This Villiger Villiger de Nicaragua Edición Limitada 2022 was a solid blend from beginning to end. Love the diversity of tobacco in the cigar. Rich profile that is one of the few examples of dark Ecuadorian Sumatra flavor working well. Some transitioning, but it made up for it with the depth and complexity. Nice strength and body level as well. If the factory keeps producing cigars like this, I see good things for Villiger.
I wasn't blown away by the My Father Flor de Las Antillas 10th Anniversary. I have never been crazy on the line, but I would have expected more with this being a 10th Anniversary blend. Of course, it could be because I just was not one for the line from the get go. However, I have found My Father to do very well with anniversary cigars, even if I did not enjoy the core line blend as much as I cared for the limited offering.
I enjoyed the Casa 1910 Revolutionary Edition Tierra Blanca. You got that Mexican San Andres quality, and I could pick up the Sumatra qualities though grown in Mexico. A Mexican experience, and one that I enjoyed. It delivered that richness with balance. Earthiness and spices. Would smoke again. Would be interested to see how the cigar ages.
I really enjoyed this Highclere Castle Senetjer and the flavor profile delivered. Balanced with some dry earth and cocoa qualities. Balance of sweet and peppery with the spices. Great construction. Well made cigar with nice strength and body to pair the flavors as well. Beautiful presentation. Hard to not buy a box of these cigars. Great offering by Highclere Castle and Foundation.
I must have missed the memo on companies going Double Broadleaf in 2022. There have been hits and misses with these releases, but the Rocky Patel DBS Robusto is a true hit. Almost sunk my battleship. The cigar had transitioning throughout and a cornucopia of complex flavors. Great strength and balance as well. I think the only low point was the draw, but a great blend overall.
The HVC La Rosa 520 Rare of Rare was a balanced cigar with a complex flavor profile. Lots of depth with some transitioning throughout the thirds. Nice strength and body; match the flavors of the cigar well. It has been some time since I have had a really good Ecuadorian Sumatra release, feels like years, but this delivered that great lighter Ecuadorian Sumatra flavor profile I enjoy.
It's hard to beat a good Connecticut with a great draw and burn line. With an enjoyable flavor profile, and a matching strength and body level, the Gurkha Colección Especial Lonsdale smoked wonderfully from beginning to end. Gurkha never seems to fail with Connecticut releases, and I am curious to smoke this offering in a different size.
I really enjoyed the Alec Bradley Double Broadleaf Robusto, and I will definitely be smoking it again. I will probably gravitate towards the Toro and Gran Corona vitolas, but that is how I am with Alec Bradley stuff. Very rich and filling. Great winter cigar.
The Casa Magna Connecticut Robusto is a lovely Connectict that has those classic qualities while available at a great price. Not overly complex, but enjoyable. Might be too mild for some. This would be a cigar I would smoke in the morning and afternoon. An easy Connecticut.
I really enjoyed the AJ Fernandez New World Dorado Figurado, and it was a nice return to the New World line/brand. I thought it was a solid Nicaraguan puro that delivered an enjoyable flavor profile that was present throughout. Not overly complex, or showing a lot of transitioning, but an overall good blend. I prefer the Toro vitola offering, but a nice Figurado.
