I’ve been wrestling with my website migration to a new host this weekend, and I about had an aneurysm this morning from trying to figure it out, so I’m cooling off and just sticking with the status quo. I have a couple weeks yet to work things out. Also, one or the chicks we hatched in June decided to loudly announce his gender this morning, so we will be rehoming a rooster today. It sounded like Ybor around here! Fortunately, I had some really excellent cigars this week. First up is the SBC26 from Powstanie cigars. I will need to get some more of these, it’s another winner. This cigar is made at Nica Sueño in Esteli, and it was Gregg Szczepankewicz who took the lead on the blend. It has a barber pole Ecuadorian Sumatra and Mexican San Andrés wrapper, Brazilian Mata Fina binder and Dominican Piloto Mejorado Ligero and Nicaraguan fillers. All of the SBC (Surrounded By Champions) series are Corona Gordas, 5 ½” x 46, which is a nice size. I really enjoyed this cigar, it started out with a nice spice, and had some espresso and cocoa. It was very good, as it should be for the price ($18). Nice job G³!
Next up was a cigar that came out earlier this year that I recently found in a shop I visited. The Tatuaje Havana VI line has been around for twenty years, and they are celebrating with a 20th anniversary version in two sizes, a Serie B perfecto and a Serie E, which is 5 3/8″ x 52 (which is the size of the Cuban Montecristo Edmundo). It’s been at least 20 years since I had a Montecristo Edmundo, but I can kinda see a similarity. The Havana VI has a Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper over a dual Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers, made at the My Father Factory in Esteli. This cigar is very different from most of the Tatuaje cigars I’ve smoked. It has a heavy citrus tang and maybe some floral notes, which is what brings to mind the Montecristo. It has a closed foot for some reason, but that made for an easy light and didn’t burn my shirt, so it’s got that going for it. I think this was in the $11 range, so very reasonable for a really nice cigar.
Finally, I smoked a couple of the Villiger TAA Exclusive for 2026 this week. For several years Villiger has been making TAA cigars at a variety of factories, but this is the first one made at their Villiger de Nicaragua factory (which is a factory within the Joya de Nicaragua factory). This has a Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper, Mexican San Andrés binder and Nicaraguan fillers. These are always 6″ x 52 I believe. I can’t thank René Castañeda enough for sending me a few of these to try, as I’m uncertain on the TAA status of my local shop which was a TAA store. I have to ask the next time I’m in, I kinda thought the TAA status wasn’t transferable. This cigar is my favorite kind of cigar. It’s a toro, it’s chocolaty and delicious and has a perfect burn and draw. I enjoyed this on two occasions this week. Yesterday I smoked one while taking the dog for a walk, but it was windy and I enjoyed it quite a bit more when I got home, but it still burned perfectly in the wind. I don’t like smoking in the wind. This is another winner from Villiger, who really makes some nice cigars that don’t get the love they deserve.
That’s all for today, until the next time,
CigarCraig
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