- Joined
- Jan 25, 2015
- Messages
- 3,788
Well here is another favorite amongst the brothers that I just got around to smoking. Thanks to @Tag9485 for the opportunity to try this one. This is not my first Illusione as I have had Fume D'Amour ( a favorite) and the Epernay. I was anxious to try this one because so many brothers seem to love it.
The cigar measures 4 -1/2 X 50 and is wrapped in a slightly toothy Hersey bar brown wrapper that I understand is a Mexican San Adreas Maduro wrapper. The binder and filler are both Nicaraguan. The foot has the scent of a bit of barnyard. The cigar is well constructed and feels hefty considering its size. It has a slight rustic appearance.
After a straight cut and toasting, the cigar hits with a bit of a punch. Lots of pepper on the back of the throat. The taste upfront was earthy and bready like toasted wheat bread. There was a whole lot of pepper on the retro but there was a touch of sweetness there as well. The spiciness continued throughout the smoke though it did recede toward the background as the cigar was smoked. I also noted toward the end of the first third quite a lot of salted nut flavor. This to me was a very desirable taste. No burn issues during the first third and the cigar developed a good dark grey ash. At this point it seemed on the high side of medium in both strength and body. This could be due to me not expecting the level of spice that is present. I don't know why but I was also expecting a bit more sweetness.
The flavors stayed pretty consistent throughout the smoke though as mentioned the spice went more into the background. I did start to pick up a bit of leather in the 2nd and 3rd portions of the cigar. The salted nut, toasted bread was very present. There was also some sweetness but way in the background. Interestingly enough I was expecting some chocolate or coffee flavors but they were not there for me on this smoke.
The cigar did require a couple of touch ups and the burn was not perfect but neither presented any problems whatsoever.
This little cigar surprised me with its strength and spiciness. I thought I was in for a mellow, sweet smoke that would be perfect with coffee mid morning. I think I would have enjoyed this more with a porter or stout in the mid afternoon as I found the cigar on the full side of medium. It is a very solid smoke and I am looking forward to smoking it again. I can see why so many brothers would like this one. To be completely honest I may have set myself up and misread both the spicy character and strength of this cigar due to my retro at the very beginning of the smoke.. Typically I don't do that with a Nicaraguan blend until I am well into the cigar. Rather than following my expectations of a very smooth sweet smoke I should have paid attention to the fact that it is a Nicaraguan blend. Good smoke just not a morning smoke for me.
The cigar measures 4 -1/2 X 50 and is wrapped in a slightly toothy Hersey bar brown wrapper that I understand is a Mexican San Adreas Maduro wrapper. The binder and filler are both Nicaraguan. The foot has the scent of a bit of barnyard. The cigar is well constructed and feels hefty considering its size. It has a slight rustic appearance.
After a straight cut and toasting, the cigar hits with a bit of a punch. Lots of pepper on the back of the throat. The taste upfront was earthy and bready like toasted wheat bread. There was a whole lot of pepper on the retro but there was a touch of sweetness there as well. The spiciness continued throughout the smoke though it did recede toward the background as the cigar was smoked. I also noted toward the end of the first third quite a lot of salted nut flavor. This to me was a very desirable taste. No burn issues during the first third and the cigar developed a good dark grey ash. At this point it seemed on the high side of medium in both strength and body. This could be due to me not expecting the level of spice that is present. I don't know why but I was also expecting a bit more sweetness.
The flavors stayed pretty consistent throughout the smoke though as mentioned the spice went more into the background. I did start to pick up a bit of leather in the 2nd and 3rd portions of the cigar. The salted nut, toasted bread was very present. There was also some sweetness but way in the background. Interestingly enough I was expecting some chocolate or coffee flavors but they were not there for me on this smoke.
The cigar did require a couple of touch ups and the burn was not perfect but neither presented any problems whatsoever.
This little cigar surprised me with its strength and spiciness. I thought I was in for a mellow, sweet smoke that would be perfect with coffee mid morning. I think I would have enjoyed this more with a porter or stout in the mid afternoon as I found the cigar on the full side of medium. It is a very solid smoke and I am looking forward to smoking it again. I can see why so many brothers would like this one. To be completely honest I may have set myself up and misread both the spicy character and strength of this cigar due to my retro at the very beginning of the smoke.. Typically I don't do that with a Nicaraguan blend until I am well into the cigar. Rather than following my expectations of a very smooth sweet smoke I should have paid attention to the fact that it is a Nicaraguan blend. Good smoke just not a morning smoke for me.
In all honesty it's like you've been doing this your whole life...
