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Illusione ~2~

danthebugman

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Let me start off this review with today my son turned 2 :grin:. It's a happy day for me, as any father can understand, and while unexpected his presence has brought a great deal of joy and meaning to me and my wife. With that in mind I rummaged around the humidor for a celebratory smoke. Didn't want to go with the usual type of stick for one of these occasions (i.e. Padron, Opus X) and came upon and Illusione ~2~ buried near the bottom. The glistening, chocolaty wrapper immediately caught my attention and it was foolish to think anything else would do.

These cigars are produced by Dion Giolito and I find it interesting that each cigar has a story and personal meaning to him. The Illusione ~2~ "And crowned of thorns" is a 5.25" x 52 Belicoso shaped cigar that features Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99 tobacco with a Colorado wrapper. The wrapper is simply gorgeous on this cigar...oily, chocolaty in appearance with some small veins. The seams are tight and barely noticeable and the cap is neatly finished. The cigar feels solid and is giving off a slightly sweet, earthy tobacco aroma with a musty quality in the background.





I used my double guillotine to take about a 1/4" off the head of the cigar. It cut cleanly and left behind a prefect draw with just a touch of resistance.



Fired up nicely under the persuasion of my Ronson JetLite.



The first few puffs were a wonderful combination of heavy pepper and spice. The pepper soon died down and a rich, meaty flavor came forward. This rich meaty flavor would dominate the 1/3 of the cigar. There was some pepper on the finish and a spicy aroma on the retro-hale...something akin to slightly sweet cloves.



The burn was all over the place on this cigar. Not horrible, but if left unchecked this is what you got...



Transitioning into the 2/3 the flavors remained the same. Then suddenly there was a profound change in the profile. It went from meaty, peppery, spicy to a light woody, earthy flavor and left my mouth feeling dry.







This woody flavor profile would remain for the duration of the cigar (at least as far as I smoked it), though it did become more of a charred wood flavor as it progressed towards the 3/3. It really wasn't a profile I cared for at all and eventually had enough.



So what did I think of this cigar? Well I loved it right up until the shift in flavors. The woody, earthy flavor I found to be bland and completely inferior to the beginning of the cigar. I got this cigar in a bomb from Headbanger (much thanks by the way :thumbsup:) and the band he had attached read "Tower Cigar Gift 9/2007". As I have not smoked a fresh Illusione ~2~, I'm not sure if the age on this cigar perhaps mellowed it some and thus not really to my liking :dunno:. I would still recommend this stick as your experience may differ from mine and Illusiones have a great reputation, but would probably preface it by saying "I was a little disappointed".

And I couldn't resist throwing in a pic of the Birthday Boy :grin:.



Dan
 

SkinsFanLarry

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Dan, nice review and pic's (including the happy birthday boy!)

I too have only smoked "fresh" releases of Illusione Cigars with the exception being a 2009 ECCJ.
 
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Sorry it was so disappointing, Dan, but great review and pics as usual!

How has your track record been with other Illusione sticks?

I actually find that the spicy, woody earth flavour is fairly typical with the Illusiones I've smoked - all except the HL, which to me was a powerhouse of dark chocolate and espresso.
 
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I didn't know today was Harrison's bday!! Well, crap.

Great review and pics, as always, Dan. I have had the pleasure of smoking a ~2~ and loved it! I can't remember if the finish was charred flavor profile, or not. But I agree on the meaty characteristics. I am really becoming a fan of cigars with that meaty/salty/grilled steak kind of flavors.

Thanks for sharing, brother!!!
 

SkinsFanLarry

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I didn't know today was Harrison's bday!! Well, crap.

Great review and pics, as always, Dan. I have had the pleasure of smoking a ~2~ and loved it! I can't remember if the finish was charred flavor profile, or not. But I agree on the meaty characteristics. I am really becoming a fan of cigars with that meaty/salty/grilled steak kind of flavors.

Thanks for sharing, brother!!!
What....no present from Uncle Froggy for Harrison? :dunno:
 

Farani

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I had the same experience with the one I smoked last summer. Horrible burn. Just wasn't for me even disregarding the burn. Other than the candelas, I've only liked the Singulare so far, though there are some others I need to try.
 
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Love the pictures. Sorry to hear you didn't fully enjoy it. I smoked a ~2~ a couple of weeks ago and loved it.

Thanks for the review
 
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