JC Newman

June 22, 2021

Viaje Honey & Hand Grenades (HHG) Maduro The Shank (5 1/2 x 52)







Video review HERE.

(Description taken from Cigar-coop.com website)

There is a new version of Viaje Honey and Hand Grenades (HHG). Previous installments of the Viaje Honey and Hand Grenades have been Nicaraguan puros with a natural wrapper. For 2021, the Honey and Hand Grenades release will feature a San Andres Maduro for the first time.

Viaje Honey & Hand Grenades initially made its debut in September 2012 but has not been released since 2019.

The cigar features an inverse torpedo with a pointed footer and rounded cap. The three sizes include: Rapier (6 1/2 x 44), Shank (5 1/4 x 52), and Shiv (6 1/4 x 50). Each is packaged in 25-count boxes. These are the same sizes and box-counts as the previous HHG natural wrapper releases.


The cigar has the usual red foil leading from the pointed end of the cigar. Once the foil sleeve is removed it reveals the pointed end of the cigar, which is closed, just as the cap.






I tried several methods smoking this cigar; cut the cap and light the pointed end without cutting, cutting both ends and smoking it reverse torpedo style, and cutting both ends and smoke it torpedo style. I decided to review the cigar cutting both ends and smoking it reverse torpedo style. 


The initial flavors at light up were sweet dark chocolate, apricot, brown sugar, nutmeg, and dark roasted black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7 1/2 to 8. There are a lot of dark notes in this cigar but also a lot of very sweet notes. Very good start.



At the first third (28 minutes) the sweet dark notes are very enjoyable. There are now caramel noes at the tail end of the flavors making the cigar sweeter. Other than the addition of caramel the same flavor notes are in play. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is dark chocolate and black coffee with very nice lingering black pepper. The sweet dark chocolate goes nicely with the sweet apricot notes. This is a very good cigar. I rated the first third 94.




Moving through the second third (53 minutes) the cigar really hasn't changed much. There was an addition of twangy notes which seem to be a slight addition of citrus influence. Other than that the same flavor notes are all in play. The cigar seems to be consistent. The finish is also unchanged. Once change is the cigar is now full bodied. I am enjoying the cigar. I held the score of 94 for the second third.




The cigar lasted 1 hour 12 minutes. Again, nothing much has changed. This has been a very consistent cigar. All the previous flavor notes are still there; apricot, twangy citrus, brown sugar, nutmeg, sweet dark chocolate, full bodied dark roasted black coffee. Lots of sweet and dark notes. The cigar is full bodied. The finish is unchanged. This is a very good cigar that you should try. I rated the final third 94.




Overall Score; 94

No comments: