Cigar: Villiger La Vencedora
Size: Toro (6×50)
Wrapper: Cuban-seed Oscuro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
MSRP: $9.50 per cigar
Samples provided by the manufacturer
Villiger Cigars had much to be thankful for regarding 2017. The La Flor De Ynclan achieved a Top 10 ranking in Cigar Aficionado top 25 cigars of 2017. And for what it is worth, the cigar found its way into my honorable mentions list of 2017. So when the opportunity arose to review something new from Villiger, I was more than willing to undertake the task. The mindset for the La Vencedora, translated as ‘The Victor’, was to create strong follow-up to the La Flor De Ynclan, one that can stand on its own (Heinrich Villiger used the word ‘legacy’). Let’s find out if it can stand up to expectations.
No construction issues were found on the cigar chosen for review. I chose the Toro size from the sampler pack of three as it’s the preferred size I normally smoke. The pre-light aromas gave me notes of wood and light molasses while the cold draw, after opting for the larger V cut from the guillotine, brought additional wood notes on the palette coupled with faint, dull peppery flavors. The draw after the light was well balanced with average amounts of smoke. The opening flavor notes consisted of leafy greens, the dull pepper similar to what was found on the cold draw, mild spice and the pre-dominant woody notes mentioned prior to lighting. I love the look of the Cuban-seed Oscuro wrapper but it isn’t as strong as it looks. The cigar’s strength hovers around medium-to-full bodied and really doesn’t venture too far out of that designation. Interestingly enough, the cigar’s opening flavor notes more or less stayed as mentioned for quite awhile. I really didn’t notice a flavor change until the 51 minute mark, where heavier wood and pepper flavors began creeping into the palette. The last inch really brought out the wood flavors and a mild increase in strength, although it was not enough to classify it into full bodied territory. The total smoking time on Villiger’s La Vencedora was 1:21.
Besides a minor burn correction, I encountered no real problems with the La Vencedora. It was curious to note that I didn’t see many flavor changes throughout the cigar. I didn’t feel as though I smoked it slowly, as my time was about average for what I normally smoke toro sized cigars. One interesting note regarding the La Vencedora is that Villiger is promoting the cigar with Gentleman Jack. I can honestly say that Jack Daniels is one whiskey I usually do not think of to purchase (my preference for whiskey are the Scottish and Irish varieties if it isn’t obvious from my reviews). While I have not tested the pairing yet, my plan at some point in the near future is to review the Gentlemen Jack and test the pairing of that coupled with the La Vencedora. More on that at a later time.
By-The-Numbers
Pre-light: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
To recap the Villiger La Vencedora:
- Another fine offering from Villiger. The cigar in my opinion stands on its own and is a welcome addition to their premium handmade line.
- I found the flavor profile to have plenty of strength without it being overpowering. It also boasts a complex flavor profile to at least start the cigar. Newer cigar smokers or those who prefer a lighter fare could enjoy this one without being blown away.
- Under $10 a cigar is always welcome for my bank account.
- I will be keeping an eye out for these in my local shops as they are certainly worth more of my time.
Thank you to Villiger Cigars for the samples and thank you very much for reading. I look forward to the next time I can share my thoughts with you.
