Villiger Cigars turns the clock back this week, with a re-blended 1888 line. The original 1888 debuted in the U.S, back in 2009, but the company has decided to sunset the old blend and freshen up the 1888 line. The blend has been significantly tweaked and the packaging has been made much bolder.
The year 1888 is when Jean and Louise Villiger started their small cigar manufacturing facility in Lucerne, Switzerland known as VILLIGER SÖHNE AG. The company has been run by a Villiger at the helm since then.
2016 was a milestone year for the company as Heinrich Villiger handed the CEO reins to Robert Suter after 65 years as CEO. The company also restructured Villiger North America by appointing Rene Castañeda as President.
Of course with all this restructuring, it only made sense to celebrate the corporate metamorphosis with a new blend. So as the old guard retires, a new one is born. and what better name for this new blend but the 1888.
The new 1888 has a bold look to it starting with the band, which is bright Red and Gold proudly displaying the year 1888.
Villiger Cigars 1888
Villiger Cigars describes the new 1888 blend as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian
- Binder – Mexican San Andrés
- Filler – Nicaraguan and Dominican
It is actually based on the 100-year Anniversary limited edition 1888 Reserva 2010 that celebrated the company’s 100 years of business in Germany.
The Villiger Cigars 1888 is available in 5 vitolas and packaged in 20-count boxes:
- Corona – 6 x 43 (MSRP $5.70)
- Robusto – 4 7/8 x 50 (MSRP $5.95)
- Toro – 6 x 50 (MSRP $6.25)
- Torpedo – 6 x 52 (MSRP $7.10)
- Toro Gordo – 6 x 60 (MSRP $8.20)
The new 1888 was announced at this years IPCPR and they are being released to the market this week. I got my hands on some a few weeks ago, and today I am here to give you a Stogie Press rundown on this new classic.
For this review I sampled the Villiger Cigars 1888 Robusto.
Cigar Review Notes
- Smooth reddish-brown wrapper
- Solid in the hand
- Nutmeg and cocoa aromas on the foot
- Not aroma much along the barrel
- Cold draw is earthy with a sweet herbal note
- Starts off with citrus peel
- Light grey ash with a medium char line
- Coffee slowly enters building from back to front
- The preflight herbal note creeps in
- The coffee and citrus are blending well
- A touch of dry leather enters end of first third
- Smoke production is full volume
- Ginger spice enters midway
- Medium strength so far
- Beautiful long ash
- Char line thinned out
- Smoke is very smooth easy on the nasals
- Floral aroma evolves
- Spice and dried fruit adds to the already delightful profile in the final third
- One Hour of smoking pleasure
- Damn that was a fine morning smoke, now its time for breakfast!
Villiger Cigars 1888
Overall the Villiger Cigars 1888 is certainly as welcome an addition to the company line up as is the new leadership. This cigar makes a bold statement to the market that Villiger is moving forward in the 21st century. I will have to pair another with a rich cup of Cafe Cubana. I rank this one up with the Cabareté Maduro, which is one of my favorite Villiger cigars.
If you happen to be in the Doral, Fl area on Decmber 16, Rene Castañeda and Villiger Cigars will be having a launch party at Miura Cigars.