Viaje Platino Reserva Perfecto

I believe the first Viaje I ever smoked was the Fifty Fifty Red Label, a concept that the top half of the cigar was blended differently than the bottom half.

The second Viaje I smoked was either an Oro or a Platino.

There was once a time when Viaje offered regular production lines: Oro (Spanish for gold) and Platino (Spanish for platinum). Those two lines existed alongside the seasonal releases that have since become mainstays for the company, such as Skull and Bones and Holiday Blend.

In early 2012, the company announced it was shifting to a “100 percent small batch” model that it still uses today. Unlike nearly every other cigar company, which allows retailers to order cigars off a price list like an à la carte menu, Viaje relies on allocated shipments. More or less every month, Viaje has a new shipment for retailers, typically around three to five cigars. Sometimes those cigars might be all-new brands and blends, or simply a re-release of a previous cigar; many are like today’s review, a new size of an existing brand.

The Platino Reserva dates back to 2010, when it was described as a special version of the then-regular production Platino line. The Platino was a Nicaraguan puro, but the Platino Reserva used more aged tobacco, capped off by a corojo 99 wrapper. While subsequent releases followed in 2011, 2013 and 2014, Viaje waited until late 2024 for what we show as the fifth VPR.

I most associate the line with the 5 3/4 x 52 Double Torpedo, a box-pressed cigar that has both a pointed torpedo cap and foot. So in July, when Viaje posted a cryptic social media post about a new Perfecto for both VPR and the Viaje Oro Reserva, I assumed it would be different, which is true, though I wasn’t expecting the cigars to be so similar.

• Cigar Reviewed: Viaje Platino Reserva Perfecto
• Country of Origin: Undisclosed
• Factory: Undisclosed
• Wrapper: Undisclosed
• Binder: Undisclosed
• Filler: Undisclosed
• Length: 5 1/2 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 52
• Shape: Pressed
• MSRP: $13 (Box of 50, $650)
• Release Date: July 2026
• Number of Cigars Released: Undisclosed
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

Once I grabbed the three cigars for this review, I was quite concerned. Between the slightly yellowing cellophane and the shape, I wasn’t sure if we were accidentally sent backstock of the Double Edge Swords. Understandably, the two vitolas look pretty similar, though we were sent the correct cigars. The wrapper has a deep mahogany color with a supple feel, partially aided by some of the oils. The first cigar has a hard spot near the band, the second cigar does not have any, while the third cigar feels quite firm for most of its length. I’m unable to pick up any scent from the first cigar’s wrapper, though the second and third have some barnyard. The foot reminds me of the air of a kitchen after some baking has been done, quite mild though there’s not exactly much filler exposed. By contrast, cold draws are full—medium-full for the third cigar—with lots of salty meat flavors and some dirty pond water atop different types of sweetness and some earth.

The first Viaje Platino Reserva Perfecto starts with some gravel-like earthiness, while the other two are a more balanced mixture of woods, earth and leather. Secondary notes include black pepper, varying degrees of salt, and some creaminess. From the first puff of the first cigar, I’m excited by what’s to come as the levels of detail and intensity remind me of some of my favorite Viajes. Earth and wood play the largest roles in the three cigars, with the main variability being how frequently softer cream and bread flavors are present. There’s also a noticeable difference in the finishes: a lengthy and vibrant black pepper is present for the first cigar, though I find much of the third cigar’s finish to be short. Retrohaling seems infinitely stronger than flavors in the mouth with black pepper, pencil lead and wood making frequent appearances in my notes. Flavor is full, body is medium-full and strength is medium-full. Construction-wise, the first two cigars both need a touch-up, though the first cigar is worse, while the third cigar is burning impressively.

Because of the taper at the foot and all the bands, I’m caught off guard by how quickly the second third progresses. If I take a half puff, the flavor doesn’t have many differences from earlier on, but what’s changed is that deep puffs move creaminess to the top of the flavor pecking order. The earthiness seems to have gobbled up a lot of the wood flavors, and the black pepper remains at about the same intensity, but is less frequent. I’m able to find more unique flavors in the finish: nuttiness, bread, stonefruit and sugar. None of them is all that strong and the creaminess and pepper are far more consistent. Retrohaling continues to be the best part of the cigar. Red pepper hits the taste buds first, followed by some order of oak, meatiness, creaminess, bread and a horseradish flavor. Saltiness and creaminess tend to be the only things that last for longer than a couple of seconds, but they aren’t as strong as some of the other flavors. Flavor is full, body is medium-full or full, while strength is medium-plus or medium-full. Construction-wise, the first cigar is the only one that loses a point, again for a touch-up related to uneven burn and combustion, though as the final third nears, the smoke production on the other two cigars declines a bit, likely due to the shape of the cigar.

The reason why that smoke production decline is different for the first cigar is probably related to where its hard spot is. Once the first Viaje Platino Reserva Perfecto’s burn line reaches the hard spot, the smoke production immediately starts increasing. Flavor-wise, the salty and dry aspects remind me of things like plain potato chips and Ritz crackers more than bread. When the saltiness is reduced, it allows more earth and cumin to emerge, with some lingering black pepper and wood notes. While not as complex, the retrohale is more vibrant than before as most of the other flavors have cleared out, leaving behind a sharp pepper; white pepper in the first, black pepper in the other two. Secondary flavors include wood, a beef-like meatiness, creaminess and some isolated sweetness. Oddly, there’s rarely any pepper on the finish. Flavor is full, body is medium-full or full, and strength is full in the first cigar, though more medium-plus in the other two. While the first cigar’s draw improves, it still requires a touch-up, the only construction issue in the final third.

Final Notes

• It’s been years since I thought about Fifty Fifty. I’m surprised Viaje has never brought it back.
• For the most part, Viaje declines to answer our questions regarding blends, factory or production numbers. A decade ago, the VPR was described as a Nicaraguan puro, though it’s unclear whether that’s still the case.
• Previously, Viaje has said that the Edición Limitada designation means that the company will only make this particular combination of blend and vitola once.
• In 2020, Viaje released the Platino Perfecto, not a VPR, which measured 6 x 50.
• The first third of the first cigar was a bit nerve-racking. For about 30 seconds after a puff, I’d see smoke coming from the cigar, but then it would stop. I’d take a puff, half expecting there to be no smoke, but the smoke would come out just fine. This went on for about 20 minutes.
• Solely based on flavor, this cigar would be a Top 25 candidate. Unfortunately, the multiple minor burn issues of the first cigar will prevent it from being considered for our list.
• The cellophane was also quite dry. While Viaje hasn’t said where the cigars are made, I regularly find cigars from the AGANORSA factory to have cellophane with the same dry feel. I would not take this to mean this is where the cigars are from, but it would be my first guess.
• Viaje’s latest release is called Mystery Box, which you can read more about here. To me, it’s one of the most interesting cigar releases of the year as the company appears to have taken some of the trading card collectible concept and brought it to the cigar industry.
• The cigars for the review were purchased by halfwheel.

• Viaje lists the Platino Reserva Perfecto as a 5 1/2 x 52 perfecto. Above are the measurements for the three cigars I smoked for this review.
• Final smoking was right around two hours and 15 minutes.
• Site sponsors Atlantic Cigar Co. and Small Batch Cigar carry the Viaje Platino Reserva Perfecto.

Perfecto
Viaje
Viaje Platino Reserva
Viaje Platino Reserva Perfecto