The Villiger Cuellar Black Forest Robusto is manufactured by Villiger Cigars at the Tabacalera Palma factory in the Dominican Republic. Villiger Cigars has been a family owned Swiss company since 1888 with distribution in both Europe and America. To be more specific, Villiger Cigars North America is the premium cigar division of Switzerland’s Villiger Söhne AG, one of the world’s largest producers of machine-made cigars.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Villiger Cuellar Black Forest Robusto
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Size: 5×48
Appearance & Construction
The cigar is a super flat box-pressed cigar. It is packed on the looser side. The filler tobacco shows some gaps. It has a nice dark chocolate colored maduro wrapper with a double cap. The cigar is toothy and rustic looking to the eye.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
The cigar has a cedary aroma to it. The cold draw is very loose with a super-sharp spicy cedar on the breath.
The cigar toasts and lights in a matter of seconds. No hesitation whatsoever.
The first third has very faint flavors at combustion. There is some cedar and spice present, similar to the cold draw. It handles the heat very well for a lightly packed cigar. The cigar gives off a very chocolatey aroma, with a peppery retro hale. So far it is very pleasant.
The second third is still very airy in body. However, it continues to maintain good heat and burns consistent with lots of smoke production. There are some developing forward-notes of coffee with a spicy finish. The aroma is still chocolatey with a retrohale reminiscent of fresh baked bread. As it burns, there are bolder flavors of hazelnuts and leather, with a fruity finish.
The last third stays very singular in flavor. Not much change. More spice, fruit, and cedar. The burn maintains its phenomenal performance and smoke production. There is a BBQ aroma coming off the foot. The retro is more faint now, but it helps enhance an espresso nuance that is present.
The finish is harsh with hazelnuts and wine oak. The cigar burns hot and makes a poor exit.
Conclusion
The Villiger Cuellar Black Forest Robusto is best described as a cigar you would give to a novice smoker who is just getting the hang of spicier and/or more peppery cigars. For a tiny smoke, it has some nuance and body, but not too much. It is not intimidating, and smokes with ideal obedience. The Villiger Cuellar Black Forest Robusto is a fool-proof smoke I would definitely pass along to someone beginning their cigar journey who needs a reference point in the maduro category. Enjoy!
The newly formed Freud Cigar Company released their first cigar the Freud Super Ego Toro. For those who do not know, Austrian Dr. Sigmund Freud in his psychoanalytic theory devised three parts of the psyche: The Id, Ego, and Superego. The Superego being the moral learned consciousness between the Id and Ego. This toro pays homage to said part of the psyche.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Freud Superego Toro
Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Indonesian
Size: 6×52 (toro)
Appearance and Construction
This toro sports a tight pigtail cap with a silky wrapper. There are some notable veins along the sides and to the touch the foot has a soft spot as I squeeze it. Visually the cigar’s Colorado wrapper looks rustic however the feel is smoother than you would think. The foot is barnyard, black pepper, and cedar.
Taste and Smoking Characteristics
I make a straight cut clipping just a bit more than the pigtail off. I take a cold draw that gives me sweet and tangy along with distinct aged oak barrel. Using a long match, I toast the cigar and the first puff has vanilla, earth and leather drying out my mouth. There’s notes of fig and nuts with another draw and a salty finish. I take a retrohale where white pepper and celery seed meet with a waft of smoke exhaling through my nostril. The strength is medium in body and with another puff there is some minerality on the back end.
The ash is dark grey and is holding firm midway. With a slow draw cinnamon and milk chocolate come to the fore front and linger for a while. Cedar and nuts provide a pleasing mix to the smoke giving it a nice balance. The retrohale brings on vibrant notes of orange peel and lemon zest with a creamy texture rounding out the flavor profile. Another puff and cinnamon and cardamon are in the forefront with a bitter finish. The cigar continues to be in the medium profile and the ash has started to fall off.
There’s serious wood and earth dominating the last third with saltiness that lingers on my tongue. Leather returns much like the beginning of the cigar that is drying the sides of my mouth. The draw is splendid and is allowing me to get the most out the smoke. With a retrohale toast and nuts reveal themselves ending with spice which hits my nostrils on the way out. The cigar has burned rather fast, and I take a final draw that delivers a dry bitter finish.
Conclusion
This toro started off with sweetness that turned to leather and dried out my palate to start. While midway there were pleasant flavors of spice and cinnamon the finish was rather short throughout. The retrohale gave the most flavor with pepper and vibrate fruit notes. Finding out this was a Freud Superego I was glad I was able to try one and if you can handle the price point it would be worth it to check one out.
James Agopian and Coleman Fine are the founders of Sinistro Cigars. They are based in Glendale, California, and have over three decades of experience in the tobacco industry.
At the end of 2021, Sinistro released its ultra-premium line, the Sinistro NV. This project started with a Dominican Corojo Maduro leaf as its wrapper that has been aged 10 years. The leaf used is from a small farm in Tamboril, Dominican Republic, which they purchased several years back with Tabacalera El Artista.
In an interview with Halfwheel, Coleman revealed that “the company lost approximately 35% to 40% of the yield during the fermentation process in order to achieve the desired Maduro wrapper leaf.” As a result, their debut release was a limited production of 150 boxes of each size, and it was only offered to their top 10 retailers. In the same interview, Coleman also explains the meaning behind NV and why it is so near and dear to both him and his partner Agopian. “On the cigar band are two gold coins; an Armenian ‘N’ and a Syrian (Arabic) ‘V’ symbolizing James’ and my heritage.” For more information, please visit Halfwheel for the full article, or check out Sinistro Cigars on their website.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Sinistro NV
Wrapper: Dominican Corojo Maduro (10 years aged)
Binder: Indonesian Sumatran
Filler: Dominican (Seco & Ligero), Nicaraguan Ligero, and Pennsylvania Ligero.
Size: Remus (5″x52)
Appearance & Construction
The cigar is in a shade of dark roasted espresso beans. There is a sheen off the wrapper; soft yet sturdy to the touch, and unlike other Maduro wrappers, I don’t feel any oil excreted from the surface, yet it is not dry. There are few visible veins, but this cigar is rolled so well that the seam is hidden in between the few visible veins. The cigar felt quite dense. As I squeeze the cigar between my fingers, it feels solid without any springiness.
Flavor and Smoke Characteristics
I get a hint of fruity sweetness and tartness on the wrapper. It is even more notable on the foot of the cigar, along with some white pepper spice. I followed up with a cold draw after shaving off the cap and got pampered with creamy oats, leather, and rock candy. I am thoroughly enjoying everything about this cigar up to this point. I really hope the actual smoking experience can live up to my expectation.
Even while lighting this cigar, a sweetness is transported within the velvety smoke. Once the cherry becomes bright red/orange, I take my first puff and get flavors of creamy oats, tan leather, sunflower seeds, and a profile that made me think of damp mossy wood (not in a negative way; just a combination of grassy bitterness, old books, and wood.) I followed with a retrohale and got warm baking spices, sunflower seeds, and sawdust. The smoke left a creamy film on the top of my tongue. The finish is bitter-sweet. The draw is a 7 out of 10 due to restrictiveness and the ash is holding on past the first inch with ease with a burn line as straight as it can be.
Without notice, I arrive at the second third. I indulge in a rich, dark caramel flavor with highlights of sunflower seeds, tan leather, and cedarwood. The retrohale deepens the profile, and I continue to get warm baking spices, accompanied by caramel and roasted peanut shells. The finish of this cigar is still creamy with roasted peanuts and a hint of sweetness.
The ash held on more than halfway before it decided to let go.
I realize I have to be aware of my actions and prevent myself from constantly puffing on this cigar. The flavors are very addicting, and they continue to intensify with caramel, espresso beans, roasted peanuts, and cedarwood. A hint of spice is slowly creeping onto my palate, and the finish is still sweet. The retrohale consists of baking spice, sweet hay, and oakwood.
Unfortunately, an unsavory taste emerged, ammonia! As soon as I identified the distasteful note, I purged the cigar, hoping it would push out all the impurity that is trapped and unwanted flavors out of the cigar. IT WORKED!!! The taste of ammonia was expelled through the purge. However, my palate was already tainted by this unpleasantness. Even with a negative experience as bad as ammonia, I still managed to smoke this cigar down to the nub. The sweet and creamy roasted peanuts and a hint of spice is a great combo that kept me going back for more until the very end.
Conclusion
The Sinistro UV was flawless from pre-light until the final third. At a point, I did find myself looking for another profile to cut the everlasting sweet and creamy consistency on my palate, but it kept me going back for more. The construction was impeccable throughout the whole experience. The ammonia taste was probably the only negative I encountered, but it went as quickly as it came. The Sinistro UV would’ve been a near-perfect smoke if it wasn’t for that last part. I encourage everyone to seek out this limited treat and tell me what you think.
Illusione Oneoff Pyramides are made by Illusione Cigars. They are manufactured in Aganorsas’ world renowned factory in Nicaragua known as TABSA. Originally produced in 2001 by Plasencia for the former airline CEO, Andrea Molinari, OneOff was branded with a very unique “peace sign” logo which also donned his fleet of jets. When the brand was no more, Dion Giolito of Illusione acquired the mark for one very important reason- OneOff was actually the cigar that inspired him to start his own boutique company which would manufacture similarly unique small-batch cigars.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Illusione OneOff Pyramides
Wrapper: Honduran
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: 6 1/8 x 52
Appearance & Construction
The cigar is a very eye-catching triple-capped pyramides with a traditional tobacco brown hue like my favorite pair of union work boots. The wrapper leaf is very rustic and toothy, scattered with the veins and inner workings of the leaf. A true specimen of botanical glory for any plant lover to geek out over. Because of the lighter shade, you can make out every detail of the tobacco leaf, giving the impression that the wrapper was primed, dried, cured, and rolled for me all just yesterday. It has a very nice weight in the palm of my hand, and is constructed firm from top to bottom. It feels that it was bunched very well.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
The whole cigar and especially the foot smells like scattered rye straw that got damp in the rain. It also has the typical notes of cedar but there is also some pine and sweetness present as well.
The cold draw absolutely floors me. I was not expecting this. It was like walking into a well kept humidor at your local B&M. It is that very floral and perfumey dampness that arises when aging tobacco and cedar siding gets married under humidity. If you’re a fan of the movie, “Midnight in Paris,” and are a sucker for nostalgia- this cigar will instantly inspire thoughts of your first journeys into the cigar world. All this reminiscing makes me very excited to light this cigar up. A simple V-cut and single torch flame, and we’re off to the races!
As I toast the cigar the initial aroma reminds me of building a fire. Not that campfire smell you normally come across, but that specific smell you get when you’re working with an actual fireplace. It lights and combusts perfectly. First puff is super smooth. Just what the doctor ordered after a hard day’s work.
As I travel through the first third, again, the aroma coming off the foot of the cigar is really unique. It is like cotton candy being made in the distance at a state fair. On the palate, there is milk chocolate and the unmistakable flavor of popcorn on the finish. As it progresses and the oils begin to heat up, I retrohale, and notice some white pepper building in the body of the smoke. The smoke coming off the foot is losing the cotton candy, and becoming a more refined and typical scent of wood and hazelnuts. The saliva in my mouth is becoming sweet, and as I rest the cigar in between draws, I can still taste popcorn. The taste of the walk-in humidor reemerges as the first third burns away and I enter the second third. I am enjoying this experience. It is romanticism in the form of smoke. I am also reveling in its solid construction. It has a tight draw, not because of stems, but because of how well packed with filler this cigar is. All that tobacco being siphoned through a mountain-peak-top may also have to do with the tight draw. Needless to say, when a cigar is built like Fort Knox, I find you can just be yourself while smoking it, and don’t have to babysit the burn line and temperature too much. As the kids say nowadays, “I’M CHILLIN’!”
Second third still has great smoke production with a nice ash build up. There is more spice like nutmeg and black pepper with the popcorn still in the background. I have to note once more, that what makes this cigar amazing, is the smoke leaving the foot. It has now morphed into a very confectionery aroma, like the frosting on a chocolate cupcake. The retrohale is spicy.
The last third, the draw loosens up a little. As the cigar moistened, I kept massaging the cap between my fingers and this technique has been fairing me well throughout. I notice some harshness and resin buildup, however, and have to purge the last third a few times to keep the love in the air. The purging refreshes a new palate intake of coffee made with heavy cream. I also recognize my abuelita’s perfume (for you gringos: it smells like grandma’s house!). The popcorn has faded and I’m now getting soil and coffee grounds. The retrohale is all leather jackets and hazelnuts from here on out. The aroma of the cigar fading away in my ashtray smells like a bag of marshmallows. What a trip!
Conclusion
The Illusione OneOff Pyramides was phenomenal. I haven’t smoked a cigar like this in a while. The price tag is worth every penny in my opinion. The experience alone is also well worth you’re time. I only deducted points for the harshness I had to battle through on the last third. I personally would like to smoke through other vitolas in search of the blend that can go the distance. If you’re a hopeless romantic or just flat-out-bored with what you’ve been smoking in your usual cigar rotation, the Illusione OneOff Pyramides is for you. Lastly, I have to repeat myself: THE SMOKE COMING OFF THE FOOT OF THE CIGAR, MAN! If you’re into lighting incense, throw out your whole DIY ashram set-up and just replace it with a couple of Illusione Oneoff Pyramides. Your gods will actually be happy you gave them a more worthy smoke-offering for once. It’s one thing when a cigar tickles your palate, but a whole other thing, when you can get absolutely seduced and carried off in a fantastical cloud of smoke. Enjoy!
For someone who grew up in Queens, New York, Entourage was the IT show when it was first televised on HBO. It is a fictional story developed by Mark Wahlberg, loosely based on his and his friends’ life experience in the cutthroat world of Hollywood. I watched the newest episode religiously every Wednesday. Other than the group of protagonists, one particular character I looked forward to seeing on screen is Ari Gold, played by Jeremy Piven.
Just like someone who isn’t from New York, think of how a New Yorker acts daily; the character Ari Gold is the personification of how I thought people from Hollywood behave. The extreme aggressiveness, the witty comebacks, and the irregular behaviors deviate from the social norm. Every minute of his screen time was magical for me because of how unpredictable his character was. But Entourage isn’t his only accomplishment in showbiz. You might also recognize him in Smokin’ Aces, Rush Hour 2, Seinfeld, and Old School, to name a few. Overall, he is very successful at what he does.
What isn’t very well known is that Piven is a long-time smoker. He likes to enjoy a cigar daily. So much so that he delved into the cigar-making business and started his brand. With the help of Dion Giolito from Illusione and tobacco from AGANORSA leaf, Piven embarked on his journey in the cigar-making world.
Blend Specifics
Cigar Reviewed: Piv Robusto
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo 2012
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: Robusto (5″x52)
Appearance & Construction
Visually, this cigar fits the epitome of what a cigar looks like: the shade of brown reminds me of a medium roasted espresso bean in a Robusto format. The leaf is thinner than it seems since I can feel the bunched filler tobacco through the wrapper and binder. The surface gives off a sheen underneath the light, highlighting the oiliness of the wrapper. I then feel the whole cigar between my fingers and discover a small empty pocket half an inch from the foot, hoping it will not create any long-term burn issues later.
Flavor and Smoke Characteristics
I salivate almost instantaneously by the scent from the wrapper: tart fruit and leather. Tracing my nose down to the foot, I get more tartness, reminding me of either apricot or persimmons. I then shave off the cap with my double guillotine cutter, take a cold draw and taste dry raisins. The taste of the wrapper leaf is very bitter and the flavors remain on my lips for quite some time.
Like the wrapper, the initial puff is bitter and spicy. After my palate adjusted, I could taste burnt sunflower seeds, tan leather, and freshly baked bread, all enveloped in black pepper spice. I retrohale the next puff and got some pleasant warm pepper spice, baked bread, and dry hay. The flavor combination is right up my alley, minus the bitterness. Even after mentally preparing myself, it is still disappointing to see the cigar canoeing due to the empty pocket I felt by the foot. For the next minute or so, I slowly purged and puffed on it while rotating until the burn line fixed itself without any touch-up. Surprisingly, the ash held on throughout the whole act.
After the first inch, the bitterness completely disappeared, and the smoke became creamy and buttery. The rest of the flavors remain the same as before: sunflower seeds, tan leather, dry hay, with red pepper spice; and that also translates to the aftertaste. Aside from the burning issue, the airflow is very tight, and I can barely produce any smoke from it.
I thought the worst was behind me, but the cigar became spongy when I arrived at the second third. That is when I realized there’s a small black hole right next to the center of the cherry; the cigar is tunneling! I examine the cigar by slightly squeezing along its length, trying to locate where the tunnel ends, but I feel the softness running down to the cap. Even with the burning issue and inadequate amount of smoke, I could not get enough of the flavors. I got sweet and creamy roasted almonds, dry hay, cedarwood, and a slight aftertaste of pepper spice. I followed by a retrohale and got the opposite of what I experienced on my palate with an ample amount of warm pepper spice, with flavors of roasted sunflower seeds and dry hay echoing in the background.
I was struggling to keep the cherry lit due to the tunneling. I had to relight the cigar twice before arriving at the final third. Once there, the flavor developed into a combination of creamy raw almonds and roasted peanut shells. The retrohale is still as delightful as before, with red pepper spice, creamy almonds, and dry hay. Sadly, I did not get to smoke the cigar down to the nub. With more than 2 inches left, I started to get tongue bites as if I was smoking a pipe. The smoke became too hot because of the tunneling.
Conclusion
Throughout all these years of reviewing cigars, this will be the first time I will say the flavors are “fun.” I can also boldly say that as of right now, the Piv Robusto is probably my favorite celebrity cigar in part based on the flavors. The overall sweet, creamy, roasted nuts, dry hay, and hint of spice on the palate are balanced. The “fun” aspect of the retrohale let me experience the flavor profile in reverse, where it highlights the pepper spice instead. Unfortunately, I struggled throughout the whole experience with the burning issue, which ultimately became the nail in the coffin. I will seek out this cigar again for it to redeem itself. Because if there were no construction issues, the rating would be quite different.
