Villa Zamorano Danlí Robusto

The Villa Zamorano Danlí Robusto, in its 5 x 50 format, is a Honduran cigar with a sober appearance. Produced at the Fábrica de Puros (owned by Maya Selva and inaugurated at the beginning of the year), it combines a Carmelita wrapper from Honduras, a Trojes binder and an entirely Honduran filler.

Visually, the cigar has a light brown wrapper with reddish highlights, supple to the touch and well-filled without excess. The band, whose tones evoke the terroir and fields, gives the whole a rustic and simple image. The construction confirms these first impressions: it feels supple and consistent. When unlit, earthy and humus notes emerge, with a smooth draw that promises easy burning.

Honduras

12.7

45 – 60 minutes

Coffee

Robusto

Earthy, Nuts

Tasting notes

Lighting it up immediately reveals a first soft, woody note, supported by a hint of liquorice. The smoke is dense, smooth and soft on the palate, enveloping from the very first puffs. The retro-olfaction reveals a slight hint of spice, but the experience remains accessible and could easily be enjoyed by an occasional smoker. The strength at the start is light, the burn is even and the compact ash holds well.

In the second third, nutty aromas appear and bring an interesting evolution without disrupting the balance. The strength remains light to medium, while a hint of acidity, reminiscent of coffee, subtly awakens the tip of the tongue. This acidity adds depth without being aggressive. The cigar remains easy to enjoy and highly accessible.

At the start of the final third, green notes appear, evoking freshly cut grass and ivy. The cigar warms up slightly as it approaches the band, probably accentuated by a slightly rapid smoking pace. However, this evolution remains consistent with a balanced and smooth tasting experience.

Pairing

The Villa Zamorano Danlí Robusto is a simple, easy-going cigar with accessible, balanced aromas. It is the perfect choice for a morning cigar accompanied by a cup of coffee, or for enthusiasts looking for a smooth, reassuring smoke. Thirty years after her debut in the cigar world, Maya Selva offers the VZ Danlí range as a tribute to the Honduran tradition of tobacco cultivation, faithful to the spirit of simplicity and sincerity that characterises her creations.

The cigar anecdote

With the VZ Danlí range, Maya Selva pays tribute to the Honduran tradition of tobacco cultivation, remaining faithful to the spirit of simplicity and sincerity that characterises her creations.

About Flor de Selva

Maya. One word is enough to command respect. She is a legend in the world of cigars, and thanks to her, women are represented with such pride. Maya is Madame Blue Smoke’s favourite; an evening at Royal Cigar to meet Maya in the flesh. It is the discovery of an incredibly rich and profound personality, proud of her country and her heritage. It is the breath of charisma through her words, her dazzling authenticity, the resonance of her values in her deep voice.

Like a warrior, she aims to fly the Honduran flag as high as possible in the world of cigars. It is a mission accomplished, for in 2024, Maya was awarded the “LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT 2024”

Madame Blue Smoke has an idol: Maya Selva.

Here, it is emotion speaking. Maya is an incredibly charismatic leader. Inspiring, radiant, warm. When she speaks, she mesmerises the crowd. A male-dominated crowd. She stands tall among the giants of the cigar world, alongside Eric M. Newman and Robert C. Newman, Rocky Patel, Manuel Quesada, Benjamin “Benji” Menendez, and Carlito Fuente.

But I don’t think that’s what drives Maya. She sincerely wants to put Honduras on the map, create jobs, restore the cigar industry’s reputation and make her country a key player in the sector.

Maya is a team. Every member we met—advisors, importers, sales representatives, brand managers—speaks with respect and conviction about her values, is convinced of the products, and is moving in the same direction.

It was therefore with undisguised emotion that we watched her take to the stage at the 2024 Cigar Trophy Awards ceremony.

Maya’s core value: ethics

Maya aims to create jobs in Honduras and to involve every trade that contributes to the making of a cigar. From the tobacco fields to the packaging that wraps the cigars. Consequently, every box produced comes from Honduras, including the raw materials.

Maya does not compromise. Its brand manager, Nina Cobos Rosa, told us at Intertabac: “Initially, the new bands for the ‘Villa Zamorano’ brand were to be gold-toned with green. The material for the gold finish was not available in Honduras; it was impossible to source it. Maya decided to change the band’s colour scheme to greener tones so that the band could be produced entirely in Honduras.”

Where does this Honduran icon come from?

Born to a French mother and a Honduran father, Maya grew up in Tegucigalpa. After studying engineering in France and the USA, Maya returned to Honduras with a master’s degree under her belt, but not yet ready to decide on a career.

It was then that she spent a year learning how cigars are made in the Danli region. Drawing on her academic background, she meticulously studied all the essential parameters involved in crafting high-quality cigars.

In 1994, her meeting with Nestor Plasencia proved decisive for her career. And a year later, after planning the production criteria for her cigars with Nestor, she launched “Flor de Selva” on the French market.

Read Maya Selva’s story