Last month we broke news from the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show that Viaje Cigars was planning the introduction of a third vitola in its Friends and Family line. The Viaje Friends and Family Bel Air will add a box-press 6 x 50 toro size into one of the company’s most limited lines.
The Viaje Friends and Family line was originally designed as a blend by Viaje President Andre Farkas as a personal blend for himself and people he was close to. In 2012, the blend was released under the Viaje Friends and Family umbrella with a 7 x 48 box-press Churchill called Cadeau. There were two batches released in 2012 and both were in small batch, limited quantities where most retailers received only one box. The cigar finished as the Cigar Coop #4 Cigar of the Year for 2012.
In March 2013, the second vitola, the Viaje Friends and Family Le Joueur was released. This introduced a box-pressed 5 x 52 robusto into the line. This was another small batch, limited production release. That cigar finished as the Cigar Coop #4 Line Extension for 2013.
Viaje Friends and Family – Cadeau (Top), Le Joueur (Bottom) |
At a glance, here is a look at the Viaje Friends and Family line.
Blend Profile
While specific blend components have not been disclosed, the Friends and Family blend is a Nicaraguan puro.
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Vitolas Available
The addition of the Bel Air brings the total vitolas in this blend released to three. Like the other sizes, it is box-press shape. All sizes were packaged in box counts of 15.
Bel Air: 6 x 50
Cadeau: 7 x 48
Le Joueur: 5 x 52