#NowSmoking: Villiger Miami 2022
#NowSmoking: Villiger Miami 2022 Cigar Review (Video)
Villiger Miami 2022 – Cigar Details:
Factory: ABAM, Santiago Dominican Republic
Size: (7½” x 38) Laguito No. 1
Strength: Medium – Full
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut Desflorado
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Presented in boxes of 10
Villiger Miami Backstory
Despite their distinguished history—dating back to 1888—and their portfolio containing a good number of stellar cigars, Villiger remains a relatively unknown quantity in the US market. This is beginning to change with their recent releases—like La Flor De Ynclan—making cigar fanatics sit up and take notice.
Today I’m taking a look at the Villiger Miami Laguito No. 1 (with Laguito being the Cuban name for a Lancero). This blend was held in such high esteem that it was first reserved as a ‘house cigar’—only available to select colleagues, friends, and family at Villiger’s Miami, FL headquarters. Now, Villiger Miami is available to the general public—although in limited quantities (500 boxes of each of the 2 vitolas).
Villiger Miami is crafted at the ABAM factory in the Dominican Republic and comes dressed in an Ecuador Connecticut Desflorado wrapper hugging a Dominican Republic binder and long fillers.
Now, let’s find out what the Villiger Miami 2022 Lancero has in store in its opening act.
Cigar Basics
Construction: Wrapper was light brown—almost khaki. There were no soft spots and the blend sported a flawlessly applied pigtail cap.
Cold Draw: Black pepper, earth, leather.
Base flavors: Pepper, leather, oak, leather.
Aroma: Sweet.
Burn & Ash: No issues.
The Villiger Miami 2022 Laguito easily takes to flame and delivers a one-two punch of leather and dry earth. After a short few draws, black pepper eases into the profile with some creaminess and a subtle fruity sweetness helping to round off the corners.
The Villiger Miami begins a tick over medium in body and strength and the construction and draw—sometimes an issue with Lanceros—are flawless.
Let’s see if this continues in the second act.
Making headway in the second third of the Villiger Miami 2022, and the earth, leather, and black pepper remain the primary base flavors. However, notes of nutmeg, burnt oak, and lightly toasted bagel add to the chorus making this a dynamite smoke—so far.
Still chugging along with no touch-ups or relights, and the strength and body are medium-full and gaining.
Let’s see how it wraps up in the conclusion.
As I’m putting the Villiger Miami to bed, the flavors to this point are bustling—with notes of earth, leather, black pepper, toasted bagel, oak, nutmeg, with an underlying creaminess. While no new flavors join the party, the blend remains engaging and complex down to the very last traces of cigar.
I was struck with the construction—as the Villiger Miami Laguito displayed none of the peccadillos that some enthusiasts associate with the Lancero vitola. Body and strength wavered between medium-full and full and the overall intensity—including richness—reached its crescendo in the last third.
What beverage pairs well with Villiger Miami cigars?
I really enjoyed a Cuba Libra with the Villiger Miami. Cuba Libra, in this instance, being the adult way of saying a Rum and Coke (with a wedge of lime). If you have the option, use a good rum like something from Mount Gay (Black Barrel) or Plantation (3 Stars White).
For non-alcoholic options old standbys like coffee, Dr. Pepper, or water certainly pair nicely.
For additional pairing combinations, check out our Cigar & Spirit pairing guide.
Are Villiger Miami cigars worth smoking?
Don’t let the Lancero size dissuade you—the Villiger Miami Laguito No. 1 performed perfectly for me. In fact, if you’ve been looking to try a Lancero, this might be the perfect starting point.
Otherwise, Villiger Miami is a definite homerun if you steer towards the newer breed of Connecticut wrapped cigars—that is, Connecticuts with a kick. It’s also a good blend for fans of stronger Dominican tobaccos and those who want a cigar with an ability to age—I’d wager that the Villiger Miami only gets better with some rest in a humidor.