Villiger Cigars has announced plans to bring La Meridiana, one of its European-market cigar lines, to the U.S. this month.

The cigar is a tribute from Heinrich Villiger to “some long lost Cuban cigar heritage,” the company said in a press release. It bases its roots in a Cuban cigar factory by the same name, which was owned by Pedro Murias, and according to the company was once of the largest and most well-known cigar factories on the island and helped define the cityscape of Havana at the end of the 19th century. However, during the Cuban War of Independence, Murias was forced to sell La Meridiana, and when the deal closed following the war’s conclusion in 1898, the factory’s legacy vanquished into history, even though the building still stands today.

While the inspiration is Cuban, the cigar is a Nicaragua puro, highlighted by a wrapper that has been aged for approximately four years to attain both a distinctive flavor and color. It is being offered in five sizes, each of which come in 10-count boxes:

  • Villiger La Meridiana Corona (5 1/2 x 42) — $6.50
  • Villiger La Meridiana Robusto (5 x 50) — $7.50
  • Villiger La Meridiana Torpedo (6 x 52) — $8
  • Villiger La Meridiana Churchill (6 7/8 x 48) — $8.50
  • Villiger La Meridiana Toro Box Pressed (6 x 54) — $10.60

The line is being made at Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua.

“We feel that it is the perfect time to launch the Villiger La Meridiana to the US consumer,” said Rene Castañeda, president of Villiger North America, via a press release. “The Villiger La Meridiana is an exceptionally elegant and flavorful cigar that I am confident will satisfy the cigar connoisseur.”

Images courtesy of Villiger Cigars.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.