“While this cigar had some classic maduro flavors of chocolate, earth, and pepper, somehow the way these flavors meshed together gave this cigar a very different flavor profile than most other Viajes I’ve had.”

Viaje Cache Five Fifty-Two Box-Press

Coming in at #30 – and kicking off the 2014 Cigar of the Year Countdown is the Viaje Cache.  This marks the fifth consecutive year Andre Farkas’ company has appeared on the Cigar of the Year countdown.  However the four previous years have seen cigars being made out of Honduras.  The Cache marks the first of two cigars being made Casa Fernandez’s TABSA factory in Esteli, Nicaragua -the other one being the Viaje Collaboration 2014.

The name Cache refers to the rooms where Viaje ages their tobacco and this cigar pays homage to those rooms. Farkas has gone a step further an integrated a “cache” into the packaging. A box of Viaje Cache contains 20 rounded 5 x 52 vitolas, but the packaging contains a hidden compartment which gives way to five box-pressed cigars.

Viaje Cache Five Fifty-Two Rounded

Viaje Cache Five Fifty-Two Box-Press in hidden compartment

The Cache has a San Andres Maduro wrapper along with Aganorsa Nicaraguan tobaccos – a staple on all of Viaje’s maduros.  However this is a very different Viaje maduro.  it produces notes of earth, chocolate, and white pepper. There is also a slight metallic note.  The chocolate flavors aren’t overly sweet, yet there is a smoothness this cigar had. The flavors are medium to full-bodied while the strength level is medium.  The box-press and rounded version offer enough nuances to make this feel like two different cigars.

Overall 2014 was a very good year for Viaje as there has been better consistency with their blends. The Cache is an demonstrates this consistency excellently.

Click here for our detailed assessment on the Viaje Cache.

Blend Profile

Wrapper: San Andres Maduro
Binder: Aganorsa Leaf, Nicaragua
Filler: Aganorsa Leaf, Nicaragua
Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Vitolas Available

Five Fifty Two (Rounded): 5 x 52
Five Fifty Two (Box-Press): 5 x 52

Recommended Vitola: Five Fifty Two (Box-Press)

Assessment Rating: 4.0- Box Worthy
Score: 93 (8/21/14)

For more information on our vision and criteria for the 2014 Cigar of the Year countdown, see our December 2014 Editor’s Corner.

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