Tag Archives: Villiger

by | May 12, 2019 · 2:03 pm

Micallef Grande Bold Mata Fina and Villiger La Meridiana Cigars

Happy Mother’s Day to all you mothers out there (take that any way you want!). There was some interesting news this week from Cornelius & Anthony regarding both restructuring their staff and not attending IPCPR. I happen to enjoy a good professional relationship with the company, and several of their cigars are among my favorite cigars. That being said, this news causes me concern for the future of the brand. I don’t want to speak out of turn, because it would be speculation on my part, but I’m glad I have a stockpile of favorites, and will continue to support the brand as Stephen Bailey notes that he has no intention of shutting it down.

 

I continued pretty much smoking what I wanted to smoke this week, but I did smoke a few new cigars to talk about today. First was the Micallef Grande Bold Mata Fina that I picked up at an event I attended a few weeks back at CigarCigars in Phoenixville, PA. I hadn’t smoked any cigars from Micallef before that event, and I’m not too much further along than that now, this is only about the third one I’ve smoked. This was the 5″ x 56 robusto, wrapped in a Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler.  I found this to be a very unique and interesting tasting cigar. There was a savory meatyness as opposed to being a sweeter maduro. The first draw was almost like when you take a drink out of a class thinking it’s coke and it turns out to be tea, I was expecting sweet and got something different! IT certainly wasn’t unpleasant, once I got used to the idea that I was getting an entré and not desert!  The burn and draw were perfect, and the cigar provided me with a very satisfying experience. I bought a handful of cigars that night and I don’t remember the price but they all seemed to be reasonable. I still have a couple left to sample.

 

Villiger Cigars, like Cornelius & Anthony Cigars, is also skipping the IPCPR show this year, which is probably much bigger news. While Villiger is pretty small in the premium cigar world, they are huge in the mass market segment, especially outside of the US. They have struggled to increase their footprint in premiums, and have put out some really good cigars in the last few years. The latest is another partnership with Joya de Nicaragua, which makes their La Vencedora line and is called La Meridiana, which has been available in Europe for 20 years. They say they believe that now is the right time to bring this cigar to the US, but I’m confused by this, because this seems to me to be quintessentially American in flavor profile. I’m actually surprised that this has been so well received in Europe.  The samples I received were the 6″ x 54 box pressed Toro, which is not a size I believe is available in Europe. Still, checked all my boxes as far as favorite flavors. It’s all Nicaraguan, obviously something that Joya de Nicaragua excels with, so it’s loaded with cocoa and coffee notes, which we all know I enjoy. It had a sweetness I enjoyed, THIS was a desert cigar, and I liked it a lot. Even though these had only had a few days in the humidor since arriving, the cigar burned perfectly. I was very happy with the experience.

 

Well, that’s enough from me for today, until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

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by | March 17, 2019 · 12:29 pm

Saint Patrick’s Day Cigars, CAO, Villiger and Diesel

I have a slightly different take on Saint Patrick’s Day, not being of Irish descent. I have been known to smoke a candela cigar on March  17 over the past few years, considering the cigar companies like to put them out around this time to capitalize on just this sort of thing. Admittedly, I do enjoy a good candela cigar from time to time, I find them a refreshing change of pace. I may pull out an old Alec Bradley Filthy Hooligan today, I have one of the original candelas, and the first year the made the barber pole, unless I stop at the store and they happen to have this year’s iteration, and/or the Shamrock, which I’m quite interested in smoking. I kinda dig the triple-wrapper barber pole treatment for some reason. Anyway, the main reason I like Saint Patrick’s day so much is less about the green and Irish part, and definitely not about the drinking part, but all about the snakes part.  You see, I hate snakes, and I’m a huge fan of anyone who can drive them out of an entire country. This is one thing I find appealing about Ireland and New Zealand, they are the two places that are naturally bereft of snakes. I get it, in 400AD there weren’t a lot of affordable direct flights to North America, but I certainly would have helped get this guy over here to get rid of the slithering bastards. So if I had a Culebra to smoke today, that would be my choice, but the only one I have is an LFD that was gifted to me in 2004, and I feel guilty for not smoking it at the time it was gifted, but that’s another story. It’ll keep the story and the cigars).

 

I guess if that were the case, I wouldn’t have had a CAO Amazon Basin Anaconda to smoke this week, unless he drove them to South America, which seems plausible! In honor of the coming anti-snake holiday, I smoked a CAO Anaconda, perhaps my favorite in the Amazon Basin line. I didn’t care for the original Amazon Basin, lots of people raved about it, but it didn’t do anything for me. the subsequent releases were more appealing to me. The Fuma em Corda was very good, although I only smoked it in the robusto size, and I really enjoy this Anaconda, although I hate the name, I mention I don’t like snakes, right? I do like the 6″ x 52 size of this, and the recipe of Brazilian Bahiano Habano Ligero wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and fillers from Brazil (Bragança & Fuma Em Corda), Colombia & the Dominican Republic are very interesting. The Brazilian fillers used in this are a combination of those used in the Amazon Basin (Braganca) and the Fuma Em Corda (obviously).  I guess it wasn’t the Branganca that turned me off in the Basin, unless it just worked better in the blend in this Anaconda. This is a woody smoke with some spice, more on the savory side than sweet to my palate. Like I said, love the cigar, hate the name.

 

Thursday was a brilliant spring day, I got the bike out of the garage and rode it to work, however, when I left work, it wouldn’t start. it’s a 2005, I’ve had it since 2008, put 29k miles on it, and it’s started every time. I guess it decided that day was the day it wanted extra attention. Better it let me down in a parking lot than on the side of the road, I guess, so today’s project will be getting it to the shop, but I came home and took a walk with a Villiger La Vencedora Churchill. It was warm for a change, I wanted a Churchill, dammit, and this one was front and center screaming ” smoke me!” So I did, and it was good. I guess it’s ironic that La Vencedora means “The Victor”, and I was feeling rather defeated that day, as the bike letting me down wasn’t the only odd thing to happen. Perhaps I was not letting all the little defeats ruin the day completely.  The La Vencedora is a Nicaraguan puro, wrapped in a dark Nicaraguan grown Habano Oscuro leaf. I had to take a break from writing to go get the bike to the shop, so I lost my train of thought…OK, the wrapper on this wasn’t pretty, it’s a mottled brown, but it makes up for it in flavor. It’s got some sweet earthy flavors along with a bit of spice. I rather enjoyed it and I spent quite a while with it on my walk, then on the porch watching hockey on the iPad. It’s a 7″ x 50 Churchill, with I don’t mind at all, although a 47 ring Churchill is traditional. All in all, a darned yummy cigar, no surprise this is made at Joya de Nicaragua.

 

Finally, last night I decided to revisit a cigar that people have raved about, and I haven’t really “gotten” in the past. Last year the Diesel Whiskey Row came out and people were excited, especially people close to the blend, which I understand. I suppose this is another St. Patrick’s day tie in. To me it’s just another woody/earthy cigar with great construction, and, if that’s your thing, it’s a great cigar. I will say that I enjoyed this one perhaps more than previous cigars, so maybe time in the humidor has added value, but it’s still not a cigar I get excited about (about which I get excited? I regularly dangle participles…I guess I write the way I talk). I’d rather smoke a Diesel Unholy Cocktail as I find that it more closely aligns with my flavor preferences. But that’s me, and if the Whiskey Row is your kind of cigar, great! That’s what’s great about cigars, there’s something for everyone and who’s to say what’s not right for me isn’t right for you! That’s why I try most everything, which I can’t say for food, some foods I look at and know I won’t like…I know it’s wrong, but it just is!

 

That’s all for today, time to get some things done!  Until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

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by | March 14, 2019 · 1:19 pm

News: Villiger Cigars Introducing La Meridiana to U.S. Market

VILLIGER CIGARS TO INTRODUCE THE VILLIGER LA MERIDIANA TO THE U.S. CONSUMER

 With much excitement, Villiger Cigars will introduce a European favorite, the Villiger La Meridiana to the U.S. consumer. Recently obtaining a 92 rating by Cigar Journal, the Villiger Meridiana was released in 1998 and has gained a loyal following, among full-flavored cigar enthusiasts in Europe. The Villiger Meridiana was conceived by Heinrich Villiger, as a way to pay tribute to some long lost Cuban cigar heritage.

The Villiger La Meridiana bases its historical roots, in a long forgotten Cuban factory named “La Meridiana”. The factory owned by Pedro Murias, was once of the largest and most well-known cigar factories, which determined the cityscape of Havana at the end of the 19th century. Sadly, Murias was forced to sell La Meridiana factory due to unrest in Cuba during the Cuban war of Independence. The sale went through shortly after the war ended in 1898, and just like that, Pedro Murias along with the original La Meridiana cigar factory became a fading memory.

The resurrection of “La Meridiana” came from Heinrich Villiger’s love of everything Cuban. During his many trips to Cuba he discovered the name and rich history of the Meridiana factory, and thought to create a full-flavored cigar, beautiful and elegant enough to carry on the La Meridiana name in honor of Pedro Murias.

The Villiger La Meridiana is a Nicaraguan full-flavored puro. This blend features complex flavors without overpowering the palate of the smoker. The uniquely distinct hue of the wrapper and flavor are born out of a special aging process of the tobacco which takes approximately four years.

The Villiger La Meridiana is elegantly packaged in 10 count boxes and is expressed in 5 vitolas: 

Corona (5.5 x 42)………….MSRP: $6.50

Robusto (5×50) ………… MSRP: $7.50

Torpedo (6×52)……………MSRP: $8.00

Churchill (6 7/8 x48)………MSRP: $8.50

Toro Box Pressed (6×54) .MSRP $10.60

 

Rene Castañeda, President of Villiger North America said,” We feel that it is the perfect time to launch the Villiger La Meridiana to the US consumer. The Villiger La Meridiana is an exceptionally elegant and flavorful cigar that I am confident will satisfy the cigar connoisseur. We look to begin shipping to retailers in March of this year.”

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ABOUT VILLIGER SONS LIMITED AND VILLIGER NORTH AMERICA:
Villiger Sons Limited was established in 1888 by Jean Villiger in the small town of Pfeffikon, Switzerland, where Villiger remains headquartered to this day. The company manufactures and sells more than 1.5 billion cigars annually, world-wide. Today, under the leadership of Heinrich Villiger, the company prides itself in its commitment to quality, in all their products made in many countries around the globe.

Follow the NEW Villiger Cigars North America on social @VilligerCigarsNorthAmerica #TheOriginalClassic

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by | October 28, 2018 · 8:14 am

A Cohiba, a La Flor de Ynclan, a Flor de Cesar and a Herrera Esteli Cigar

I’ve had a lot going on this week as I started a new job. In this week’s contest post, which everyone should go back and enter if you haven’t already, because it’s pretty darned special (a beautiful Big Papi Humidor from El Artista Cigars, go HERE to enter!) a few people asked about the new job. It occurred to me that in nine years of writing this blog, I’ve never been forthcoming about my day job details. I’ll  continue to keep that close to the vest, except that this position is in retail management and logistics in consumer electronics area. It’s a small, local company, not a big box, national company or anything. So far the first week has gone well, and I’m looking forward to learning all the ins and outs. I appreciate everyone’s well-wishes!  Of course, I smoked some cigars this week to celebrate.

 

One of the adjustments I’ve had to make was the schedule, having spent the last 15 years working nine to five, then the last six months not working at all,  having an unusual schedule is going to be odd. This week I just worked until six, not too bad to start.  Tuesday I started off with a Cohiba  Spectre.  This is an interesting cigar that was released at this past year’s IPCPR. This double corona is 7¼” x 54 and is a blend of eight tobaccos from five countries. The wrapper is a rosado high priming Ecuador Sumatra, there’s Dominican Piloto Cubano from a 1995 crop which was aged in “tercios”, bales wrapped in palm bark.  There’s also Nicaraguan filler aged in Sherry casks and Honduran filler from San Augustin, Jamastran and La Entrada.  They used on;y one pair of rollers to make 1800 cigars, which have an MSRP of $90 each. I think I’ve only smoked one cigar that had a higher price tag than this, and that was a Cuban Davidoff Dom Perignon from the 1980s a dozen years ago at a wedding. I figured this was as good an occasion as any. It was a pretty tasty smoke, it was medium bodied, with a nice sweetness. I’d like to be able to say it burned dead even, but it meandered a little, and needed a few corrections, which I didn’t expect from a cigar with this hefty of a price tag. Overall, I found it very enjoyable and worthy of the occasion! I’m deeply appreciative to General Cigar Co. for the opportunity to try this cigar.

 

Earlier this year Villiger released the La Flor de Ynclan in a limited edition Lancero Especial, a 6¾” x 43 cigar with a Ecuadoran wrapper, Indonesian binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers made in the ABAM factory in the DR. This is basically a Lonsdale as opposed to a Lancero, or a Dalias in the Cuban Vitolas de Galera. Call it whatever you want, it’s a wonderful size and an excellent tasting cigar, and provided a very nice smoking experience. When I smoked one of these a few months ago it smoked terribly, what I could taste was promising, but it smoked very “wet”, wouldn’t stay lit, just didn’t burn well at all. several months later certainly made all the difference. I enjoy this blend in other sizes, granted I haven’t yet smoked the Churchill, which I look forward to, why haven’t I smoke that size yet? I love Churchills! How did I let the summer slip by without smoking a La Flor de Ynclan Churchill?

 

Flor de Cesar is a cigar that’s made at the Fabrica Oveja Negra by James Brown for BnB Cigars in Chestnut Hill, PA. I smoked the Robusto a few months ago at the shop and Vince there gave me a Toro Larga (6½” x 50) to try.  I meant to try this sooner but got distracted and came across this in the humidor and figured this week was a good time to smoke it. This cigar has a Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper, an Ecuadoran Binder and fillers from Nicaragua, Brazil and the Dominican Republic. This is a different flavor profile than other cigars I’ve smoked from the Black Works, Black Label family, to my palate, admittedly, my experience is limited. To me, the cigars I’ve smoked from Black Works are darker flavored, which I like, but the Flor de Cesar has brighter flavors. I really enjoyed the light spices and sweetness that I enjoyed throughout this cigar that burned perfectly. I’ll be sure to pick some more of these up the next time I’m visiting Vince at BnB.

 

Finally, I smoked another Lonsdale (in addition to the delicious Cornelius Lonsdale, that’s three this week!). When I was at the Wooden Indian at the Joya de Nicaragua event, Alex, our local Drew Estate rep, slipped me a Herrera Esteli Brazilian Maduro Lonsdale. I’ve been really looking forward to trying this new line which was announced earlier this year, and I don’t even know if these have made it to stores yet. Since I didn’t get to the IPCPR show, I didn’t get a chance to try any of the new releases, so I was thrilled to try this cigar. This was a home run by Willie Herrera, certainly one he should be proud to have his name on (not like he isn’t proud to have his name on the rest!) In the Herrera Esteli line I tend to really like the Norteño, and the rest are just OK. I know that’s heresy to many, but that’s how I roll. This cigar was brilliant! It maintained the medium bodied, sophisticated, subtle complexity of the Herrera Esteli, while adding the sweet, dark fruit and cocoa notes from th Brazilian maduro wrapper that I love. yum, frickin, yum. I can’t wait to try all the sizes of this cigar.

 

That about wraps things up, I’m off to work on a Sunday for the first time in a while. It will be nice having weekdays off here and there I’ll admit. Don’t forget to enter the contest! Also, check out the IPCPR’s new website,  www.cigaraction.org , which is kind of a parallel to the Cigar Rights of America in that it allows you to easily contact your elected officials about cigar related legislation. Use it, use both, let the people you elect know that you want them to protect our rights!

 

That’s all for now, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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by | September 7, 2018 · 7:43 am

News: Villiger Announces Distribution with JMG International Inc.

Some news from the folks at Villiger, who knew that they didn’t have west coast distribution? I guess in 2018, with the world being as seemingly small as it is, and with everything available from anywhere at any time, I guess it never occurred to me that an international brand such as Villiger wouldn’t have distribution on the west coast of the largest cigar market on the planet.  If it’s news to me, I suppose it’s news to you, so here it is: 

 

Villiger Cigars continues its growth in the U.S. marketplace, as a distribution agreement has been reached with JMG International Inc. This agreement represents for Villiger a new and very strong distribution channel, on the West Coast. JMG International Inc. has deep rooted relationships, with over 1,000 retail shops, throughout California, Washington, and Oregon. JMG International Inc. will begin distribution of Villiger’s portfolio of premium-handmade and machine made cigars in the states of California, Washington, and Oregon on September 10, 2018.

President of Villiger Cigars North America Rene Castañeda, said:” JMG International Inc. over the span of 22 years has become one of the most respected, and well –known distributors of premium cigars on the West Coast. We look forward to a fruitful partnership that will help spread the Villiger lifestyle to a larger audience.”

President of JMG, Charles J. Janigian stated:” Like a fine cigar, JMG believes in solid slow growth with manufacturers who value old world traditions.  Villiger Cigars which was established in 1888 certainly fits our values. In saying that, we feel it an honor and privilege, to have been selected as Villiger’s west coast distributor and look forward to working with Rene Castañeda and the Villiger team.”

About JMG International Inc.:

Founded in 1996 as a cigar brokerage company, JMG International, Inc. grew slowly over many years to become one of the Premier Premium Cigar & Pipe Tobacco Distributors in California. JMG has been dedicated to serving retail tobacconists since its founding. Today that tradition continues with a dedicated sales staff that has experience in all facets of the business.

JMG has always valued the investment its customers have invested in their brick and mortar businesses and, thus, has never developed an internet presence nor sold its products via a mail order catalog directly to consumers. That practice continues today.

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