American Viking Cigars is set to drop its boldest release yet with Unkillable hitting shelves on January 12, 2026. This new line marks the company's first real full-strength maduro, and for founder Tim Swanson, it's about as personal as it gets in his cigar-making journey.
The blend is entirely Nicaraguan, built around a dark habano oscuro wrapper grown in the Jalapa Valley. That wrapper sits over an Estelí binder, with fillers pulled from the volcanic soils of Ometepe plus additional leaves from Condega, Jalapa, and Estelí. The result is a powerhouse smoke that doesn't just hit hard — it delivers a balanced, evolving experience. Smokers can expect rich notes of dark chocolate and cocoa right up front, followed by solid layers of leather and oak that build depth as the cigar progresses. It's full-bodied intensity wrapped in refinement, the kind of profile that rewards a guy who likes his cigars strong but not chaotic.
Image credit: American Viking Cigars
Unkillable comes in two straightforward vitolas designed for different moods. The Robusto measures 5 inches by 50 ring gauge and carries a suggested retail price of $11.64 each, or $232.80 for a box of 20. For those wanting a longer session, the Toro stretches to 6 inches by 52 ring and lists at $12.92 per stick, with boxes going for $258.40. Both sizes keep things accessible for a premium full-strength offering, especially considering the quality of the Nicaraguan tobaccos involved.
The factory behind the cigars remains under wraps for now, which isn't uncommon when a company wants to keep the focus squarely on the blend and the story rather than the production details.
Swanson traces the roots of Unkillable all the way back to 2020, when American Viking was first working on what would become their Dama Valada line. “This is what Dama Valada was originally meant to be back in 2020,” he explained in the company's press release. “At the time, we were chasing an oscuro fuerte blend, but the blender created a habano rosado that completely swept us off our feet. That cigar became something special—but the original goal stayed with us.”
That unfinished business lingered, and years later it finally found its form in Unkillable. The name itself carries real weight. It's a direct nod to the cigar makers who stick it out in an industry that demands patience, deep pockets, and a stomach for risk. Margins are tight, timelines stretch on for years, and plenty of brands flame out before they ever gain traction.
“The history of cigars is littered with brands that didn’t fully understand what they were getting into,” Swanson added. “The people still standing today are time-tested cigar makers who’ve learned the hard way that to do this—really do it—you have to be unkillable.”
For a guy like Swanson, who has built American Viking from the ground up alongside his father-in-law Jim Campbell, the sentiment hits close to home. The company grew out of their work with Cigars Daily, where they spent years connecting with fans, creating shop exclusives, and honing their understanding of what serious smokers actually want. They've always leaned into premium Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos, and Unkillable represents the culmination of that focus — a cigar made for men who appreciate power with purpose, who know that the best things in life, whether it's a great smoke or a lasting business, take grit to survive.
This isn't just another maduro on the shelf. It's a statement from a brand that refuses to quit, paying tribute to everyone in the trade who's weathered the storms and come out stronger. If you're the type who enjoys a serious, no-compromise cigar that evolves from the first light to the final ash, Unkillable looks like it was built exactly for you. Mark your calendar for January 12 — this one's worth the wait.
