Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is milk chocolate brown and has a couple of slightly raised veins present. The seams are slightly raised in some places making them very easily detectable while the head is finished off with a well applied double cap. The band carries a similar design to the more recent brand releases but in a gray, black and silver color combination. The aroma from the wrapper is somewhat close to a pipe tobacco note while the foot brings the same but is preempted by some stone fruit sweetness. The pre-light draw is very faint and has a mix of leather and the stone fruit sweetness.

Pre-light Experience

The Villiger La Vencedora Robusto has a Colorado red wrapper shade. The cigar is firmly packed with virtually no give. Veins are well pressed, seams tight and head finished off with a well applied thick cap. Aromas from the wrapper give campfire, dry wood and anise. Aromas from the foot tell sweet raisins and cedar. Cold draw gives dried nuts, bread, faint campfire and cedar.

First Third

The profile begins with a mix of wood, cream and a mellow baking spice. At a half inch in, the wood and cream are working well together while the baking spice is a nice supporting note. At an inch in, the wood takes a bit of a lead over the cream and the baking spice increases to even up with the cream. The retrohale has the cream slightly in front of the wood. As the third comes to a close, the baking spice has continued to increase and become even with the wood while the cream is in the background. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

First Third

Starting off, the profile consists of baking soda like effervescence, minerals, espresso beans, bittersweet chocolate and creaminess derived from mixed nuts. About an inch in, espresso beans disappears while the other mentioned notes are still intact. Retrohaling gives just the right amount of black pepper spice and creamed cherries. The finish is a lingering aged cedar. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the wood takes the lead again while the baking spice and cream are in the background. At a quarter inch in, some mustiness joins the profile. At a half inch in, a slight sweetness enters to go along with the wood up front and the cream, mustiness and baking spice in the background. At an inch in, the profile is now creamy wood and mustiness while slight amounts of sweetness and baking spice remain in the background. The retrohale is a creamy wood. The strength in this third moved up to being right at medium.

Second Third

The second third’s profile is a continuation of the first third except that certain notes take more precedence over others. The main flavors are spice and mineral driven with baking soda, minerals and bittersweet chocolate. The finish tells a lengthier finish with aged cedar but now mixed with baking spices. Strength is reaching towards medium-full while body stays medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, some coffee joins the profile as the wood gains a slight brightness to it and some cream is present in the background. At a half inch in, a mintiness joins the profile of slightly bright wood and cream. As the cigar comes to a close, some mustiness returns to mix with the bright wood, cream and mintiness. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly above medium.

Final Third

The last third has espresso beans making a comeback. The espresso beans are mixed with baking spices and minerals. The baking soda effervescence takes a backseat and is now mainly tasted on the finish (along with the same aged cedar). Strength is pretty much medium-full, while body finishes medium.

Burn

The burn was perfect as it was razor sharp the entire way. The ash dropped once at the halfway mark and held on again until the end.

Burn

Three touch-ups were the main issues with the burn. On the plus side, ashes held on rock solid, draw temperature was cool and ash retention of 1.5 inch increments.

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

Having already reviewed the Toro, it was interesting to see that the Robusto had a very different flavor profile. It was centered around wood, cream and baking spice until the final third where the baking spice dropped out and the wood became a bit bright. Construction was fantastic and required zero attention. I found the Toro and Robusto equally enjoyable even though they were different. It’s definitely worth checking out multiple sizes in the line to see which one you gravitate more towards. For me, I’m up for smoking this one again no problem.

Draw

The draw was considerably tight. The hard bunch and roll felt within the pre-light experience unfortunately proved the tight draw.

Overall

I said it within the Toro review and I’ll say it again within this Robusto review: this is another good cigar from the newly renovated/refreshed Villiger. Flavors of bittersweet chocolate, baking spices, baking soda, espresso beans and creaminess of mixed nuts not only was good, but captured my attention the entire smoking time. The only downside was the tight draw. But I’ll take a pesky draw when the flavors are there.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.67

Cost/Point

$1.35

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.52

Cost/Point

$1.38

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Villiger La Vencedora Robusto