It’s no secret that I’ve been impressed with what Villiger Cigars has been doing in the premium cigar market over the last few years. I’ve enjoyed many of their cigars since Roy MacLaren has taken this helm, and this year’s releases were all made at the very hot Tabacalera Palma factory. After a busy weekend of smoking great cigars celebrating my birthday and Labor Day, I wrapped up the long weekend with the Trill Toro, a 6″ x 54 parejo. A few weeks ago I smoked the 4½” x 62 Torpedo Gordo and enjoyed it quite a bit. The Trill is a Dominican Puro, with a Dominican grown Habano wrapper. Interesting story, which I’m sure the folks at Villiger will appreciate, I was talking with Willie Herrera of Drew Estate at the after party at the festival and he was smoking and enjoying a Trill cigar, and I was able to educate him on its origin! Anyway, this is a really tasty cigar, it’s got some pepper and sweet tobacco flavors and is a nice, rich cigar. It was a great way to end the weekend.
Tuesday I selected the Cuellar Connecticut Krēmē Torpedo Largo. I smoked the toro as he first cigar of the day at the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival, and it was a tasty cigar. The 6¼ x 52 Torpedo Largo was no different, although I smoked it in the evening after dinner. This isn’t a mild cigar, it follows the trend of stronger, more flavorful Ecuador Connecticut wrapped cigars. The guts of this one are Dominican Piloto and Criollo 98, also grown on Jochi Blanco’s farms and rolled at Tabacalera Palma. It’s smooth, creamy, and loaded with flavor. If you like the flavor of the Ecuador Connecticut wrapper, this is a cigar to try. It’s a great choice for any time of day, whether in the morning with a cup of coffee, or on the evening walk with the dog. Both the Trill and the Connecticut Krēmē were perfect in terms of construction and draw, none of the examples I smoked gave me any problems.
If you were wondering how to pronounce Krēmē, it’s just like Creamy, and you can hear Shawna Williams, the VP of Sales for Villiger Cigars say it in this short video from the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival. I visited with Shawna and Fabian Barrantes, Director of Marketing, before the festival opened.
I am planning a bit of a theme this week, so stay tuned to see where it goes, and don’t forget to visit my previous post, CAO Cigars and Flying Dog Brewery “Art of Craft” Beer and Cigar Pairings and a Contest! and enter the contest to win some CAO goodies. I’ll announce the winner on Sunday.
Until the next time,
CigarCraig
Are you certain that was not a “Krispy Kreme” that you had? Just kiddin’. Festivals like the one you just attended are such a good way of finding out about what is new and upcoming on the market for the next year. It sure beats waiting for five-packs to show up at the auctions or the mail order sites. Since travel is not an option for me at the present time, your articles are a great vicarious way for me to go yet not have to buy the airline ticket !!!
Thanks again, Craig, and please … keep up your good work.
Smoke ’em if you got ’em.
I’m going to have to find some of these Villiger lines. I had a couple of La Libertads recently that impressed me. In fact, my review of La Libertad was posted over at Casas Fumando today. (Hope you don’t mind that I mention that.)
How dare you mention your guest review at CasasFumando.com! (without a link!)
Haha, just being careful not to step on any toes. Thanks Craig!