CA Review Panel: Villiger Miami Limited Edition

Video: Villiger Miami—full Cigar Advisor panel review.

Villiger Miami Limited Edition Backstory

Where the sun kisses the shores and the air carries the scents of Cuban culture, a remarkable cigar brand was born – Villiger Miami. The brand isn't just a tribute to exceptional craftsmanship; it's a celebration of the rich tobacco heritage that has made Miami a cigar lover's paradise.

The story behind Villiger Miami begins in the lush tobacco fields of the Dominican Republic, where the finest leaves were carefully cultivated and harvested in 2015 and 2016. These prized tobaccos were meticulously aged, allowing their flavors to deepen and mature much like a fine wine.

Even though Villiger Miami doesn’t hail from the city itself, it resides there in spirit. In fact, the blend started its life as a cigar only awarded to VIP visitors of Villiger’s Miami-based headquarters.

With just 500 boxes of each size produced, Villiger Miami has become synonymous with the city's vibrant cigar culture. All of that is great on paper, but how it takes to a flame—that’s what we’re here to find out. Join us as we share every puff in this detailed cigar review!

Cigar Details:

Factory: ABAM, Dominican Republic
Sizes Reviewed: 5” x 50
Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut Desflorado
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic

Construction: Excellent across the board with an almost Rosado-like hue to the wrapper.
Cold Draw: Peppery, woody, and sweet.
Base flavors: Earth, leather, sweet tobacco, and fruit.
Aroma: Sweet.
Burn & Ash: Textbook ash with draw that ranged from open to slightly resistant.

Presented in boxes of 10

Villiger Miami Cigar Reviews

John’s Tasting Notes…

The Villiger Miami Robusto starts out mellow: tea, grass, and a very dry, almost dusty earth sensation. The grass and earth carry forward to the first third, where pepper – along with a powdered sugar sweetness – starts to show up. Strength is actually quite mellow, but the flavors have built up intensity.

At the midsection, this Robusto is putting up lots of thick, chewy smoke. Itloses its sweetness while gaining spice, but somehow still stays mellow. The earthiness returns, along with vanilla and wood. The aroma is a little sweet; the retrohale has its share of sweetness plus spice, almost like orange vanilla. The last third offers salt, oak, and some sweetness in the background. This is where this Villiger has been its most peppery; it’s also the best the cigar has been for me.

In sum, the profile of this Villiger Miami has a lot of moving parts in the first two sections. There’s lots happening flavor-wise, and plenty of velvety smoke. Is it worth it? Sometimes it’s not about the money. There aren’t a lot of cigars like it, that’s for sure – it’s a “house cigar.” Meaning, it’s a very limited kind of stick that was once smoked privately by the manufacturer or gifted to friends: like Oliva Master Blends, Padron Family Blend, Liga Privada. None of these were ever intended for public consumption, though they eventually “got out.” The thing is, these are all heady, heavy Nicaraguan blends. So, if you want that same kind of treat - that enjoyable feeling of exclusivity - but find a Connecticut/Dominican recipe much more appealing, then this Villiger Miami is made for you.

Gary’s Tasting Notes…

My Robusto opened with a very creamy mouthfeel. Notes of sweet tobacco, cinnamon, leather, and tart fruit seemed to set the course for what was to come.

By the first inch, the cigar was medium in body, still creamy, and forming a pretty firm ash. The flavors were caramelizing well, resulting in a well-balanced, sweet and sour smoke. A nuttier flavor crept in by inch two and melted into the mix like butter on hot corn.

Desflorado wrapper leaf is a bit stronger by design; yet even at the Robusto’s midpoint the cigar held fast to its tangy-sweet flavor profile and medium strength.

In the last few inches, the desflorado method became more apparent as the body and strength ticked-up a notch. The tanginess and spice also became a little more aggressive and held up nicely down to the last inch and a half.

For me, the Villiger Miami 2022 Robusto was consistent and straightforward throughout. It's very well made and has a clean, luxury-class appearance. Rather than take the regular production route, the Villiger Miami line showcases this more refined blend by separating each vitola release by a year or more; in other words, it benefits from longer aging, too. And since this blend has been handed-out to VIP visitors to Miami Cigar’s Florida headquarters, it’s definitely no slouch. The good news is that cigar smokers of practically every experience can appreciate the Villiger Miami Robusto’s medium-body and smoothness. I can also see it pairing well with just about anything, too.

You may not hear the name “Villiger” coming from cigar smokers’ lips all that often, but the Miami line is one Villiger line that’s worth paying some attention. This is especially true if you’re into solid, Dominican-forward cigars in Connecticut Shade. And there you have it.

Paul’s Tasting Notes…

A redux of sorts for me, as I’ve smoked the Villiger Miami in the Laguito No.1 format. On the draw, the cigar offers notes of leather and dry earth with a subtle jab of black pepper. The burn is generally even, and the ash holds firm. In the first third, leather, earth, and pepper dominate the profile, with the wrapper's creaminess and sweetness providing a nice counterpoint.

As the Villiger Miami progresses into the second and final thirds, the flavor becomes a bit more robust with oak, nuts, toasted bread adding to the chorus. Nuances of pepper, toasted nuts, and a touch of coffee emerge as well. The finish is clean and surprisingly long for a cigar residing in a medium-bodied range.

Overall, the Villiger Miami is a well-constructed, enjoyable cigar that should appeal to those seeking a balanced, flavorful smoke that won’t overwhelm the palate. It's an excellent choice for newer cigar smokers looking to graduate from lighter fare, as well as seasoned enthusiasts seeking a reliably satisfying everyday cigar.