Cigar: Villiger DO Brasil Claro
Size: 5 x 50
Wrapper: Brazil
Binder: Brazil
Filler: Brazil
MSRP: $9.00 to 9.50 per cigar
Samples provided by the manufacturer.
Following up from last month’s review of the Villiger DO Brasil Maduro, I wanted to give ample time to its Claro cousin. My preference, if you are new to the site or new to my reviews, are definitely biased towards the darker shade of wrappers, so me reaching for the maduro version of the DO Brasil first was more or less going to be guaranteed. The curiosity I had towards the Claro version was how much of that Brazilian punch I found in the Maduro version will be present within the Claro. Read on to find out.
This is the first review cigar in ages where I actually found an issue on the pre-light, albeit as minor as it can be. Two tiny chips were found on the single Claro sent for review. Barring that, the cigar checked out just fine. The pre-light aromas was a single note of modest wood while the cold draw was slightly more complex with light notes of wood and herbs on the palette. The draw came out nicely balanced with an opening mix of wood, herb and leafy greens with a nice touch of pepper on the aftertaste. Unlike its maduro cousin and medium-to-full start, the Claro starts as around the medium bodied range of strength. But like the maduro, the Claro’s strength does not stay that way. 12 minutes into the cigar, I already began to feel the increase beginning on the palette. This was also coupled with the addition of black coffee to the mix of flavors. Over the next 27 minutes, the strength of the cigar steadily began creeping upwards into the medium-to-full range. By the end of those 27 minutes, the coffee and wood took over the palette completely while the herb and leafy greens left the profile altogether. The pepper also diminished greatly from the flavor profile as well, merely becoming a hint of an aftertaste. 50 minutes was the final smoking time on the Villiger DO Brasil Claro.
Minus a minor burn correction and the noticed tiny chips in the wrapper pre-light, the review cigar smoked without an issue.
By-The-Numbers
Pre-light: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
To recap the Villiger DO Brasil Claro:
- The Claro definitely shares some similarities in comparison to the Maduro version of this cigar in terms of flavor. However, it does enough to separate itself and stand as an example of a medium bodied cigar done differently, thanks to its Brazilian tobacco.
- Unless you are an ardent mild cigar smoker, the majority of enthusiasts could enjoy this cigar without an issue.
- Under $10.00 is good in my book.
- My preference in these cigars, after reviewing them both, is still the Maduro for sure. With that being said, I’d love to have a few more of these in my humidor for when a slightly lighter fare is preferred.
A big thank you once again to Villiger Cigars for the opportunity to review the Brasil lineup. And thank you all for reading. Stay safe and have a nice weekend.
