There has been a heavy dose of news this year with regards to Villiger Cigars. The news started at the end of last year, when Villiger Cigars North America Inc. (VCNA) decided to dismiss the majority of its U.S. sales and support staff. This was in addition to the announcement that its premium cigar division, Villiger Cigars North America Inc. (VCNA) would be relocating is headquarters from North Carolina to Miami. This was quickly followed up with the appointment of Rene Castaneda as the new VCNA president. No sooner did that news hit the wire, the VCNA parent corporation Villiger Soehne AG let out a press release last week, noting its Chairman of the Board, Heinrich Villiger, after 65 years, was handing over the CEO position. The new CEO is Robert Suter who has extensive experiences in international Swiss industries. In his last position he successfully acted as Group CEO of Conzzeta AG a Swiss holding company.
That is a lot of news in a short 3 month span for a 128 year old company. This all comes on the heels of some rave introductions of premium cigar blends to the US market in 2014 such as the Cabarete and Trill and most recently in 2015 with the Villiger Celebration and the Villiger San’Doro line which brings us to the point of this article.
I was so caught up in business travel this past month, that I was not keeping tabs on all things cigars, so when I started to catch up on the wave of news with regards to Villiger, I decided I should reach inside the old humidor – I believe it is older than the Villiger company itself – and pull out a Villiger San’Doro Maduro. I mean hey, it was only last week when I sat down with another pioneer in this great industry of ours, Hendrik Kelner Sr. when I was visiting the Dominican Republic. I guess I could say, it was time to smoke the San’Doro; the stars seemed aligned at least.
The Villiger San’Doro Maduro is one 3 blends in the San’Doro lineup. The other two blends are the San’Doro Colorado and the San’Doro Claro. I received the samples from the Villiger team at last year’s IPCPR. According to what I read, “San’Doro” is a derived from the phrase “Indorum Sana Sancta” which translates into the holy, healing plant of the Indians. I like that; maybe the FDA should consider the some of the ancient health benefits of the tobacco leaf.
While the San’Doro Colorado and San’Doro Claro are available in three vitolas: Robusto, Toro, and Churchill, the San’Doro Maduro is only available in a Toro and is the only one made at the company’s Charitos Tobajara Ltda. factory in Bahia, Brazil.
Examining the San’Doro Maduro I am impressed with its dark chocolate brown mata fina wrapper and being a Brazilian puro it is further rounded out with a mata norte binder and mata fina and mata norte fillers. The wrapper is a little rugged but flawless with a sweet hay and dried fruit aroma and touch of cocoa on the foot.
San’Doro Maduro
After a simple slice of the cap, the cold draw offers raisin and spice with a sprinkle of pepper on the tongue. Once fired up I get a slightly restricted draw with a medium body of fruity smoke and a rather smooth retro-hale to start. It does not take long before the wrapper shows signs of oiling up – like a spit shine on a pair of military boots. (My dad was a navy man and he always talked about that shine.)
San’Doro Maduro
A butter note enters adding to the fruit, making it taste like butter and jam on toast. All I need now is a little coffee and … wait… there it is coffee! Wow, this is like a morning breakfast to start. This is all accompanied by a sweet floral aroma coming off the foot.
The ash is solid white. Kind of reminds me of Heinrich Villiger’s beard. I don’t have a photo but can point you to it here:
The ash fell after the first third revealing a burn cone that is centered well, offering the near perfect burn I am experiencing.
San’Doro Maduro
There is a slight bitter note entering in the second half with a now spicy nut aroma. The smoke body has increased to a full production of smoke and the strength is clocking in as solid medium. The bitter lasts briefly and gives way to a spice and cedar.
The burn has been impeccable throughout. The final third brings forth a toasty aroma with a continued cedar and spice flavor.
Overall, the Villiger San’Doro Maduro is one of those special cigars, that give just the right amount of flavor transition, balanced throughout the burn, with solid construction and burn qualities. I am glad I decided to smoke this cigar after the many Cuban, Dominican, and Nicaraguan blends I have had over the past few months. I would like to thank the Villiger team for the sample and wish them the best of success with the new management team.
San’Doro Maduro