Product News
Villiger Expands Flagship Line with New 1888 San Andrés Cigar
A cigar maker with roots stretching back to the 19th century is giving its flagship line a darker, bolder option. Villiger — the Swiss family company founded in 1888 — has released the Villiger 1888 San Andrés, a box-pressed cigar that shipped to U.S. retailers in mid-June 2026. It's a notable addition from a heritage name that doesn't always grab American headlines.
The Blend and Profile
The 1888 San Andrés is handcrafted at Villiger de Nicaragua and built around a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, an Ecuadorian Habano binder, and Nicaraguan fillers. Villiger describes it as a medium-full smoke, with tasting notes of espresso and black pepper finishing with an elegant nuttiness — a profile that leans richer than the milder cigars many casual smokers start with.
It comes in three box-pressed sizes, each in 20-count boxes:
- Robusto (5 x 50) — SRP $12.00
- Toro (6 x 50) — SRP $12.50
- Churchill (7 x 47) — SRP $13.00
The release rounds out the 1888 family, which pays tribute to the year Villiger Cigars was founded and already includes the 1888 Dominican and 1888 Nicaragua lines. The San Andrés slots in as the line's darker, fuller-bodied expression. For those interested in other heritage expansions, Topper Cigar Co. ships 1894 Broadleaf as another example of a long-standing brand growing its portfolio.
Why It Matters to the U.S. Market
Villiger is a genuinely old-world operation — a Swiss company that has been in the tobacco business for well over a century — and its premium handmades tend to fly under the radar in the U.S. compared with the big Nicaraguan and Dominican houses. A new San Andrés-wrapped line at a mid-tier price gives American shoppers an easy entry point to the brand, and San Andrés wrappers are a perennial favorite for smokers who like darker, sweeter, peppery profiles. This release comes at a time when premium holds firm while budget cigars slip in recent market data.
At $12 to $13 a cigar, it sits in the middle of the market: pricier than everyday value smokes, but well short of boutique limited editions. That makes it an approachable "try something different" pick rather than a splurge.
What It Means for Shoppers
If you enjoy medium-full cigars with espresso-and-pepper character, the 1888 San Andrés is worth a look — especially if you've never explored Villiger's handmade side. As a regular line rather than a limited edition, it should be reasonably easy to find and reorder once retailers stock it. For those who prefer different formats, you might also explore filtered cigars or other corona cigars for a varied smoking experience. If you are looking for a different flavor profile entirely, you might consider coffee flavored tobacco & pouches to complement your morning routine.
Prices and availability vary by shop and by state, and tobacco taxes can raise the final cost. Buy from reputable, age-verifying sellers. You can find more information on the industry in our tobacco guide covering everything from pipe tobacco to cigarillos.
The Bottom Line
Villiger's 1888 San Andrés brings a darker, fuller option to a line named for the company's founding year — a medium-full, San Andrés-wrapped cigar at a sensible mid-tier price. For shoppers curious about a storied Swiss maker that often gets overlooked stateside, it's an easy and affordable introduction. While exploring new premium options, many smokers also keep staples like Black & Mild Regular Cigars or Factory Throwouts No. 49 Premium Cigars in their rotation for everyday enjoyment.