Villiger Cigars La Libertad in Review

Villiger Cigars La Libertad in Review (I was wrong about the kitchen.)

WRAPPER: Ecuadorian
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Dominican, Nicaraguan

FORMAT: Robusto (552)
ORIGIN: Nicaragua
STRENGTH: Medium

NOTES:

Spice | Floral | Citrus

Lots of reddish-orange-colored spice. Orange notes, as well, in the slightly medicinal sweet-citrus manner I see in many Villiger offerings. Here, I don't see it in an egregious amount. Those spices: turmeric (an odd bird in cigars), ginger, coriander (another oddity), and cinnamon. Is a curry powder assembling under my nose? Maybe. Nevertheless, good helpings of sweet spices with floral, citrusy attachments. Oh, and all this is mixed in a cedar bowl that sits in a sunny, airy kitchen.

Floral bits are dandelion and chamomile. Further back is a cardamom and table sugar cushioning. A flaky pie crust. The chamomile exhibits enough apple tendency to form an apple pie with said crust. The spice array works well there, as well. Quite complex, well-orchestrated, and balanced. Seems to operate on a rare flavor wheel. Underneath it all rests a campsite on a chilly morning, the sun has mostly risen. Sunlit earth, a tick of vegetation. [White peppercorn.]

A cigar that improves via progression. The profile begins to transition into a more tethered one after the opening third. The medicinal hints fade-away. Also, the draw improves from hesitant to fine about then. Too, the pacing slows, and the burn evens (after a slight re-touch). Ash is ::: very ::: dense, rolling-off only stubbornly-so. The pack softens-some about a quarter-inch ahead of burn. Both seams and cap assemblage are excellent. Aroma? How do you bake an apple pie on camping grounds? (I was wrong about the kitchen.)

TASTE: A-
DRAW: B+
BURN: B+
BUILD: A-

FINAL GRADE: A-
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79

::: very :::