Villiger 1888

As the title might suggest and hell no it's not a number for you to bet. It is actually a new cigar that I'm trying. Knowing that I am one of the cigars aficionado, my client whom's company is operating a cigar shop in KLIA gave me a box of the Villiger 1888 Selection which have not been launched in Malaysia. He wanted me to try the Dominican cigar as I have known to like Cuban.

This is Villiger’s first handmade long filler cigar, named 1888 to commemorate the founding of the company in that year and it was their 120th anniversary. The name Villiger has been infamous for its cigarillos and premium packaging which is visible in most cigar shops especially those at the airports. With 2007 sales of over 600 million cigars worth a total of €115 million, and with 800 employees, Villiger is among the world’s top ten cigar manufacturers.



The new line is made in the Dominican Republic and comes in three sizes: Corona (150mm long; ring size 43); Robusto (124mm long; ring size 50) and Short Robusto (102mm long; ring size 19.8mm). A second Robusto size is also available, at 102mm in length. They are offered in wooden boxes of 25 or in consumer-friendly packs of three tubos each. A special Selection pack contains one each of the three variants (which is the one I have received).

I had the pleasure to try the new cigars. Last week, I had a puff of the short robusto. This short cigar is concentrated, earthy-cedary taste, with a touch of espresso. It then developed into a more complex but a milder taste concentration, which lasts through the end. It is an expressively strong smoke but I find it rather dry. Apart from that, the nose is good and I am very impressed that Villiger makes quite a good handmade cigar.

It comes with cigar matches! How neat is that?!!

A purist believes in lighting the cigar the right way. They will never light a cigar with a flame from a source that will alter the essence of the cigar. If matches were used, try to get extra-long, wooden sulfurless ones. If you can't find them and are using regular, short matches, be prepared to use a number of them. Be sure to let the sulfur burn off before starting the lighting process and try lighting two at a time, so you get a broader flame. If a lighter is used, then an odourless gas is a must!

With all the campaigns against smoking all pasted across all medias nowadays, I'm sure everyone whom have seen the posters/ads would be thinking twice about smoking. Thinking is one but doing it is the other and I'm sure smokers will still be even how many campaigns were run. I suggest the government to put the money to better use during this economic downturn. The government forgets about the source of revenue of the country where the bulk comes from "sin tax" which includes tobacco - the very thing they try to control! How ironic.

Well, certainly our government is all too happy about the health campaign to forget about the significant importance of tobacco in our economy when you have so many people working for BAT or even JTI here in the country. In this recession, I would think the super premium industry would survive which includes cigars. I don't think rich men will ever stop puffing just because the economy is not good nor the rich tai tais would stop buying their LVs because their husbands says that they are making less money! What is needed is a rethink: protection for a not inconsiderable minority and tolerance towards a relatively harmless pleasure.

"In support of enjoying the sins in moderation"

Note: I have no addiction for any form of tobacco. I only enjoy cigars. And only when I am with good company & drinks. I have been keeping to my quota of 4 cigars a month! *clap clap*