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Interview with Dion Giolito
By Jesse | February 12, 2008
Dion Giolito opened F U M A R E in 2004 and eventually developed the Illusione line. Anyone that has smoked one of his cigars can attest to the fact that these cigars are produced with a passion you won’t find in many of the bigger companies.
Can you give us a brief background on yourself and how you got started?
I’ve been smoking cigars since I was 14 (yes, 14) and really got into them during my college years. When I transferred from Oklahoma back to Nevada, I took a part-time job at a local cigar store for some extra cash. It turned out to be a great job. It allowed me to tour with the band I was in and, I always had a job when I came back. It eventually turned into a full-time position where I stayed for about 12 years before I decided to open my own shop.
What was the biggest obstacle you faced when you were getting started?
There weren’t many obstacles, only challenges. Having worked in the industry for so long, I was able to make many friends. This made the transition from employee to employer much easier. It wasn’t until my second year of business that I decided to launch my own brand. The biggest obstacle in that was relying on what my palate was telling me and, to not give into the suggestions of others.
Who was your biggest influence?
Zino Davidoff. He embodied the best of everything in both the retail and manufacturing arenas that set him apart from the pack.
How long does it typically take to take a cigar from an idea to the shelves?
2 years and a LOT of research combined with gut instinct and a willingness to piss away all of your money.
What cigar sites do you read on a daily basis?
I (Vudu9) read quite a few - Cigar Weekly, Cigar Live, Club Stogie, Cigar Family, Cigarcyclopedia, amongst many others.
Which of your line of cigars is your personal favorite?
It really sounds cliché but, my favorite has always been my CG4 - 5 5/8 x 46 or, my F9 - 6 1/4 x 44. I like the smaller ring sizes…
Are there any other brands you smoke on a regular basis?
Davidoff. They’re a nice change every once in a while. I also Like anything VR.
In what ways do you think the industry as a whole needs to improve upon?
The lies that some manufacturers tell us to make us buy their cigars. There has to be more accountability in our industry.
What can we expect to see from you in the near future?
I will be releasing a new brand specifically geared for Europe and their palate - all traditional sizes. Other than that, I can’t elaborate much further.
Anything else you’d like to let CigarJack.net Readers know?
I’m always accessible to everybody in all ways particularly, in the forums. I don’t shill, I don’t even like to talk about my own cigars unless it is to clear up any misinformation. I absolutely love the cigar culture and, there pretty much isn’t a cigar out there that I would turn my nose up to. I enjoy everything from Bearing Imperial Candelas all the way up to aged Davidoff Dom’s, Conies to Cojonu . Every cigar has a story to tell, some cigars are just better story tellers than others.
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Tags: Illusione Cigars, Interviews
Topics: Cigar Talk |
February 12th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Great interview, Jesse. Look forward to more!
February 13th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Thanks, I’m hoping to make it a regular feature. I’ve already got another one planned.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
[…] Interview with Dion Giolito - Cigar Jack - This blog is the epitome of a “niche” done right. I love checking it out even though I’m not a huge fan of cigars. Doing an interview with a cigar maker is actually quite cool too. Go check it out. […]
February 13th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
I try to give cigar manufacturers and distributors the benefit of the doubt and therefore hesitate to call their marketing ploys outright “lies,” so it’s nice to hear Dion call them out. If they made a cigar as fine as Illusione they wouldn’t need all the advertising crap. But they don’t, so we can all look forward to more of that last bale of 1959 Cuban leaf, and those “vintage” 90’s cigars that somehow survived the boom… and have a good laugh. Thanks for the interview!!
February 14th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
[…] Jack interviews Illusione’s always interesting Dion Giolito. If you haven’t already done so, also check […]
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:42 pm
[…] past month or so I’ve focused heavily on Illusione Cigars. I reviewed the Illusione Website, interviewed Dion, and did an Illusione Cigar […]