kockroach
BoM August 2010/2011
Monday night after getting settled into the hotel in New Orleans, a number of guys got together at a small cigar bar away from the downtown area, called Dos Jefes. There was a great group of people there, including Dion from Illusione. I had the pleasure of talking with him and his wife for a little while. I had gifted him an unreleased Sungrown Maduro from Fuente...and he comes back and smacks me down with one of his new Illusione Singulares.
This Limited Edition cigar comes in boxes of 15, and will be available as a different size each year. This first release is a medium body cigar, full in flavor, and is called the Phantom. It is a 6x50 size. It is 100% Nicaraguan, and is made at Raices Cubanas (Tropical) in Honduras.
The wrapper is light brown, and slightly oily. The construction is very good...although mine has a slight piece coming off of the wrapper....unfortunately from travel back to Chicago.
Cutting the well constructed cap with my Palio, the cigar had a very clean tobacco flavor. I couldn't really detect much else....but that was no indication of what I was about to discover.
The first third of the Phantom was IMO amazingly complex! More so that I have ever experienced. First of all, it was a creamy smoke. I could pick up floral notes, flavors of citrus, honey, milk chocolate and spice. Now this was not all at once, and it wasn't the same with each puff. It kept changing up on me with each and every pull on the cigar. I SO wanted it to stay this way...it was tremendous.
The second third of the cigar found it settling into a set flavor profile. I could taste milk chocolate mixed with honey and caramel. The creaminess of the smoke was still there, but subdued.
The remaining third of the Phantom had a woody and spicy flavor. Hints of honey and milk chocolate were present in the background.
(note that yes I was in my car smoking this cigar....and some others I have reviewed. This picture was at a stand-still in rush hour)
I was very impressed with the Phantom. I think it is a fantastic cigar right now...and I CANNOT wait to see how this one changes with time on it. The construction was great, the burn was great, the ash white and somewhat compact. I highly recommend this cigar, and cannot wait to see what Dion has in-store for future versions of the Singulare line.
Overall smoke time 1:45.
This Limited Edition cigar comes in boxes of 15, and will be available as a different size each year. This first release is a medium body cigar, full in flavor, and is called the Phantom. It is a 6x50 size. It is 100% Nicaraguan, and is made at Raices Cubanas (Tropical) in Honduras.
The wrapper is light brown, and slightly oily. The construction is very good...although mine has a slight piece coming off of the wrapper....unfortunately from travel back to Chicago.
Cutting the well constructed cap with my Palio, the cigar had a very clean tobacco flavor. I couldn't really detect much else....but that was no indication of what I was about to discover.
The first third of the Phantom was IMO amazingly complex! More so that I have ever experienced. First of all, it was a creamy smoke. I could pick up floral notes, flavors of citrus, honey, milk chocolate and spice. Now this was not all at once, and it wasn't the same with each puff. It kept changing up on me with each and every pull on the cigar. I SO wanted it to stay this way...it was tremendous.
The second third of the cigar found it settling into a set flavor profile. I could taste milk chocolate mixed with honey and caramel. The creaminess of the smoke was still there, but subdued.
The remaining third of the Phantom had a woody and spicy flavor. Hints of honey and milk chocolate were present in the background.
I was very impressed with the Phantom. I think it is a fantastic cigar right now...and I CANNOT wait to see how this one changes with time on it. The construction was great, the burn was great, the ash white and somewhat compact. I highly recommend this cigar, and cannot wait to see what Dion has in-store for future versions of the Singulare line.
Overall smoke time 1:45.
