Villiger 1888 Short Robusto

[insight]

I was gifted this cigar a little while back by Shawn (Wurm) and he asked me to do a review of it when I got the chance. Well, tonight seemed like a good night and honestly I was intrigued by this one. The short robo isn't the most common size and it is also a marca I have NO experience with. Hell I have no idea what this thing costs or where to get them, so I felt well equipped to give my real opinion on it.

The prelight draw was firm, with a somewhat fruity flavor (like a ripe plum, not like a banana granola smoothie ). I lit it up and was met with a little bitterness. The flavor was characteristically grassy throughout the first third, with the finish remaining slightly bitter. There wasn't too much complexity early on but it didn't taste like shitty tobacco either.

Moving into the 2nd third of the cigar the grassy flavor deepened and a somewhat sweet coffee caramel flavor took over. The bitterness of the early portion of the cigar became more ebb and flow, as I tried not to get it too hot and turn it acrid. The flavor did not change much past this point and remained fairly pleasant as the smoke ran it's course. I ended up putting it down with about 1 1/2 inches to go.

My thoughts overall are that although the cigar was fairly one dimensional it was certainly not unpleasant. I enjoyed the middle third for what it was but I think the blend still has some growing to do. I would also hazard to guess the cigar is fairly young and hasn't really come into its own yet. I don't think it is ever going to be an epic sleeper cigar or anything but it certainly isn't a rocket and has the potential to be very solid after some downtime. Overall I would give it a 5/10. Sorry for the lack of pictures but my phone was taking blurry garbage shots outside tonight so it just wasn't gonna happen, and thanks again Shawn for the chance to try something new!

 

[Breedy]

I would also hazard to guess the cigar is fairly young and hasn't really come into its own yet. I don't think it is ever going to be an epic sleeper cigar or anything but it certainly isn't a rocket and has the potential to be very solid after some downtime.

But, the cigar...I mean....1888...that is like 100 or more years ago ???

 

[Wurm]

Thanks for the review Phil, like I stated in the note I sent you the ECCJ rates these a lot higher than I would.

They give them a 5 out of 5 and I give them a 3 and 1/2 of 5 tops.

I like to keep a few in the humidor for when I don't have a lot of time to smoke. And they aren't too expensive at 6 Euro a cigar (yeah yeah I know, but cigars are expensive over here).

To be honest it is actually pretty amazing for Villiger to have a well thought of cigar, they are the "Phillie" brand of the German cigar world.

Shawn

*edit* And the main reason I sent Phil this cigar is the tubo is in full beedog colors, so I thought it was fitting.

 

[thechenman]

Not familiar with Villiger. Thanks for the review and insight.