danthebugman
BoM Nov '10
Size: 5" x 52
Wrapper: Mexican San Andreas
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: $8-9
Intro: Of all the Illusione sizes I'd have to say that the 88 and 68 are about even as my favorites. I've been interested to see what the Maduro wrapper has done for the blend and on one of my trips to Just For Him a while back I was excited to see they had some of the Maduros on the shelf. Note that this isn't the same wrapper that was on the Maduros when they were released as limited batches. In 2011 Dion started adding the Maduros to regular production and when he did he switched to a San Andreas wrapper.
Prelight: Visual inspection reveals the wrapper is a dark chocolate color mottled with a dark brown/reddish color and gives off an oily sheen. Seams are blended well into the cigar and there are no large veins present. Well packed, but not rock hard...there is a slight give when pinched. The bands on the Maduro versions are a dark red color...Burgandy perhaps and I don't like 'em as much as the white bands. It just doesn't pop very much. Not that it effects the flavor of the cigar or anything. Just my $0.02. The cap cut easily with my Palio and the draw was spot on with just a slight bit of resistance. Cold draw was a bit of chocolate and some light spice. Very nice. Took the torch to it and...
First Third: There was a light bit of pepper at first with a chocolate sweetness. After a half dozen puffs or so the pepper died down into a lighter nutty cinnamon flavor. Some coffee notes via retro hale. Great start and pretty much what I was expecting. Burn was great, smoke output good.
Second Third: In the second third the main flavor was a light woody profile and was complimented with notes of chocolate, spice, and some coffee throught the retro hale. I did get a glimpse every now and again of a dark, fruity flavor. Plum maybe :dunno:. It was too fleeing and not consistent enough to pin point. Overall the flavors are much the same as the regular 88, just darker and a little richer. Burn was good, draw remained perfect, smoke output was superb.
Last Third: In the final third the spices died out leaving a mainly woody, chocolate flavor with some coffee on the retro. Didn't get hot, even to the nub. Burn remained great, draw was spot on.
Final Thoughts: Great cigar. Which is better, the 88 or the 88 Maduro? Geez, do I have to choose? They're both excellent. I would highly recommend either and both to anyone looking for something different or new to try. They're a medium to slightly medium-full for me so would make a great start to a day of smoking or with your morning cup of coffee.
Dan
Wrapper: Mexican San Andreas
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: $8-9
Intro: Of all the Illusione sizes I'd have to say that the 88 and 68 are about even as my favorites. I've been interested to see what the Maduro wrapper has done for the blend and on one of my trips to Just For Him a while back I was excited to see they had some of the Maduros on the shelf. Note that this isn't the same wrapper that was on the Maduros when they were released as limited batches. In 2011 Dion started adding the Maduros to regular production and when he did he switched to a San Andreas wrapper.
Prelight: Visual inspection reveals the wrapper is a dark chocolate color mottled with a dark brown/reddish color and gives off an oily sheen. Seams are blended well into the cigar and there are no large veins present. Well packed, but not rock hard...there is a slight give when pinched. The bands on the Maduro versions are a dark red color...Burgandy perhaps and I don't like 'em as much as the white bands. It just doesn't pop very much. Not that it effects the flavor of the cigar or anything. Just my $0.02. The cap cut easily with my Palio and the draw was spot on with just a slight bit of resistance. Cold draw was a bit of chocolate and some light spice. Very nice. Took the torch to it and...
First Third: There was a light bit of pepper at first with a chocolate sweetness. After a half dozen puffs or so the pepper died down into a lighter nutty cinnamon flavor. Some coffee notes via retro hale. Great start and pretty much what I was expecting. Burn was great, smoke output good.
Second Third: In the second third the main flavor was a light woody profile and was complimented with notes of chocolate, spice, and some coffee throught the retro hale. I did get a glimpse every now and again of a dark, fruity flavor. Plum maybe :dunno:. It was too fleeing and not consistent enough to pin point. Overall the flavors are much the same as the regular 88, just darker and a little richer. Burn was good, draw remained perfect, smoke output was superb.
Last Third: In the final third the spices died out leaving a mainly woody, chocolate flavor with some coffee on the retro. Didn't get hot, even to the nub. Burn remained great, draw was spot on.
Final Thoughts: Great cigar. Which is better, the 88 or the 88 Maduro? Geez, do I have to choose? They're both excellent. I would highly recommend either and both to anyone looking for something different or new to try. They're a medium to slightly medium-full for me so would make a great start to a day of smoking or with your morning cup of coffee.
Dan
