www.TheStogieBaby.com

Strength: Full
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Rosado Oscuro Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Style: 88 (Robusto)

Review: Every time I pick a “hype” cigar to smoke, I end up disappointed. The Illusione is one of the most talked about cigars right now. It’s becoming peoples favorite and at this point it‘s getting hard to find. It also received the #7 spot on Cigar Aficionado’s Best Cigars of 2007, which definitely helps the buzz. But I want to find out if the buzz is real or just another illusion. Tonight I review my experience with the Illusione 88.

The wrapper of this cigar is amazing. It looks as if a Cameroon Wrapper and a dark Maduro Wrapper made love and 9 months later had little baby wrappers running around. The color is a medium brown with a dark finish and just beautiful to look at. The label is not much to brag about, but when you have a wrapper that looks this beautiful, who cares.

Before I start to smoke, I like to give my cigars a good smell just to see if I can pick up any flavors from the wrapper and foot. On the sniff, the Illusione smelled like herbal tea and honey. It was a light smell, but you can definitely smell some sweetness in this cigar. The pre-cut was smooth and the pre-draw was excellent. Only thing left to do is the fun part and that’s smoking it.

From the moment I took my 1st puff’s I knew I was in love. The Illusione gave me a gentle spice, creamy coffee and a delicious nutty after taste all through out the start. The 2nd part of the cigar is even better! All the flavors became more rich, creamier and smoother. All of a sudden the creamy coffee, is now creamy coffee with cacao and the gentle spice, is now a creamy gentle spice with honey roasted nuts on the finish. By the time you reach the 3rd of the cigar, your going to kick yourself if you don’t have another one and if you do have another one, you’ll probably start lighting it up before you finish the first one. (now say that fast 10x’s)

I am truly amazed with the flavor profile from this cigar. The creamy coffee, nuts, honey, cacao and gentle spice are singing in perfect harmony through out the whole cigar. And when it comes to spice, this cigar is perfection. This is exactly the amount of spice I want in a cigar and the way it should taste. The flavors are so smooth, that if we could taste such a thing, its in this cigar.

The construction is another great thing about this cigar and it shows in the draw, burn and ash. No touch ups, tons of smoke on the draw and the ash lasted a good 2 inches before falling off.

Final Note: If you cant tell by my tongue twister review, this cigar excites me. And if your more confused about why your jeans don’t fit you anymore, I will say this in the most simplest way. Go get this stogie! Or ….. don’t. More for me.

Final Grade: A