Review | Viva Republica Guerrilla Warfare

The Guerrilla Warfare by Viva Republica was originally introduced in 2013 in a 4 x 41 vitola. This year, 2014, Jason Holly decided to release a corona size featuring the same blend. Originally slated for a March, the orders taken at IPCPR are just beginning to ship now from La Aurora where the cigars are made. The cigar is distributed by site sponsor Miami Cigar & Co.

Cigar: Viva Republica Guerrilla Warfare
Size: 5.25 x 43 (Corona)
Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
Binder: Dominican Republic / Mexico (Dual)
Filler: Brazil, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
Strength: Medium

The Look: The neon green text of and raised fist of the band raises some mixed emotion. While some equate with a movement in the 1970’s, the meaning of the raised fist is for solidarity and support. It is used as a salute to express unity, strength, defiance and/or resistance. One can trace this salute back to ancient Assyria as a symbol of resistance in the face of violence. The Assyrian people existed from 2500 BC to 605 BC. As far as the cigar itself the wrapper won’t win any beauty pageants. Lumpy, with significant veins the cigar is firm to the touch. The roll is horrifically porous with seam lines visible and a slightly askew cap. Thankfully, we know from past experience that beauty is only wrapper deep.

The Burn: The cold draw of the Viva Republica Guerrilla Warfare reminds me of many cigars from La Aurora, by that I mean it takes me back to walking the factory floor when I worked for Miami Cigar & Co. The smell of the factory and the tobacco will always have a place in my heart and the taste of the cigar on the cold draw brings me back. The foot of the cigar serves up an earthy aroma with a hint of sweetness.

Once the cigar is lit there is some pepper through the nose but it is distinctly La Aurora, and not the Nicaraguan spice that cigar smokers have grown accustom to. Smoking our way into the first third the notes are earthy, with some spice though that tones down as we progress.

Entering the second third of the Guerrilla Warfare from Viva Republica some wood notes begin to develop, but the cigar lacks complexity. A nice aroma begins to develop around the half-way point of the smoke. As the second third comes to a close some notes of cinnamon join the mix giving the cigar some much-needed depth.

In the last third of the Viva Republica Guerrilla Warfare the stick loses its sweetness and what remains is some wood notes, and earth on a finish that is moderate.

The Burn: The cigar burns even throughout with a thin burn line and tremendous smoke production for the size. I was also amazed at how slow the cigar smokes considering its size. The ash was a little weak, holding for about a half-inch at a time. The draw was perfect.

The Finish: The Viva Republica Guerrilla Warfare is very much a Dominican cigar despite being a 5 nation blend. For 3 years, I smoked a lot of cigars that came out of the La Aurora factory, but not so much since I moved back to the northeast, mainly due to lack of availability. It was nice to visit, but the cigar lacked the complexity of some other cigars to come out of the Guillermo Leon owned company. It did however keep my interest and it was enjoyable.

Score: 89
Price: $5.69 / $247.99 Box of 50