“The Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua blend really came together in the Petite Lancero format. The flavors were bold and rich… This is a home run for Andre Farkas.”

Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A (TABSA)
Petite Lancero: 6 x 40
Price: $8.15
Review: Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Petite Lancero (5/18/18)
Appearances on Countdown (By Year/Company): 6 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018)

Coming in at #14 is the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Petite Lancero. This was a small batch, limited production line extension to the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua line that made its debut in 2018.

The Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua is an off-shoot of Viaje’s Exclusivo line. The original Viaje Exclusivo line started out as a personal blend for founder Andre Farkas. The blend is produced in Honduras at Tabacos Raices Cubanas S. de R.L. (i.e Raices Cubanas).  Eventually, several sizes of the Exclusivo were put into regular on-going production (with others still keeping to a limited small batch production). The Exclusivo Nicaragua is a different blend that is produced out of Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A (TABSA) in Nicaragua. Unlike the original Exclusivo, the Exclusivo Nicaragua line is entirely small batch, limited production.

At the time the Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Petite Lancero was launched, Viaje also released 6 x 40 limited production line extensions to the classic Viaje Exclusivo and another offshoot known as the Viaje Exclusivo Leaded (a Nicaragua puro featuring high priming, low yield medio tiempo). The three cigars were packaged together in a 75-count cabinet each containing 25 cigars of the three Viaje Exclusivo blends. All three cigars are 100% Nicaraguan puros.

The Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Petite Lancero gives Viaje a record-tying sixth year of landing on a countdown joining Boutique Blends, Davidoff, and Aganorsa Leaf. It also returns Viaje to the Countdown for the first time in four years.

The Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua Petite Lancero delivers a mix of cocoa, citrus, red pepper, cedar, and earth. Those flavors come in full-bodied. This is countered by medium to full strength.

The Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua blend is an excellent one by Viaje, but it really comes together in the petite lancero format. Not all blends work well in a lancero, small-ring gauge format, but Viaje Exclusivo Nicaragua is one of them. This is a cigar worth seeking out and getting for your humidor.

For details of the 2018 Cigar of the Year Countdown, see our 2018 criteria.

Photo Credits: Cigar Coop, except where noted.