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 a previously assessed/score cigars. Today, we re-assess the Viaje Stuffed Turkey Dark Meat 2014. This was a cigar we assessed with the 2012 version back in December, 2012.
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| Viaje Stuffed Turkey Dark Meat 2014 |
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua AGANORSA
Filler: Nicaragua AGANORSA
Country of Origin: Honduras (Raices Cubanas)
Robusto: 5 x 58
The Viaje Stuffed Turkey made its debut back in 2011 in a Criollo wrapped Nicaraguan puro in a 5 x 60 vitola as a part of Viaje’s White Label Project (WLP) series. The Stuffed Turkey is Viaje’s Thanksgiving themed release. A year later a Maduro version called the Viaje Stuffed Turkey Dark Meat was introduced (the Criollo version would be rebranded Viaje Stuffed Turkey White Meat). From year to year, the blend formula is the same, but the vintages of the tobacco have changed. For 2013, the Stuffed Turkey Dark and White Meat returned, but the vitolas were resized to a 58 ring gauge. The 2014 editions maintain the 58 ring size.
The Viaje White Label Project was put in place for experimental releases, factory errors, mash-ups, and different shapes. One thing that was “experimental” with these lines was that these were 60 ring gauge blends (a first for Viaje). Now after completing three years as a part of this series, the Stuffed Turkey blends move to their own line – complete with its own banding and packaging. This is news Viaje President Andre Farkas broke on Stogie Geeks earlier this year.
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| Viaje Stuffed Turkey White Meat 2014 (Top), Viaje Stuffed Turkey Dark Meat 2014 (Bottom) |
The Viaje Stuffed Turkey Dark Meat is going to deliver notes of dark chocolate, cherry sweetness, and black pepper. The chocolate – cherry combination is almost like a chocolate covered cherry with a tobacco taste. Toward the end the spice really ramps up. The notes are thick and full-bodied with this cigar. The strength is medium to full. The burn required more touch-ups. As a result, maintaining this burn required needed a little more tlc than I iced.
Overall I thought the flavors were very good. However, I thought this cigar lost a little in the area of complexity compared to the 2012 release of the Dark Meat. The 2014 version lacked the nutty flavors from 2012 – and the cigar as a whole had less flavor transitions. The flavors of this cigar keep this interesting – and it’s still worth a five pack in my book.
Summary
Burn: Good
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Low
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium to Full
Finish: Good
Assessment: 3.0 – The Fiver
Score: 88 (Original Score 12/12 – 91*)
* Scored under previous system
References
Original Assessment (2012 Edition): Viaje Stuffed Turkey Dark Meat 2012
News: Viaje Stuffed Turkey 2014
Price: ~$10.00
Source: Cigars Purchased
Stogie Geeks Episode: Episode 126
Stogie Feed: Viaje Stuffed Turkey 2014 Dark Meat
