, coffee, citrus, baker’s spice, grass, and pepper.  This is the kind of flavor profile that won’t undergo radical transitions, but provide plenty of flavor nuances.  While the flavors were positive overall, the first half to the released Super Lance was a little “rougher” than the pre-release version I smoked – namely there was a little more citrus and pepper in the first half (in fairness, the pre-release actually had more age to it). The flavors are full-bodied and countered by medium to full strength.  In this cigar, I give the body a slight edge over the strength.

The construction is flawless on the Super Lance.  Both the burn and the draw scored very well on this cigar.

Click here to read our original assessment of the Viaje Exclusivo Super Lance.

Assessment: Nice To Have
Score: 92

Source: The cigars for this assessment update were purchased from Outland Cigars.