Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is medium brown and has a few visible veins that are slightly raised and carry a slightly lighter color to them. The seams are smooth but easily visible due to the matte finish of the wrapper and the veins. The head is finished off with a well applied double cap. The band is the common theme the brand is using now with the lower portion being in green which is the designation for this line. The aroma from the wrapper is wood, earthiness and cocoa while the foot brings wood and stone fruit sweetness. The pre-light draw is a mix of creamy leather and lightly sweet hay. There is also a mild spicy tingle on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with wood, a dry earthiness and a very mild baking spice. At a half inch in, the spice level picks up a little bit. The retrohale is bringing a profile of slightly spicy cedar along with the dry earthiness. At an inch in, the wood has transitioned to a spicy cedar while the earthiness remains and isn’t quite as dry as before. As the third comes to a close, the spicy cedar reverts back to a general wood note while the earthiness remains and a slight cocoa has joined in. The strength in this third was mild-medium.

Second Third

This third continues the profile of the first third. At a half inch in, a bit of chalkiness and black pepper joins the mix of wood, earth and cocoa. At an inch in, the chalkiness has continued to increase and is the primary component in the profile along with some wood and earthiness as the black pepper and cocoa have left. As the third comes to a close, the chalkiness is still up front as the earthiness becomes a little darker to go along with the wood. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly below medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the wood gains some char to mix in with the chalkiness and earthiness. The retrohale is wood and earth. At a half inch in, the charred wood takes the lead over the chalkiness while there is still some earthiness in the background. The cigar finishes out with this same profile of charred wood with chalkiness and earth in the background. The strength in this third bumped up to medium.

Burn

The burn was perfect as it was razor sharp the entire way. The ash held on in inch and three quarter increments.

Draw

The draw was perfect with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

This cigar is coming out of Villiger’s new factory in Brazil and it showed fantastic construction. The flavor profile of primarily wood and earth with some cocoa and chalkiness was nice in the first third, but became a but mundane through the rest of the cigar. The Villiger San’Doro Maduro Toro isn’t at the level of the more recent releases from the brand and I would classify it as a fairly average flavor profile. If you enjoy the flavors it presents, it would be worthwhile to try it and see if it’s something you’d like to add to your rotation, but for me, I would gravitate to more recent offerings.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.33

Cost/Point

$1.34

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Villiger San’Doro Maduro Toro