“There are cigars that you simply smoke, and then there are cigars that you experience,” muses Philip G. Wynne, the man behind Felipe Gregorio Cigars. With the introduction of Aphrodisiac Venus (140 x 21.4 | 5 ½ x 54), the experienced tobacco grower and cigar producer presents a creation that goes beyond pure flavor composition and honors a centuries-old Caribbean tradition.
Wynne had originally announced the launch of Aphrodisiac in 2022. However, he decided to let the cigars mature further in order to bring out their uniqueness more strongly and intensify the nuances of Bois Bandé. In 2025, he will finally share his innovation with cigar lovers around the globe. For him, Aphrodisiac Venus represents an “embrace of passion, terroir, and aesthetics.”
The power of Bois Bandé
At the heart of Aphrodisiac is Bois Bandé, the bark of the Caribbean Richeria Grandis tree, which has been used as a natural aphrodisiac for generations. More than just folklore, its essence is known to promote blood circulation and vitality, invigorating both body and mind.
Over a period of three years, the tobaccos for the blend are aged in cedar wood trunks together with cocoa beans, vanilla pods, allspice, nutmeg, and Bois Bandé tree bark. Wynne describes this special process as giving the cigar experience a spicy, woody undertone with a peaty finish reminiscent of fine single malt whiskeys from the Scottish Islands. The result is a sensual, mysterious cigar bursting with vitality.
Art and desire
Aphrodisiac Venus is presented in collector’s boxes of 24 cigars each, adorned with Sandro Botticelli’s timeless masterpiece “The Birth of Venus” (1485 AD). “This icon of the Renaissance – an eternal symbol of beauty, sensuality, and awakening – perfectly reflects the spirit of the cigar,” says Wynne, delighted with the fusion of cigar craftsmanship and great art.
In addition, each box contains a handmade ashtray featuring Botticelli’s masterpiece.
“For me, Aphrodisiac is not just another cigar,” says the cigar producer. “It is a passionate experience that awakens the senses and lingers long after, a ritual of seduction. For the collector, it is a treasure; for the lover, it is an awakening; for the few who own it, it is unforgettable.”
