The long awaited Nosotros by Illusione, in conjunction with Drew Estate, is finally on the shelves of your local retailer. Nosotros was introduced at the 2009 IPCPR but was delayed in shipment for various reasons. So in the middle of the 2010 years Dion was finally able to grace up with his new creation.

I found this brief piece of information floating around the internet that I think best describes the cigar I am smoking today:
“The Illusione Nosotros Cigars are rolled by Drew Estates in Nicaragua and are the latest creation from Illusione. Unlike most cigars made by Drew Estates, these cigars are not infused cigars but rather a blend of fine tobaccos from Nicaragua with a Corojo ’99 wrapper, Nicaraguan fillers, and Connecticut Habano binder. Because “Nosotros” means “us” this is symbolic of Illusione and Drew Estates joining forces to produce another fantastic cigar. Dion Giolito of Illusione says that these cigars are best described as. “Spicy and clean on the palate with richness and power that really sneaks up on you. The blend is well out of my comfort zone and very nonpareil to my other lines. As it turned out, the first combination of tobaccos that we experimented with wound up being the final blend.”

And with that lets being the smoking process!

Construction: I have to give credit to Drew Estate, the creators of this cigar, because there is not a single cigar in any of their lines that has any type of construction issues. It has a beautiful wrapper with minimal to no veins, its packed full of tobacco and most importantly it will make you feel like you are spending your hard earned money on something with value and quality.

Draw: Punch it, cut it, bite it, v-cut, use a golf tee – the Nosotros will not care. You will get a perfect draw with medium resistance and plenty of mouth coating smoke.

Burn: You can’t ask for anything more from any cigar. The burn is straight and never requires any sort of touch-ups. I was even able to sit my cigar down for a good 10 minute phone conversation and it picked up right where I left off.

Flavor: Nosotros is going to start off with a big bang. There is an immediate rush of spice in the draw and exhale that will linger on your palate for sometime. Have you ever looked for a cigar to smoke that would produce the thickest amount of smoke possible to practice making smoke rings? Well if so then look no further because the Nosotros smoke is thick, spicy and coats every inch of your palate.

Moving into the second third of the Nosotros doesn’t bring about many, if any, changes to the cigar. The overall flavor profile is that of spice and the smoke is still thick and… spicy. Perhaps the strength of the spice does go down a bit to allow for more of the tobacco flavor to come through. This subtle change is enjoyable and quite welcomed.

You will start to get a subtle sweetness from the cigars finish as you come up to the final 1/3. Your palate is still going to be blasted with spice but with smooth tobacco flavor and new sweetness it becomes an amazing full body cigar. I say this because full body cigars tend to end a bit dull and just full of body, or in other words boring as the complexity dies.

Final Verdict: I’ve never told you to not pick up anything from Illusione and I’m not about to start now. This is a cigar that full body smokers and smokers who enjoy a red pepper type of spice should pick up. Oh – and the smokers who need a cigar that puts an amazing amount of thick smoke for that smoke ring practice. I will warn you to pick up a few sticks before making a purchase due to the price tag of about $12.

Thank you to Casa Fume Fine Cigars in Gilbert, Arizona for sponsoring the review of the Illusione Epernay Le Monde. If anyone is looking for a respectable cigar shop to ship them cigars they might not be able to find locally, then please give them a call! 480.794.1581

Construction: Dion Giolito is a stickler when it comes to the fine details of creating a cigar. The people of Casa Fernandez (they make the cigar) are sticklers when it comes to creating a cigar. Does anything else have to be said? This cigar is beautifully constructed, tightly packed and ready to be enjoyed by everyone.

Draw: The draw of the Illusione Epernay Le Monde will reflect on the construction. As we know the construction is excellent, so it comes as no surprise that the draw is also… perfect! I would suggest starting any of the Illusione line with a punch or a v-cut as this usually creates a large amount of smoke. If you like your cigars extra smokey then just give it a snip.

Burn: The Illusione Epernay Le Monde had absolutely zero issues with the burn. Spark this cigar up and put the lighter away. The ash is a nice white with traces of gray and falls off when tapped.

Flavor: Let me start this flavor section off by saying that the combination of tobaccos due to the size is perhaps the best cigar that Illusione has produced. From start to finish you will get a clean, bright pure smoke that everyone (regardless of smoking experience) will fully enjoy.

The cigar will range in an earthy flavor, floral notes and subtle spice that keeps the smoke complex. Again, it is very consistent and you will notice these hints through the entire Le Monde. It also seems like these notes will introduce and reintroduce themselves in different sections of the stogie making sure every stick you smoke has its own unique characteristics.

Final Verdict: Your local tobacconist should have the  Illusione Epernay Le Monde retailing in the $10 range. Dion Giolito, the man behind Illusione, does a great job of protecting his cigars (and prices) from the internet – so don’t be afraid to support the local B&M. That being said, do not hesitate to pick up this great cigar. This stogie is perhaps the best blend, due to the blend, of the Epernay line. You and everyone you share this stick with will enjoy the clean and bright (with hints of fried ice cream) smoke!

In Willy Wonka fashion there will be no way to tell if the box of cigars is “naked” or filled with the regular blimp looking cigars unless it is fully opened. Be aware of fakes that might be rolling onto the market as many retailers might simply remove the foil casing in hopes of representing this prized limited edition release. You can verify the true “naked” cigars by making sure they are still cleanly wrapped in the butcher style paper the bundles are secured in.

Cigar aficionados should immediately be aware that this could DRAMATICALLY change the flavor profile of the beloved MJ12. Time will only tell if the MJ12 absorbs the wood flavor from the box or how it can now marry more properly with other cigars in your humidor. Will this cigar fall under the current ratings achieved by the “standard” MJ12 or should it receive its own?

Followers of the Illusione brand are also aware that the names and packaging all have meanings (http://illusionecigars.com for more information on that). What does the “naked” cigar represent in the story of the lineup? Is this possible a symbol that represents that all good stories have alternatives? Or perhaps its Dion’s way of telling people to keep their eyes open for something greater to come in the line of Illusione? Or maybe this is a second part to the mysterious MJ12 saga?

Or maybe this is just a story of the manufacturer running out of the foil when producing the MJ12 cigar. And instead of Mr. Giolito holding up production/shipping for two additional weeks he gave it the go-ahead nod. After all, once you purchase the cigar you have to remove the foil to smoke it anyways.

Construction: Illusione Epernay Le Ferme has a light milk chocolate colored wrapper. Minimal sheen on the but oils can be seen. Veins are also minimal although you may find a medium sized vein or two that can not be felt. There are no soft spots on any of the cigars throughout the cab.

Draw: Illusione Epernay Le Ferme has a perfect cigar draw from start to finish. It has the right amount of resistance that I wish every cigar was created with.

Burn: These Epernay has a clean straight burn that does not require any corrections. The ash being produced is light and peppery in color.

Taste: Illusione Epernay Le Ferme is a mild bodied cigar that has may hints on the palate. You will get a lot of faint flavors that are easy on the palate. In the first 1/3 of the cigar you will get some spice, grass, and lots of sweet smooth smoke.

The middle of Illusione Epernay Le Ferme is where the cigar really starts to pick up in the medium body range. The complexity of the smoke, in general, has picked up for our enjoyment. The Le Ferme is really bright and floral and the smoke starts to get thicker while coating your mouth with some wood notes. You will encounter some spice that will linger in and out and pair really nicely with whatever the cigar is bringing to your palate at the current time.

From start to finish the Illusione Epernay Le Ferme will develop more flavors and more complexity. It will stay consistent and smooth down to the nub. You will continue to get the spice, floral, wood, and cool creamy smoke that makes the cigar appropriate at all times.

Final Verdict: The Illusione Epernay has a final price tag in the  $9.xx range. The Illusione Epernay is one of our all time favorite releases of cigars. This is a cigar that you should buy in bulk and keep handy at all times. Enjoy this as the first cigar in the morning or the last smoke in the evening – either way you will never be disappointed. Buy a cab, buy 3 cabs, just make sure you have plenty laying around.

Quick Notes

Construction: Light milk chocolate colored wrapper. Minimal sheen on the but oils can be seen. Veins are also minimal although you may find a medium sized vein or two that can not be felt. No soft spots on either of the samplers.

Draw: Good, medium draw. The Epernay can be cut or punched.

Burn: These Epernay cigars were pre released sampler sticks, so take these notes with a grain of salt. One of the Illusione Epernay cigars had a jagged, uneven burn with a dark ash. The other stick had a good burn with a brighter peppery ash.

Taste: Medium body with a nice spice.  Smooth cigar with a warm body.

Spice has been removed and the Epernay moves into a warm toasty flavor profile.  Sweetness is lingering in the background. You will get a great sense of the great tobacco that is used.

Spice has made a comeback but it is not as strong as the beginning of the cigar. Sweetness is still in the finish and cleaves the pallet very clean. Very consistent and complex through the Illisione Epernay.

Final Verdict: The Illusione Epernay will have a price tag between $7.xx. – 9.xx. From our initial smoke we can tell that this is going to be a great cigar. We are more excited to see what the cigar brings us when it’s from the factory, we have control of the humidity, and to see how they develop with age. Buy your box now when you get the chance – it’s a safe bet (and they should fly off the shelves)!

Dion Giolito is the mastermind behind the Illusione Cigars brand. Dion wanted to use Nicaraguan tobacco (his favorite) to create the clean, bold stick that he could honestly say was his favorite cigar to smoke. He will not place or ship the cigars in Cedar boxes because the Cedar will play too large of a role in a cigars flavor profile. However, Illusione cigars spend 35-90 days, depending on the stick, in a cedar aging room. Mr. Giolito insists on keeping everything small batch so he can truly monitor the production and quality of the smokes.

puffingcigars.com will be reviewing all of the Illusione cigars because the line has a unique blend specifically made for the size.

Full text from the Illusione website:
“The concept behind Illusione Cigars was to re-create a specific taste profile from years past. Before the Sandinistas took over Nicaragua in 1979, Nicaragua was growing some of the best tobaccos in the world. The cigars made from these prized fields in the Jalapa Valley and Esteli region were strong, bold and clean. After years of neglect, these old Somoza fields have been re-cultiviated by the legendary master grower Arcenio Ramos of Cuba. Along with Fernano, Chandito and famed Cuban agronomist Jacinto, Arsenio has assembled the varitable “dream team” of tobacco production. They have re-grown these humble acres to yield their fullest potential once again. All Illusione cigars are made from first generation Corojo ’99, Criollo ’98 seeds, wrapped with a grade one Café Colorado wrapper, and finished with a traditional triple cap in the premier Raices Cubanas factory. Illusione cigars deliver a taste and a quality of smoke rarely found in today’s market. All of Illusione cigars are made in small-batch quantities to maintain quality and consistency.”

Construction: Illusion CG4 is is a no-thrills looking type of cigar that says “I might not be fancy but I mean business.” The cigar has a silky smooth dark brown wrapper with very little veins and no blemishes. Tobacco is stuffed into this stick and easily passes the pinch test. Everything is finished with a triple cap and a very simple, unobtrusive, white band.

Draw: With great construction, a large amount of tobacco, and under “boutique production” you can only ask for one thing: A perfect draw. That’s exactly what the CG4 delivers.

Burn: Illusione CG4 has a slightly jagged burn (at times) but the cigar will never require any kind of touchups. This is another great ashing cigar that is peppery in color and produces some of the smoothest, cool-clean tasting smoke that you will ever experience (Can you tell I love this cigar yet?).

Taste: The excitement of smoking the Illusione CG4 starts from the moment you crack open the box (you will purchase a box). A light caramel and tobacco smell will the air and make your mouth water. The CG4 leaves a sweet taste when you give it the pre-light draw.

Flavors are running through this cigar from the first light. It almost seems like you have the perfect mixture of spice, caramel, nuts,  and great tobacco.  There wasn’t one flavor that stood out at any point during the first 1/3. They all shared an equal role and made full circle to reintroduce each other. The smoke at this point has a medium body (where it will stay) that really does leave your pallet feeling fresh.

The midpoint of the Illusione CG4 is where the body marginally increases but remains in the medium spectrum. You will notice the nutty flavor become more of a roasted, or warm, nutty flavor. A sweet leather tone has replaced the standard sweetness and the light spice still resides. There are some new profiles that are introduced and I can only describe them as a rich earthiness.

While this is how the Illusione CG4 finishes I would like to note that you never loose the real tobacco taste. The smoke always keeps the pallet feeling fresh and clean.

Final Verdict: At the local lounge you should find this cigar in the mid $6.xx to low $7.xx price range. For such a smooth and complex smoke the Illusione CG4 is a definite buy. This is one of the best cigars on the market and I can assure you a box will find a way in your humidor. This is one of the only cigars that has found its way into my daily rotation.

The names of the Illusione cigars is something that is not-so-familiar. I have gotten multiple requests to get this information posted – so here it is. I would suggest going to the PDF file (in the link I provide below) and read the story of how Dion Giolito got started.

Additionally the Illusione website has an official statement regarding the names from the owner Dion Giolito. You can click here to download the PDF file.

~68~ – Bombone
This was the year I was born hence, the smallest cigar in my line. It was also an homage to Paul Garmirian – BIG influence in my career as a Tobacconist along with Zino Davidoff. 68 is also a “happy” number.

~88~ – Robust
No secret here. It harkens back to 1988 when I made that fateful decision to leave Oklahoma to come to Reno for College. “Robust” was just something different than Robusto. It speaks more for the body of the cigar than the nature of its size.

~F9~ – Finesse
F stands for “finesse” which I wanted this cigar’s taste profile to be. I told Romai and Arsenio at the Factory that if can perfect the blend for this vitola, it will rule the world. They laughed. 9 also stands for the 9th planet Pluto, well not really a planet since it was demoted to orbiting rock a few years ago by some brainiac in the Astronomy field. What does he know!?

~4/2g~ – Church
This was the cigar that got me thinking about brand identity and packaging. “4” stood for 2004, the year I opened my own store, “2g” referred to the style of cigar I wanted it to be. I always liked how RAG’s had “2 gears” in the smoking journey, mild/medium in the first 2/3’s of the cigar then – BAM rich, full and spicy in the last 1/3. Even though it isn’t a Churchill per-se, more a double corona, I decided to put “Church” on the side of the box. It mostly reminded that I am a bad Catholic and that I need to get my ass to Church more often.

~888~ – Necessary and Sufficient
Here’s where I delve into my faith a bit more. The name Jesus (IhsouV) adds up to 888 in Hebrew numerology called Gematria.. Each letter is assigned the corresponding number. “Necessary and Sufficient” both describes the balance and profile of this cigar. It also represents to not go wanting, He is all I need, He is necessary and sufficient.

~M7~ – Magdala
Woman from Magdal. This may appeal to you Holy Blood, Holy Grail/Davinci Code Types out there. The M7 is a Salomone – shapely and perfect – woman. She is also Pregnant.

Cg:4 – The White Horse
I wanted to associate it with the wine country – French wine country. I called Pete when he just happened to be in Miami celebrating Pepins’ birthday. He handed me off to Pepin and I wished him happy birthday. When Pete got back on the phone, I asked him what the cliché should be on the side of my box. I told him it was Cg:4 Corona Gorda….. He said Cheval Blanc “The white Horse” PERFECT I thought – Corona Gorda, the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse, The White horse which is the Conquer, the false prophet – Revelation 6:2.

~2~ – And Crowned of Thorns
No explanation here is really needed. 2 is the son of God doing battle against evil, the enlightened one, the soul-saver, all forgiving.

~1~ – The Dark Prince
Again, no explanation needed. Administered Original sin. Also took lead from The Cuban “Black Prince” Punch as well.

~2/3~ – Tre in Uno
My Culebra. Here’s the goof. Originally the cliché was to be 3/1. After a long night in front of the computer hacking out the box design, I put 2/3 instead. It kinda worked out okay with me because 23 is always a number I bet on along with 9. 23 is the The “23 Enigma,” the Discordian belief that all events are connected to the number 23.

~MK ~ – The Teaching Machine
As with my 88, I sampled a few to you in the forums for review when I was re-working on the blend in ’06. I did the same with the mk. There were two versions, the ~MK~ and the MKULTRA. MKULTRA was much stronger than I wanted it to be. I called Paul Palmer which in turn relayed my information to the factory to correct the issue. They have a gold band along with the ~hl~ because they’re more of an artisan blend better represented in those particular sizes. They’re 20% different than regular illusione black and white bands. As some of you know, I let out my stock of MKULTRAS because I just wasn’t pleased with the blend. You guys ate them up! Thanks. Project MKULTRA was a government experiment in creating “zombie soldiers” if you will, through experimentation with LSD and subconscious suggestion when under the influence. MKULTRA was also referred to as the “teaching machine.” The classic corona size is the teaching machine vitola. It is the perfect vehicle for delivery of flavor, if the blend is right.

~hl~ – The Holy Lance
My Lancero , the lance. Get it? Constantine was the first Christian Emperor to lead Rome. It was fabled that he had possession of the very spear that punctured the side of Jesus while on the cross. He was said to carry this relic into battle and, it was said that it helped him win his many battles. It is an artisan blend and, the mildest of all my cigars.