Brand: Illusione Cigars
Vitola: No 2 52 x 5 1/4
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Rosado Oscuro Corojo
Filler/Binder: Nicaragaun
Body: Medium to Full
Strength: Full
Price: $201.25 (Box of 25)
I’m almost tempted not to review this cigar for my own selfish reasons. I don’t want the competition when I’m trying to track these sticks down. Alright now that I’ve given away the fact that I like this cigar you probably won’t bother reading the rest of the review.
Illusione cigars are made only in small batches. While this can make them very frustrating to find, the attention to quality is obvious when you pick up one these cigars. The Illusion No. 2 is a short torpedo with dark reddish brown wrapper and a nice heft to it. The draw on each one I’ve smoked has been perfect, just enough resistance to keep you from rushing it.
This is one of those cigars I can smoke over and over again and has a distinct flavor I can’t quite put my finger on. It starts out with some coffee and leather notes that really develops into a body of dark chocolate, coffee and some nuttiness. On top of all this the cigar has some spice to it. Reminds me a bit of cayenne pepper, but not quite, it is a touch sweeter.
This cigar is a double edged sword. One edge is a very intense great flavor profile that keeps you continually puffing on it trying to figure out what you taste. The other edge is its strength; you’ll definitely feel the nicotine in this cigar if you don’t take it slow.
The burn was pretty good on these cigars although a couple I smoked did require the occasional touch up. It never ruined the smoking experience.
Verdict: Another one of those cigars I’ll keep coming back to. If I wasn’t always out there looking for new cigars this one would be smoked on a consistent basis. While not blended by Pepin, it has the qualities that make Don Pepin cigars so desirable.
Similar Cigars: I’d suggest the Don Pepin Blue Label, the 601 Red, Blue or Green and the Ashton San Cristobal. I actually think it comes very close to the San Cristobal and at a lower price.
Popularity: 16% [?]
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I LOVE THIS CIGAR LOOK AT MY REVIEWS ABOUT THEM ANYWAY I NEVER HAD THE #2 I HAD HAVE NOW A BOX OF C/G4 888 AND MK AND THERE NOT THAT HARD TO FIND THERE COMMING OUT MORE AND MORE I HAD THEM WHEN THEY 1ST CAME OUT THEN I WAS HARD GETTING THEM NOW THERE NOT
This is a great tasting Cigar.. But a bit prcey for a short filler. Yes that’s right.. its not a long filler cigar.
Interesting your comment about spice. I hate pepper/spice in my cigars.. The cigar I had has 0 spice.
Don’t believe the short-filler rumors. I (and I’m not the only one) cut open a CG:4 last summer to find out for myself and found nothing but longfiller leaves.
This is a great, padron-like smoke with a cleaner finish and more complexity. Worth every penny.
{ 3 trackbacks }