Recently, the marketing folks at Villiger Stokkebye reached out to us here at the Stogie Review to see if we’d be interested in reviewing a new cigar they were about to release. Best known for their pipe tobaccos, Villiger has produced machine-made cigars for over 120 years and added premium hand-rolled cigars to their repertoire in 2009. Their newest addition is La Capitana, which is designed to provide a full-bodied smoking experience.
I responded to Villiger by saying that I’d be happy to check out their new cigar. I’d never smoked any of their products before, and didn’t know much about them, but I’m always up for trying something new. They sent out a nice little La Capitana review pack, including a sampler box with some of their other cigars. Things have been crazy busy around here lately, but I finally found some time to sit down and record a review video. After watching, be sure to enter for the giveaway at the end of this post.
Villiger La Capitana by the numbers:
Size: 5×50
Vitola: Robusto
Wrapper: Habano Colorado
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium-Full
No. smoked for review: 2
Duration: 50 minutes
Source: review samples courtesy of Villiger Stokkebye
Website: www.vsicigar.com
(Video length: 8:56)
Soundtrack: “pieces of life” by cdk (courtesy of ccMixter.org)
The pre-light inspection was really promising, with a particularly enticing dark chocolate and manure scent emanating from the wrapper. Unfortunately, once lit, the La Capitana didn’t quite live up to that promise. Early on, all I got was a vegetal, young tobacco taste with perhaps a hint of paper(?). In one of the samples, I also ran into some tunneling issues, a wavy burn, and a relight. Additionally, although billed as a full-bodied cigar, the La Capitana only barely built up into the medium to full range. The flavors improved towards then end, with woody & nutty notes developing along with some sweetness, but still nothing overly impressive.
Giveaway
Here’s another really easy giveaway with a nice prize. Simply leave a comment below and I’ll randomly select one lucky Stogie Review reader to win a four pack robusto sampler from Villiger Stokkebye containing:
- (1) Villiger 1888 – Villiger’s first premium hand-rolled cigar, originally released in 2009
- (1) Villiger 1888 Fuerte – Featuring a Negro San Andreas Claro wrapper, Peruvian Havana-seed binder, and a filler of Santo Domingo & Nicaraguan ligeros
- (2) Villiger La Libertad – Made in the Dominican Republic with a Peruvian Havana-seed wrapper, a Peruvian Nicaraguan-seed binder, and filled with mostly ligeros from the DR & Nicaragua
Contest ends January 24, 2012; residents of the US & Canada only; must be 19 or older. Good luck!
Updated: Jan 26, 2012 7:10PM
Congratulations to Tod O, whose entry was randomly selected as the winner of this giveaway. Please check your email for instructions on how to claim your prize, and thanks to everyone for entering.
About Charlie:
Charlie has been enjoying cigars since 2000 and generally prefers a medium-bodied, full-flavored smoke. A USAF vet, he is currently pursuing a PhD in computer science, focusing on artificial intelligence and computational linguistics. Originally from Connecticut and now residing in Delaware, Charlie is also a fan of football, science fiction, political philosophy, and single malt scotch. You can contact Charlie on Twitter @greenbacker
hi charlie, never smoked them my self either. nice review! keep up the great work! oh yea, loved ya on YQMA!!!
These are new to me, too. I have seen the La Libertad somewhere before, I think on my Instagram timeline. I’d definitely be interested in giving them a try.
Good call on speeding up the end of the review…marital bliss is important…enjoyed the review as always. Sounds like Villiger has a bit of an interesting history…were there any hints in the flavour that made you connect with their pipe tobacco experience?.
That’s disappointing.
Good review as always.. Keep up the good work!
Great review.
A few years back I was given a couple of their machine made cigars by a client I was doing some computer work for. Although they were not that bad, I never had any more. I used to smoke a pipe and have have used their pipe tobacco a few times,
I would be eager to try some of their new hand-rolled cigars.
Ken
Thanks for the review Charlie. I am always game to try a new cigar.
Thanks for another great review!
great review. Very Interesting.
Always down for a freebie!
nice review, gonna have to try these, also another nice giveaway, nice of you to share the wealth!!!!
Damn. You guys are killing it with giveaways…as in drinking a free one always tastes better!
Hey Charlie….I have read some very nice reviews on the Libertad sticks & would love to win that 4 pack sampler. Here’s hoping I get lucky!
Villiger makes some decent small machine-mades. I pick some up when in Europe. I’ve tried their hand-rolled cigars, and have been much less impressed.
Hey Chuck, got nothing better to do than post on this lol! But seriously, can I have it?
Hey Man great review. Keep it up.
Would love to give them a try.
Nice review! Good everyday smokes for a good price point.
Gracias.
Good review, Looks like if I ever see these at my b&m I’m gonna give them a try
I haven’t had any Villigers, but wouldn’t mind trying them out. Nice review.
Thanks for the review. I’m always game for trying out new cigars.
Hey Charlie to be honest I haven’t even heard of this brand before. Look at all your bringing to the table hahaha
Great Review…been wanting to try La Libertad for awhile now, but couldnt find it locally….send them here
I’ve seen the machine-mades advertised before (from what I gather, they’re supposedly one of the better machine-mades), that I’ve always been curious about. Would love the opportuinty to try their hand made cigars; looks like a good ‘ern.
Love the reviews.
Hey Charlie, stumbled upon this website a couple of days ago (new to enjoying cigars) and I’ve really enjoyed the content! Keep it up.
Next time dont piss off your wife. they hold grudges.
Thanks Charlie, you are a brave soul, your wife being with child and you smoking in the basement.
Ahaha, maybe next time Charlie. 🙂
I’m glad I found this site; it’s expanding my horizons.
These new cigars definitely appear to be worth a try. I’ve heard good things about even Villiger’s machine-made cigars. The music that set the mood for the review is also interesting. I’ll look into that as well.
Charlie, pregnant woman is very sensetive of their surrounding. You’re better enjoying your good time now. She will get more angry when the big day come…… GOOD LUCKY MAN………….
Sorry that these let you down. Maybe whoever wins this pack will enjoy them more.
Good review.
Thanks for the reviews maybe a little time in the humidor will help
I’m new to cigars and to your website. Thanks for such a great resource! I love your videos and your chair!!!
Nice review once again Charlie!
thanks for the review
Nice review. I’ll need to look for some of these to give them a try. Been deep into Pinar Del Rio Oscuro and Clasico torpedoes as of late and ready for something different.
Hey Charlie, another great review, thanks for posting….too bad the stick didn’t add up, but that’s part of the job when it comes to enjoying cigars eh? Some are gonna be awesome and others are gonna be meh.
Thanks for the contest.
Good review Charlie. Always look forward to trying new/different cigars. Thanks.
I’d never heard the phrase “particularly enticing dark chocolate and manure scent emanating from the wrapper” used to describe a cigar, but I suppose it’s fairly accurate in an outdoorsy kinda way. Thanks for the review. Very interesting history from the Villiger Stokkebye International website also.
Send me a pack! Been meaning to try some of these for awhile. Keep up the good work on the podcast and tell the hippie that his podcasts will not sync with my iPod (all the rest of yours do though)….or maybe don’t tell him as it works well as a filter (smile).
It takes a real man to admit that his pregnant wife was yelling at him because of the man’s smoke lol. Even more impressed that you didn’t yell back in between takes and put her in her place. Thank’s for another great review i initially found The Great Torpedo on youtube about a year ago and i have been a fan ever since. Keep up the great work and “PICK ME” for the free GIVEAWAY!!!
Nice review!
I wonder if some resting time would do these any good. I’ve seen some of the giveaways in my local shop, but have yet to try any. Really can’t say I’ve heard much about them.
Great review Charlie! Enjoy viewing reviews of less known cigars (at least from my prospective). Keep broadening our horizons.
Wouldn’t mind finding some space in my humidor to let these rest for a spell! Thanks for another giveaway. Good luck to all!
Nice job as always, Charlie!
Been meaning to try their machine made line as the quality seems decent for a mm cigar.
Never heard of third cigar before. Would be nice to try, but if I like them, I’ll have to beg my local shopkeeper to bring some in.
Nice review. Awesome giveaway as well. I might have to give one of these a try.
Yet another good review. Thanks as always!
Thanks for another review Charlie and I’ll be waiting for La Libertad review. It’s stick with original blend with peruvian tobacco. I hope you enjoy it.
I went to Germany last year, and my brother had a La Libertad that he said was pretty nice. I had a Flor de Copan at the same time.. Now as I hear it, Flor de Copan here is a budget bundle cigar. Over in Europe it won Euro market selection of the year, and is NOT a bundle budget cigar.. And it was and is my favorite cigar to date- but I’ve been out and can’t find out how to get them here in the US!
Anyways, wasn’t sure if the same Libertad my bro had.
Thanks for the review Charlie. Sounds like they may be better with some rest in the humidor. I don’t believe you should have to wait till the final third to get good flavors out of a cigar. I would definitely enjoy trying the cigars in the giveaway. Hope the wife wasn’t too hard on you. lol
YAY!
Thanks for the review Charlie.
Great Job Charlie! Always enjoy the fact that you find the obsure sticks!
Interesting. I have never even heard of these so of course I want to try them.
Kind of interested in trying new brands, like you before this never heard of them either. However all it takes is that one that gives you a wow factor tht’ll keep you coming back. BTW the super human sences get even stronger the further she gets along, I was banned from smoking unless I was at work and then took a shower as soon as I came home. (small price to pay)
I was really bummed that you did not care for that smoke much, It may just be a really young cigar.. I have only ben smoking cigars for about a year .. My very first event was a Villiger event and my first box purchase was the 1888 short robusto..They were very well made cigars beautifully done and out of 23 in the box I only had three with issues.. They were very enjoyable smokes and I was sad to have smoked the last one a few months ago..I did find that they got much better the longer they stayed in te humidor..
Nice review something without words that I have to go WTF does that mean.
Thanks for the review
Nice review. I haven’t seen these at the local b&m but would love to give them a try.
Very good review and keep the work up on reporting about Cigars. Thanks in advance.