Wrapper: Undisclosed
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
Vitola: 5 ¼ x 56
Purchase Link: Viaje Skull and Bones Bruce Banner
VIAJE BRUCE BANNER REVIEW – CALIFORNIA
Summary: Cedar, red pepper, and cumin make me want to salsa as this cigar gets underway. The ash is a bit flakey but who cares? Buttery nuts with cinnamon.
It's canoeing on me as I enter the second third and there's a Tootsie roll mouthfeel to it. Poop, it went out on me just as I was picking up an intriguing mint note. Holy smokes the wrapper leaf just audibly cracked. Cinnamon candy.
Man, these flavors are good, but I'm having to do more maintenance than I fancy. No changes in the final third.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Babysitting your neighbor's kid who's smarter than your kid.
Pairing Suggestion: Rum.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
VIAJE BRUCE BANNER REVIEW – WISCONSIN
Summary: This cigar brings flavors of earth, hickory, cocoa, pepper, cream, charred meat, and mushroom. The hickory flavor grew throughout the cigar.
The draw was right on. The burn was frequently uneven, but it didn't need touch-ups.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Hickory-smoked meat.
Pairing Suggestion: Bourbon.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Fiver.
VIAJE BRUCE BANNER REVIEW – OREGON
Summary: Bold notes of fresh cut grass on the cold draw. Upon lighting the foot, a mixture of cinnamon, oak, bread, orange zest and walnut greets the palate. Unfortunately, my sample is overfilled and is consequently suffering from a too tight draw. This means flavors are taking on a slightly harsh note. Nice solid ash on this stick, but smoke production is nonexistent for the most part.
Midway mark with oak, toast, almond, chalky orange flavors and a bit of pepper spice in the retro hale. Still working harder than a guy should have to just to get smoke from this cigar. Too bad... seems to be the only downside thus far but it’s a big one in my book.
Finishing off with walnuts, fresh oak, mild bread notes and flimsy smoke. Flavors were decent enough, but just felt like a lot of work from start to finish.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Pass/Fail grading systems.
Pairing Suggestion: Coffee or a gin and tonic.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack.
Participants in this blind review were completely unaware of the cigar they were evaluating until all submissions were received and processed. Each participant was asked to answer a summary paragraph, an if/than statement, a pairing suggestion, and a purchase suggestion. Cigars were provided by Small Batch with only the expectations of candid responses. All pictures, information, and formatting were completed by a Coordinator outside of the reviewing process.
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