Villazon no more...

[The Poet]

Aside from the maduro Connies and ERDMs mentioned, the JR Ultimates also still have that sweet and earthy Villazon profile I enjoy. In fact, I am enjoying a Habanito as I type. It's a bargain short smoke perfect for this time of year, though I keep them in rotation all 12 months.

Otherwise, I can't think of others which retain that flavor. But I am open to suggestion.

Here's a question for thought. Had Lew Rothman remained actively involved in the business, would Villazon still be in operation today? I think that with his long history and relationship there, there is a chance.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by sigsauer

I remember the El Rey del Mundo
Flor de Llaneza (Pyramid) boxes of 35.....
I had 2 that had so much bloom....it tasted like a chocolate bar on fire...awesome
I've often thought about getting another 35 count box and burying it in the cooler for a year....

Have had a few of those, but they were a bit more expensive per stick than the Robustos... and you have to love the tissue wrapped presentation. They are good though!

Originally Posted by The Poet

Aside from the maduro Connies and ERDMs mentioned, the JR Ultimates also still have that sweet and earthy Villazon profile I enjoy. In fact, I am enjoying a Habanito as I type. It's a bargain short smoke perfect for this time of year, though I keep them in rotation all 12 months.

I haven't had an Ultimate in quite a while, used to smoke quite a few Prinicipales - great smokes. I even enjoyed a few in the candela wrapper. I suppose the Habanitos are fairly inexpensive, but they are not a very long smoke.

Otherwise, I can't think of others which retain that flavor. But I am open to suggestion.

Like I said somewhere else once, the ERdM Robusto is one of the few which new sticks seem to taste just like the ones I smoked in the '80s.

Here's a question for thought. Had Lew Rothman remained actively involved in the business, would Villazon still be in operation today? I think that with his long history and relationship there, there is a chance.

You might be right, but JR Cigars still has a great relationship with those brands formerly owned and made there. In fact, I think Lew pulled out after Llaneza sold out back in the late 1990s.