Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo ‘99
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 6.5 x 54
Strength: Full
Price: $11.00

BACKGROUND:
From Atlantic Cigar Co.:
“Viaje Cigar Company owner Andre Farkas has been creating blends that have been receiving tremendous buzz throughout the cigar world. Due to the extremely limited production of these cigars, most products sell out in only a few days once they are released. Made at the famous TABSA factory in Nicaragua, a division of Casa Fernandez & Aganorsa Leaf, the Viaje blends utilize some of the best tobacco from Nicaragua. The ‰Viaje Summerfest is a ultra small batch release, and often only a few hundred boxes are produced once a year during summer.”

SMELL THE GLOVE:
The most potent aroma is barnyard. Underlying notes include, ginger beer, caramel, cinnamon, apple, cedar, malt, milk chocolate, and vanilla.

The cold draw presents flavors of black pepper, cinnamon, clove, barnyard, cedar, vanilla, milk chocolate, mint, and malt.

The stick feels right in the hand. A clear shot to the foot with the right draw for my taste. My PerfecDraw draw adjustment tool sulks while closing its own coffin.

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
I am always torn about lighting a big ol’ shaggy foot. Fireworks and burning embers usually find their way into the katosphere causing me to say ouch at least once. Here goes nuttin’ honey…

Lovely flavors right from the get go: seared meat, cinnamon, creaminess, black pepper, espresso, and chocolate.

Complexity is on the scene immediately. It wastes no time on a tease with many tangents…it’s like a chimp building a sandcastle in Dubai.
Strength hits a potent medium.

While there is no claim to especially aged tobacco used, the description does say that Farkas used the best tobacco he could lay his hands on. It shows.

This is a big cigar for me. Especially for a review. The construction is expertly accomplished. So, this baby is a very slow roll. It is at least a 2 hour cigar.

With 2” burned, the cigar goes earthy on me. Incidental flavor points are null. Instead, a rich tobacco essence takes over. I do not call error on this player. It seems to hunker down while it heads toward the second half; and hopefully a nice sweet spot.

Out of nowhere, a dense complexity takes over.
Strength hits full tilt.

The missing flavors rise from the ashes: salted caramel, pumpkin pie, raisins, malt, with a generic savory element.

The blend is extraordinary for only having 2 months of humidor time. Giving it 6-12 months of humidor time will truly benefit a smoker’s experience.

The strength has become nuclear. Nicotine spreads its wings and envelops Gotham.

At the halfway point, I can barely see the writing on my laptop. If you have a penchant for hallucinogenics, boy do I have a cigar for you.

The sweet spot nests with 2-1/2” to go.

You won’t need a sophisticated palate to enjoy this. The flavors I’ve found meld into a spinning orb in which notes appear quickly and then retreat into witness protection.

The blend finds a uniqueness that is enjoyable…while at the same time, the strength jumps another notch. Not a morning cigar. Stuff yourself like King Henry VIII and then indulge.

Sweet notes of milk chocolate and vanilla ice cream stand out and then quickly vanish.

The quality of the tobaccos are the vehicle for making this a fine cigar. Complexity is constantly on the move.

Creaminess returns. It takes the strength down a bit. Still, my guitar gently weeps.

With 1-1/2” left, I throw in the towel.
The cigar is great. The price point is more than fair. And I had a wonderful time. But next time I smoke one, I will do so after a full stomach.

RATING: 94

And now for something completely different:
“SPLASH”!!!!!

Back in 1983, I took film classes at UCLA. I had just written, produced, and directed my first music video starring Butch “Eddie Munster” Patrick for the song we developed called, “Whatever Happened to Eddie?”

I took pre-production classes, production classes, post production classes and editing classes. All taught by towering people in their field. It seemed more like a vanity project for these teachers to brag to their friends about.

The post-production class was taught by John Thomas Lenox, an executive producer. He was producing the movie “Splash.” And instead of being taught about the intricacies of post-production, we got a class in “Splash.” It was novel, at first, but it never ended.

What an arrogant prick. Me this and me that. Every class was this guy extolling his brilliance.

But there were a few perks. He brought in other producers and Ron Howard himself who directed the film. That was a fun night. And if you are wondering if Howard is Opie? Yes, he is. Down to earth and friendly. The class only had around 25 folks in it. And for three hours, Howard was a delight. Someone you want to have a beer with.

Previous to Howard coming in, Lenox took us to a pre-screening of the nearly finished film. It was missing some sound effects and there was no soundtrack. The screening was held at Disney Studios in Burbank. It had retained the look of the 1950’s. With street signs that said Mickey Mouse Ave. or Donald Duck St. What a hoot to be there.

During the question and answer period with Howard, there was one jerk that was really mean and kept asking embarrassing questions. Remember, this movie was a fantasy/farce. And this idiot kept bringing up how the movie didn’t feel real. I had to hand it to Howard. He was a real gentleman and didn’t lose his temper.

At the end of class, I gave Howard a complete package of my Eddie Munster stuff.

We said our good byes and Howard told me he would peruse my video and give me a call. Guess what? I never got a call. LOL. It was the Hollywood syndrome of “Leave your name and phone number in the ashtray and I will get back to you.”

Some of the lectures in the class were very boring and they always took place in near auditorium sized classrooms. There was only 25 students and everyone was spread out amongst the 150 seats. So, I began to talk to this very nice looking chick.

After a couple weeks, we would steal ourselves away and head for the bathroom. Each time I got a great blow job.

She was married and when we went to the ‘Splash’ screening she brought her husband. She introduced us and all I got was the stink eye from the husband. Ooops. Did she yell out my name in passion while having sex with hubbie?

At the end of the class, Lenox had promised a one on one with any student that requested it. I gave him an Eddie Munster package too. His assistant made an appointment for me and then they kept postponing it, so I gave up.

He made the announcement for individual meetings as he handed out a piece of paper asking the students to assess the class. So of course, everyone gave this guy an A+ hoping for that one on one. The bastard offered the meetings so we’d give him a good score.

The other classes were not as exciting and no blow jobs. The editing class was taught by an old timer who was Douglas Fairbanks Jr.’s doppelganger. He had the whole look going for him. He must have been 70+ years old.

He did take us to MGM and we got the royal tour. That was fun. We watched movies being filmed. We watched the editors at work. We got to hang in the commissary where we saw movie stars and extras.

But all in all, the classes were just a waste of money. My project soon collapsed when the record company was taken to jail for embezzling. A real story of intrigue and underhanded dealings.

Rocshire Records was a brand new record company out of Anaheim. A ton of money was spent signing acts. Big deal record guys were stolen from big record companies. And the owner’s wife embezzled $15 million from Hughes Aircraft where she worked during the day. The FBI swooped in just before my first big royalty check was to be cut and shut the company down; forcing me to relinquish my royalties. This would have made me whole as I put a lot of my own money into the project so I’d get the first penny back on the first record sold. It’s called a production deal.

My dreams of becoming a music video mogul were dashed.

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS