Last year Villager Cigars announced that they were updating their La Capitana line with all new packaging and a new recipe as well. Moving away from utilizing all Nicaraguan tobaccos, the latest release features an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and fillers from both Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. That’s a pretty major overhaul of the original blend. Let’s see if all that effort resulted in a memorable cigar…
THE CIGAR – LA CAPITANA by VILLIGER CIGARS
Size: 6 x 50 (toro)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan & Dominican Republic
Price: $10.50 (Head over to Famous Smoke Shop right now where 5-packs of La Capitan are currently 58% off! Spend $100 and get $20 0ff your order using promo code TNCC20)
Upon sliding La Capitana from its cello sleeve, and then its decorative paper sleeve, aromas of salted butter and mint pour off the foot. The wrapper leaf itself has a faint cedar aroma. The cigar has just the right amount of give when squeezed between two fingers and no soft spots are detected.
After an effortless punch of the cap, there is a vegetal sensation detected on the cold draw backed by muted graphite. Upon ignition, crisp white pepper immediately arises through the nose. Downstairs, mild coffee and leather flavors are developing rapidly and in equal measures. Right around the 1” mark, the already-nonaggressive pepper sees its influence diminish with each puff and it’s slowly replaced by a fresh cedar note.
Construction has been very good so far with a smooth draw and a strong ash. The burn line has begun to grow a bit wavy but I’m choosing to be patient with it for now. The coffee note via the draw is starting to puff out its chest a bit as the dominant flavor. What’s left of the white pepper is accenting the retrohale’s cedar note nicely. So far La Capitana is behaving just like a traditional Connecticut offering should – mild in strength and medium in body. Oh, and the burn line resolved itself fairly quickly so it wasn’t a legitimate issue at all.
La Capitana’s second half begins fairly straightforward with the peppery cedar retrohale commingling well with the coffee note and muted leather pouring through the draw. Once the band is removed, a very faint creaminess begins to develop underneath the cedar. You have to concentrate really fucking hard, maybe close your eyes and shut off the music playing in the background, but it’s there. Construction continues to impress in all areas.
While I’m smoking the toro size for this review, my gut keeps telling me that the lonsdale size would allow this blend to shine a bit more. As far as beverage pairings are concerned, you guessed it, La Capitana would go great with your morning cup of coffee served in any shape or form. Although I’m currently listening to Tha Alkaholiks while smoking this, so I’m seriously considering picking up a 40 oz of something later on today. The La Capitana’s final act is highly consistent with the creamy/peppery cedar retro balancing nicely with the draw’s roasted coffee and mild leather notes.
THE NUB
TNCC FInal Score = 90
La Capitana is an enjoyable, well-constructed, balanced offering that checks most of the boxes Connecticut smokers care about. While it doesn’t do enough to stand out from the pack, I would confidently consider it a “safe pick” if you’re looking for a cigar that minds its business while your sipping your morning cup of Joe.
* Total Smoking Duration: 62 minutes
** I did not just happen to have a La Capitana ashtray sitting around The Corner Of No Hope, it arrived along with the review samples as a gift from Villiger. It would be nice if all the companies who submit cigars to us would do the same. Thanks in advance!
