I found this Villiger La Capitana Lonsdale to be both unique and delicious. The mixture of savory, herbal and sweet qualities worked really well off each other. The only complaint that I really have is, what's with the band artwork? It doesn't follow anything along the Villiger profile.
The Villiger 1888 Gran Reserva delivers a profile that leans heavily into earth, chocolate, wood and sweet tobacco, with flashes of coffee and baking spice in the middle third. The second third stands out for its more refined balance and nuanced notes. However, two spontaneous re-lights disrupted both the burn integrity and flavor delivery, dragging the overall experience down.
If I were to dissect the Villiger Cuéllar Caribe Robusto into compartmentalized flavors, I love the flavors of buttery sweetness, mixed fruit gum candy and baking spices. But factoring in all the flavors and textures as a whole, it misses the mark. The overwhelming mouth caking of stale leather and cedar is not enjoyable and does the good flavors a disservice. I'll pass on this blend.
I thought the Villiger TAA Exclusive 2024 had an interesting start, with balanced flavor combinations that kept me engaged. Once the cigar reached the second third, it became linear and mundane for the remainder of the review. I don't feel that the Villiger TAA Exclusive 2024 represents the Villiger brand particularly well, as it isn't something I would likely return to.
The Villiger 1888 Nicaragua Churchill had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around the earth, toasted oak and creamy leather. I don't see myself really coming back to this cigar, but it does have an attractive price point, especially for the size and smoking time. I could see this as a good cigar for smokers that tend to shy away from Nicaraguan offerings as the profile is smooth and provides a slightly higher than medium strength.
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.
The Villiger Miami 2022 Laguito No. 1 is a strong addition to the Villiger lineup with balanced and restrained flavors through the first and second thirds. The last third was still pleasant but didn't harmonize as well as the rest of the cigar. With a just over light-plus strength flavor delivery, this was an enjoyable cigar that breaks up a market full of medium or stronger cigars, and I would happily seek it out to smoke again.
More of these TAA releases please. "These" in the sense of a good blended cigar using good tobacco. Not in the sense of collaborating with other brands per se. This Villiger TAA 2022 is all about the expected goodness of a Hector Alfonso blended cigar. Punchy, yet flavorful and balanced. Well done.
The Villiger La Libertad Robusto was pleasant and dessert like through the first third. It became a darker, earth forward profile in the second third, eventually losing the balance that was delivered in the first third. The last third was more similar to the second third, as earth was the primary flavor element.
Overall, the flavor profile of the Villiger TAA 2021 Exclusive was fairly average. The cigar never really brought an interesting flavor profile, just one that is easily found in many cigars. Not something I really see myself coming back to.