For this week’s cigar selection, I went with the Last Rites Viaticum. I’ve heard great things from the SBC crew about Viaticum right off the truck, and I’m always excited to give James Brown’s latest and greatest a try.
This limited edition was tweaked for their sixth anniversary, but the most exciting part (to me at least) is the box press! I love a good box-pressed cigar as much as the next guy, and it’s always a BLTC homerun with this treatment. I’m taking a chance with this one, because usually our weekly picks are some of my favorites that I’ve experienced time and time again, but I have a good feeling about the Viaticum.
James Brown said this in a press release back in June, "To celebrate our sixth anniversary, I wanted to do a Special Edition of the Last Rites. The Viaticum is an evolution of the Last Rites blend. It uses most of the same tobaccos but in different proportions and primings. We also box pressed the cigar like the original 2013 release."
Lighting this beauty up, my first few impressions are of rich coffee, graham cracker, soft earth, and a touch of dark chocolate. Everything is balanced, giving equal representation amongst each tasting note without overpowering the other. I can already tell that this was an excellent choice and am looking forward to spending more time with these!
The draw is much looser than anticipated, but somehow continues to provide just the right amount of resistance. I’ve never experienced this with Black Label before, but it has a very Padronian feel to it: both the weight of the cigar and the easy, effortless pull. Checking with my two coworkers, one says that their cigar is also very loose, while the other says his is just right like Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
The second third shifts as a sensation of old leather settles in. It’s chewy, and once again very well-balanced. The final third sees our notes of dark chocolate come to the forefront for an exciting finish to an awesome afternoon.
As I close this out, does anyone else find the name Last Rites incredibly badass? It seems more and more poetic every time I consider the name.
Cheers to a great rest of your week!
Suggestions
If you’re a fan of James Brown, I think Viaticum is absolutely worthy of your humidor space. This blend reminds me a lot of my first Bishop’s Blend: it tasted distinctly Black Label without feeling overdone or repetitive. There’s a lot to love here for the Church of the Black Sheep.
And if you aren’t? I’d highly recommend this cigar to anyone that loves full-bodied cigars that know how to dance. Like a power lifter that’s light on their toes, Viaticum brings the muscle but bridles it with finesse and sophistication in a way that very few blenders can.
I’d imagine that this cigar would be a slam dunk with some Flor de Caña 18! For our lower octane audience, I’d suggest an Americano or Coca-Cola to hit the sweet spot with the Last Rites Viaticum.
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