Tag Archives: Viaticum

Some ATL Cigars and a BLTC Event at Son’s Cigars

The title is out of order chronologically, but I felt compelled to put it in alphabetical order, regular readers will understand! Wednesday evening I went to Son’s Cigars to their Black Label Trading Company event where they were hosting James Brown, the owner of the company. You’ll notice that I’ve been frequenting Son’s as of late, it’s 8 miles from home, and while note the closest shop, certainly the nicest and has a great selection of cigars that I want to smoke. I’ve known Vince and Brian for a long time too, so I’m very comfortable there. I was surprised to find the lounge crowded, relatively. Considering it’s still only about 50% completed, there were about 25 or 30 people there, and several I talked to from out of town. I bought a few of the new Viaticum, and smoked the box pressed Lancero,  an absolutely delicious cigar with a high priming Ecuador Habano maduro wrapper. Burn and draw were exceptional and it was just perfect. I also bought the Toro and look forward to enjoying that as well. It’s bold and spicy and really quite a nice smoke. Last night I had a Royalty Robusto, one of their core line cigar that I had never had before. This has a Corojo wrapper that was very dark and oily. I smoked it late, after watching a movie, Papa Hemingway in Cuba, which I enjoyed. The cigar was bold, but not overly so. I was concerned that too strong a cigar late would cause me problems sleeping, but the cigar wasn’t an issue. It had rich flavors of dark fruits and cocoa. Delicious. Certainly a BLTC cigar I will revisit. I really haven’t come across an Oveja Negra cigar that I haven’t enjoyed, and the only reason I haven’t smoked a bunch of them has been a lack of steady supply, which has now changed. I’ll definitely be working my way through the portfolio. 

 

I recently received some cigars from the folks at ATL Cigars. While  doing some research on the brand, I come to find that ATL has something to do with Atlanta (and you really have to dig deep into Google to find anything ATL that doesn’t!), and the company is, indeed Atlanta based. I had a fortunate shortcut in my research in that the three owners of the brand were just on Cigar-Coop’s Primetime show, so I listened in my sleep and absorbed all the information through osmosis. I’m kidding, I didn’t do that. I’m only going to talk about the Libertad and Magic here, because I want to give the Good Trouble more attention.  The Libertad is made by Aganorsa, which, ironically, I had just smoked a couple of the Lunatics last week and enjoyed them. I was going to write an article about them, but I want to pick up a few more to enjoy first, because, as can happen, I got distracted while smoking the ones I had and didn’t take notes. I smoked this 5″ x 50 robusto before lunch yesterday. It has a Corojo wrapper and has a nice, woody, nutty flavor with a hint of sweetness. It’s a nice smoke and didn’t bother me early in the day. Strange things fascinate me. The menu line on their website, for instance. They have the cigars on the far right, instead of the left, as if they aren’t first thing that you’d be looking for on their site. I guess I’m weird, but when I’m parsing a site for info, I look left to right across the screen. Like I said, I’m weird and a bit of a nitpicker. Great cigar.

 

Speaking of a great cigar, the ATL Magic, is…Magical. First it’s a 6″ x 54 toro, we know this is the perfect size, right? It’s made at Tabacalera Pichardo and blended by Luciano Merielles. I have not had the pleasure of meeting Luciano yet, and I’ve only smoked a couple of his cigars, but by all accounts he’s a very nice man, and seems to be doing OK in the cigar blending department. If he doesn’t know what he’s doing, he know the right people who do. The cigar has a San Andrés wrapper, Pueblo Nuevo binder and Pueblo Nuevo, Esteli and Jalapa fillers. This Pueblo Nuevo tobacco must be the secret sauce, because there’s a distinctive and unusual flavor in this cigar, a totally yummy flavor, to use technical terms, that sets this cigar apart from any other cigar. There’s the rich, earthy cocoa from the Mexican wrapper, and the Jalapa sweetness, but then there’s a unique, exotic spice that’s super interesting and really excites the palate. Once in a while a cigar comes along like this, I remember another one but I can’t remember what it was! This is a great smoke. These guys are doing a great job for a small cigar company.

 

There was something else I was thinking of, but I can’t remember what it was. I suppose I can edit this post, or write another post if and when I remember it!  Until the next time, 

 

CigarCraig

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News: Black Label Trading Company Releases Viaticum

Here’s another news item, this one from Black Label Trading.  This is one I haven’t smoked from them, which, honestly, isn’t saying a lot as there is a great deal of the BLTC stuff I haven’t sampled. I love what I do smoke, I just haven’t dug deep into the catalog for whatever reason. Not much excuse as a couple shops within 10 miles in a couple directions have a good selection. It’s something to work on…

 

Black Label Trading Company (BLTC) is releasing VIATICUM in three vitolas to select retailers this month.  Viaticum is hand crafted at Fabrica Oveja Negra in Esteli, Nicaragua.

 

VIATICUM is a small batch release that was originally released in one vitola in 2019 to retailers who attended the PCA trade show.  This is the second and full release made available to all BLTC retailers.

 

“Viaticum is an evolution of the Last Rites blend and a testament to what Black Label Trading Co is all about.  It uses most of the same tobaccos but in different proportions and primings. It’s the perfect balance between strength and complexity.  This cigar is bold but also very refined.  It’s all about balance.  The dark fruit and earth flavors are wrapped in soft floral notes and elevated with a multitude of spice on the finish,” says James Brown, creator of BLTC and partner at Fabrica Oveja Negra.

 

Viaticum

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Ecuador Maduro

Binder: Honduras Habano

Filler: Nicaraguan / Honduran

                 Robusto – 5 x 54 Box Press (20 count) MSRP $15.00

                 Toro – 6 x 48 Box Press (20 count) MSRP $15.25

                 Lancero – 6.75 x 40 Box Press (20 count) MSRP $15.50

 

“Black Label Trading Company is redefining the standards for cigar making. With a less is more philosophy, Black Label Trading Co. creates handcrafted premium cigars of the utmost quality at their own factory in Nicaragua.” 

 

For more information please visit OvejaNegraCigars.com.  Consumers may search by zip code for retailers nearest them.

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