Cigar Geeks - Viaje Honey and Hand Grenades (HHG) The Rapier Maduro

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Viaje Honey and Hand Grenades (HHG) The Rapier Maduro
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: HolySmokes

86
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Member sponsored Geek Critique. This one has been generously sponsored by our member ninfiction (Brian). The cigar provided for this round is the http://www.cigargeeks.com/cigardb/default.asp?action=showcig&cigar_id=193113">Viaje Honey and Hand Grenades (HHG) The Rapier Maduro. We did a Geek Critique in May 2017 on the original HHG Rapier. So how do you improve upon a classic? You wrap it in a flawless San Andres Maduro wrapper. Viaje's fondness for San Andres is no secret, so when they began experimenting with Honey & Hand Grenades, this beautiful cover leaf was an obvious choice, and became the new HHG Maduro, which began shipping in June 2021.

Viaje Honey and Hand Grenades (HHG) The Rapier Maduro

Brand:: Viaje
Name:: Honey and Hand Grenades (HHG) The Rapier Maduro
Length:: 6.5
Ring Gauge:: 44
Country of Origin:: Nicaragua
Filler:: Nicaragua
Binder:: Nicaragua
Wrapper:: Mexico
Color:: Maduro
Strength:: Medium-Full
Shape:: Figurado
Notes:: https://halfwheel.com/viaje-honey-hand-grenades-maduro-shipping-this-month/393700/

This cigar was enjoyed with Water

Pre-Light: 8 Points of 10 Possible

The Cigar has a dark semi oily wrapper. Seams are nearly invisible. Cigar is packed well and tends to be on the more packed side throughout. Cap was applied well with shallow shoulders. There isn't a strong aroma but I pick up a faint natural sweet hay. I used a double V cut which was hard to access until lighting due to closed foot.

Lighting and Burn: 13 Points of 15 Possible

The torpedo style foot lends to very easy lighting. The cigar started with a decent amount of smoke but is being affected by the tight roll. First ash at about an inch leaving no cone. Ash was dark gray and a bit flaky. I did notice some tunneling when ashed but it was never more that an eighth/quarter of an inch or so. It did not seem to affect the burn or flavors. There were no touch-ups required.

Construction: 25 Points of 30 Possible

Once lit, the draw produced was semi-open, a bit snug. The draw and smoke output do increase significantly once passed the first inch and a half. The band was removed without any damage to the wrapper.

Flavor and Aroma: 40 Points of 45 Possible

Flavors start off earthly and woody. Throughout the 1st and 2nd third flavors open a bit more and are full bodied. It starts becoming more of a creamy earth and wood instead of the sharpness it had until half way point. Retrohale is nice and spicy producing the eye watering affect, don't want to keep doing that as it will wreak havoc on my sinuses. The last third did not produce a huge transition in flavors just a consistent earth/woodiness. The strong retrohale does become more tame and comfortable towards the end. Surprisingly towards the end of 3/3 I picked up a slight dark chocolate almost meaty taste, sounds odd but it was an interesting discovery.

Summary

Overall this is a great cigar, not flashy but solid. It was an enjoyable smoke from start to finish. The presentation was great and made the cigar seem more luxurious. It stands out. I was hoping for more transition in flavors but was there was good and strong. I finished in 1hr and 20 minutes. Thank you again to Brian for providing the cigar.