Villiger San Martin

With San Martin Cigars, a name enters the German specialist trade in 2025 that some aficionados may already know from San Martin Zigarillos. José de San Martin (1778–1850) was a South American revolutionary and, alongside Simon Bolívar, the most important leader in the struggle for independence from Spanish colonial rule in South America. As a national hero of Argentina, Chile, and Peru, he led the legendary crossing of the Andes in 1817, which resulted in the liberation of Chile (1818) and Peru (1821). After a historic meeting with Bolívar in 1822 in Guayaquil, Ecuador, he handed over command of the independence movement to him. To avoid a civil war, he withdrew from political life and went into exile in France, where he died in 1850. That concludes the historical context. This cigar brand was created by the import and production company Villiger Cigars of Heinrich Villiger, the grand seigneur of the European cigar industry, who passed away in 2025.

San Martin Cigars Modern Blends with Classic Signature

Through its stake in the German exclusive importer of Cuban cigars, 5th Avenue Products, the Villiger family is already closely connected to Cuban cigars. It was probably only natural to establish, alongside the Cuban Bolivar Cigars, Dominican cigars bearing the name of another freedom fighter.

The San Martin series presented here is aimed at aficionados seeking straightforward premium cigars with a balanced aroma profile and a “crisp” strength. The series relies on a harmonious composition of different tobaccos, although their exact origin is not disclosed. They are crafted at Tabacalera ABAM by Matias Maragoto, who also produces the Villiger 1888 Cigars, among others. These cigars offer a creamy smoke and an even burn.

Taste and Character of the San Martin Series

The San Martin Cigars are full-bodied and aromatic. They are defined by bold, earthy flavors rounded off with a fruity citrus note. As the smoke develops, the San Martin Cigars reveal warm notes of coffee, roasted nuts, and dark wood, accompanied by a subtle sweetness reminiscent of cocoa and brown sugar. Each finished cigar is aged in the curing room for at least 4 to 6 months. The oldest tobacco used was purchased in 2020 and prepared for processing. Matias Maragoto personally oversaw quality control and assigned only a small group of his torcedores (cigar rollers) to produce these high-quality longfillers. As a result, only around 350 cigars per day and per pair can be completed.