Illusione Cigar Review
Conspiracy theories are as abundant nowadays as Wiemar currency before WWII. There are conspiracy theories about the Bilderburgers, the Trilateral Commission, Area 51 and even conspiracy theories about the names of Illusione cigars. Without trying to give too much credence to the cretins who traffic in such insanity let it suffice that the conspiracy theory has something to do with the Occult. Not true.
Illusione cigars are boutique cigars, which means they are made in limited quantities. There are other boutiques and other companies claiming that their brands are boutiques. Words are wind and the claim of being a boutique means little and less to me. What matters is how well the cigar tastes, how well it smokes and other things like that. I am not going to deny that there is something psychologically intriguing about smoking a limited production cigar but that psychosomatic high quickly wears off if the cigar is substandard.
That whole diatribe is not directed at Illusione though. They’re great cigars and every size, according to their website, has received scores of 90 or more from Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Insider. But the score that really matters is the one at the bottom of this post, so let’s get to it.
The Illusione 2 is a 5.25″ by 52 ring gauge torpedo. Personally, I like torpedoes and that is the major reason I picked this vitola while I was perusing the offerings at a local tobacconist. This is the third one I have smoked recently and it looks decent for a cigar. It’s not smooth – there are ripples, a minor stretching in the wrapper by one vein and the veins are slightly pronounced – and it’s not very oily to the touch. Actually, it’s pretty dry. Solidly packed though and I do appreciate their humble cigar band, which bears no resemblance to the usually more ostentatious bands found on ever other cigar.
Cigar Stats
Length: 5 ¼″
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $9.50/Single | $205.00/Box of 25
$1.5M Cups Torch!
Also known as Crowned of Thorns (I’m pretty sure that is a reference to Christ and his crucifixion – the explanation behind the numbers is on their website) it starts out with a smattering of bold flavors ranging from leather, steak and a light spice.
During the transition from the first to the second third spice becomes more prominent. It is the kind of spice that tastes good and doesn’t overpower the other flavors around with the other flavors being a dusty earthiness and some more leather.
The final third sees the spice fading a little. Leather still remains and there is this thin sweetness in the background.
In the end, this is a very solid cigar. The flavors keep your interest from beginning to end. The draw is good and the burn is pretty even. It’s a medium bodied cigar that does not scrimp on flavor.
91 points
Emilio AF2 Short Cigar Review
With an average amount of veins running along the length of the cigar and some minor discolorations here and there I can honestly say this isn’t a great cigar to look at. Fortunately, I don’t smoke cigars because they’re pretty. And I didn’t buy this cigar anyway, it’s a sample from Emilio Cigars. And yes, that’s right, only one smoked. That’s why this is a short review folks.
The feel of the wrapper is a different story. There is a good coating of oils along with the tactile sensation of very fine fur. It’s an interesting feeling and, from my experience at least, makes me think this will at least be a good cigar.
Here’s some information about this cigar:
Our AF2 blend, produced and blended by A.J. Fernandez is certain to delight. Crafted from rich Nicaraguan fillers combined with the strength of Pennsylvania ligero and a beautiful Ecuadoran Habano Oscuro wrapper. These cigars are available in cabinet boxes of 20 in four sizes: Robusto, Toro, Torpedo, and BMF.
I’m smoking the 6×50 Toro for this review.
California Sucks Flame!
It’s good. Spice at its core; grass, bitter chocolate and some toffee give it support. An extremely interesting group of flavors here, kind of surprised. Well, I’m surprised because I had not heard much about this company before, that’s all.
The second third improves on the first third. It’s spicy core, which was a little wild and harsh during the first third has moderated and become a fuller experience. Hay and sweet grass have also come on. The smoke leaves a warm and dry feeling in my mouth and the flavors linger until the next puff.
During the final third the spice dissipates quite a bit. During this third I did recognize some chocolate but the main flavor was smoky hay. This is a medium bodied cigar with a great burn and draw.
4.5 points
Oliva Serie V Cigar Review
Very good looking cigar. The mottled near-black finish of the wrapper has veins running every which way but not in enough quantity to scare me. Oily? Yes, but not very. Consistently packed from cap to foot with enough tobacco to give just the slightest amount when I check for soft spots.
I forgot to mention a medium sized, oblong hole that appears three inches from the foot of the cigar. It runs 1/8th of an inch long by 1/16th of an inch wide at its widest point. Shouldn’t be too much of a problem as far as the flavor is concerned but I am keeping it in mind for the overall score (in other words, not a huge deal). Actually, now that I think of it, I cannot remember seeing a hole in any other of the Oliva Serie V wrappers that I have had.
The pre-light draw is reminiscent of the last Serie V I had. This one has a better draw and the mix of spice and chocolate is inverted with spice being a much more prominent factor in the flavor profile. It has been at least two minutes since I took the pre-light draw and I can still feel the spiciness on my tongue. My anticipation grows.
Cigar Stats
Length: 7″
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Nicaragua – Habano Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua – Jalapa Valley Ligero
Price: $8.50/Single | $175.00/Box of 24
Bar Rescue Torch!
Bitter chocolate and a certain amount of earthiness greet my palate first. Then comes a bitter spiciness, which is something that is good in an interesting sort of way. It’s an interesting flavor combination but I am going to withhold judgment for now. Shortly after the first rush of bitterness it gracefully fades into the background leaving a mixture of spice and earthiness to take the lead.
The aroma for this vitola is identical to the previous one; rich chocolate cake. The pre-light draw was not a misnomer because the draw is just as good now as it was before the cigar took the flame.
Strength is something that I am acutely aware of early on in the cigar’s progression. Unlike with some of the smaller vitolas in the V line the strength apparent here is much more serious. I am less than a half inch into the cigar and if it progresses much further in the strength category I may go into convulsions and start talking in tongues! That, of course, is pure hyperbole – I love the strength of this cigar – the more the better!
Before getting into the second third of this cigar the flavor profile has imperceptibly shifted away from that chocolate flavor. Spice and a grassy earthiness have now completely taken over. The spice is more temperate now – the strength has undergone no such change. All of this has taken place over the first third of the stick.
Walking away from a cigar for more than a couple of minutes usually leads to it dying – not so in this case. Doing so has given my palate some time to normalize and refresh itself and the cigar has ever so slightly changed. Now, at the halfway point, it is spice, grass and a hint of chocolate. All three work together in harmony. The spice is, and has been, a warm spice of varying strengths; each version a joy.
Time is not something I really think of in terms of cigars. But this one is an extremely slow burning cigar. It’s been over an hour since I first lit it and I am only halfway through it now. I have been sipping it, enjoying all its nuances, which is why it is taking so long. There really is no other way to go at this cigar though. If you don’t have the time to truly enjoy this cigar then you are better off leaving it in its humidified lair until a large enough chunk of time produces itself.
The remainder of the cigar is consistently great. Breaking into the final third is a saltiness accompanied by a decent helping of meat. A hint of leather creeps its way into the final bits. The burn is also good; it has been fairly even throughout. Give yourself up to three hours to smoke it, though. You will not be disappointed.
94 points
Don Pepin Garcia Black Edition Cigar Review
It’s a perfect looking parejo in almost every way. Construction is nearly perfect, almost absolutely cylindrical. There are a couple of minor veins that I am not worried about. Also, these cigars are very oily. This particular one that I am doing the review on is very oily as well.
The prelight draw is easy and gives off light tones of spice and sweetness. On the other end, the foot smells like tobacco and sweet spice. It looks like a solid cigar and, hopefully, this will be a solid cigar to smoke as well.
Cigar Stats
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Nicaragua – Habano Rosado
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $7.50/Single | $125.00/Box of 20
Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team Torch!
From the very beginning of this cigar the flavors are strong and well balanced, which is not something you can say of a lot of cigars. This good start is peppered with what feels like a healthy dusting of spice ranging from sweet spice on the tongue and black pepper through my nostrils. Cedar is a secondary flavor in the early goings as is a slight amount of citrus on the aftertaste.
Personally, I’m not one of those people who would get bored if my favorite team was winning the same way all the time. Let’s take the Lakers as our example. They have won a lot during the last 13 years or so by doing the same things. You have the triangle, they many of the same players, etc. In many ways, this cigar is the same way: consistent and excellent.
The flavors during the final two thirds of this cigar are pretty much the same as the first third but those flavors are excellent. I love the interplay between the sweet spice and cedar on my tongue and the lingering pepper in my nostrils. It’s not a complicated cigar but it’s an excellent cigar.
Now, if you want complicated in sports you would have to look at the Rays. Oh sure, it’s exciting watching every night and seeing them win with pitching one night then with a contribution from some platoon guy another team basically gave away. The next night they will win with defense. It’s exciting and will keep people interested (even in that hotbed of baseball fandom known as Tampa Bay) but, if I had my druthers, I will take the perennial contender with the tried and true formula. Yes, you would not be wrong in saying that I am a boring person.
Consistently great cigars are definitely fine by me. Actually, they’re better than that. This is one of those cigars where you can pick it up and know that you are going to get a perfect draw, a great burn, a medium-full bodied cigar with a great group of flavors every time.
91 points
G. De Graaff ‘S-Gravenhage Short Cigar Review
After my grandmother came back from her most recent sojourn, this time to see the Continentals amongst them a certain former foreign exchange student from Germany, she brought me this cigar for my birthday. As you can tell by the title of this review the cigar’s name is quite a mouthful. It looks like it is a house blend but beyond that I don’t have much information on the cigar. What I have found can be seen here.
Here’s a little bit of information from that site:
De Graaff cigars have been hand-made for generations by the old established house of cigar makers De Graaff, using only the highest grade tobaccos from Brazil, Cuba and Indonesia. The tobaccos are blended in their factory according to old family recipes which conscientiously are kept a secret. One of the advantages of their cigars is that no artificial tobacco is used, another that each cigar has its own particular sophisticated composition, resulting in an unique balance between fragrance and taste.
With all that being said I cannot vouch for the makeup of this cigar nor can I seem to be able to find the vitola that I smoked on their website. Here’s the basics: it’s a thick cigar measuring in at more than a 55 ring gauge I’m sure. The length is about 5 ½” and the only reason why I don’t know the exact length is because I was sure I would be able to find the vitola on their site, but I didn’t.
The cigar did get a little smashed in transit but there was no tearing of the wrapper and I do not think it had much of an affect on the performance of this cigar. It has a triple cap and the wrapper is medium brown with some smallish veins.
Friedman Flame!
Honestly, this cigar is starting off awesomely. Spice, grass and earth make up the core. Immense flavor in the early goings. Pretty intense though, hopefully it will mellow out a little bit as it progresses.
Burnt toast and sweet spice come on during the second third and they are tasty. The intensity has yet to flag, which I’m actually liking now with the new flavors on board. I would peg this as a medium bodied cigar.
Taking the band off of this cigar is proving to be a pain because the band does not reach all the way around the cigar and, to make up for this fact, the manufacturer has decide to use tape to bridge the gap instead of making a larger band. This is a problem because the tape has stuck to the wrapper. I am only able to remove the band at the expense of the wrapper, which has now been torn.
Charred meat is coming on strong in the final third, which is a flavor that I really like. There is also the sweetness but without much of the spice that was ever present during the first two thirds of this cigar.
In retrospect, my favorite third of this cigar was the first third where the flavors were perhaps a little wild but they were interesting. The second third offered a more well rounded experience that most anyone would enjoy. The final third took a step back in terms of f lavor and enjoyability but, overall this was a very good cigar and I bet many people would enjoy it.
4 points
