Originally posted by Dion: Who is your target audience?
ME: People with toy dogs, scarf’s, tight ponytails and over-sized sunglasses that sit in outdoor Cafe’s reading subversive literature while sipping on the blood of Kings.
Do the have visions of Steel Ghosts, travel to Cities of the Dead, stroll in the Owl Light, and paint with The Colors of Hell?
"Cuban seed tobaccos grown in Nicaragua and Cuba. The wrapper would be from Cuba. The binder leaves would be from Nicaragua. For the ligero tobacco in the filler, he would use two types, one from Esteli and the other from Jalapa in Nicaragua. The other filler components, seco and viso, would come from Cuba, the former from Villa Clara, the latter from Pinar del Rio. That Cigar, he says with pride, would score 100 points." -Don Pepin Garcia
Originally posted by Dion: Who is your target audience?
ME: People with toy dogs, scarf’s, tight ponytails and over-sized sunglasses that sit in outdoor Cafe’s reading subversive literature while sipping on the blood of Kings.
Who is your target audience?
ME: People with large dogs, shaved heads, standing outside their B&M pissing off the nail salon next door, walking to the bar across the street to watch violent sports while sipping on the blood of the devil.
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men."
Posts: 397 | Location: Kailua, HI | Registered: April 21, 2008
Originally posted by Smoker99: On another BB, someone who says they have seen it states it is Epernay Eligante 5 3/4 X 40. Last part doesn't fit the clue given here though, may be partially correct.
not available til August and boxes of 50 i hear. However 4 different sizes though.
"Cuban seed tobaccos grown in Nicaragua and Cuba. The wrapper would be from Cuba. The binder leaves would be from Nicaragua. For the ligero tobacco in the filler, he would use two types, one from Esteli and the other from Jalapa in Nicaragua. The other filler components, seco and viso, would come from Cuba, the former from Villa Clara, the latter from Pinar del Rio. That Cigar, he says with pride, would score 100 points." -Don Pepin Garcia
"Cuban seed tobaccos grown in Nicaragua and Cuba. The wrapper would be from Cuba. The binder leaves would be from Nicaragua. For the ligero tobacco in the filler, he would use two types, one from Esteli and the other from Jalapa in Nicaragua. The other filler components, seco and viso, would come from Cuba, the former from Villa Clara, the latter from Pinar del Rio. That Cigar, he says with pride, would score 100 points." -Don Pepin Garcia
The Honduran-made Illusione brand, owned by Dion Giolito, has a new, lighter extension called Illusione Epernay. Named after the heart of France’s Champagne region, Epernay is an all-Nicaraguan cigar comprising tobacco from two specific farms and finished with a shade-grown Corojo ’99 wrapper leaf. "Certain cigars and Champagne go together fabulously,” said Giolito. “I think that this cigar is the perfect complement to great Champagnes, so I named it after a region in France that made this grape famous.” According to Giolito, the blend is more suited to a “European palate,” which, to him, entails using a lighter shade of wrapper, and replacing some of the spicy character of his other brands with a sweeter, more floral tobacco. Epernay is the third brand in Giolito’s portfolio, after the core Illusione line (which has scored exceptionally well in Cigar Insider and Cigar Aficionado) and the newer Cruzado series. The Epernay comes in four sizes: Le Grande, 6 inches by 46 ring; Le Ferme, 5 1/4 by 48; L’Elegance, 5 3/4 by 40; and Le Petit, 4 1/2 by 44. They have a suggested retail price from $6.95 to $9 and come packaged in slide-lid cabinets of 50. “I think that this cigar deserves a cedar cabinet,” said Giolito. “All the cigars are uncellophaned to promote box aging.” The cigars are adorned with the same simple white bands as the Illusione line, only the Old English letters, which read “Epernay,” are gilded rather than black. Retailers and consumers can purchase pre-release boxes of Epernay as part of a monthlong sneak preview for April, then the cigar will not be available until the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers trade show in August. “Originally, they were supposed to premiere at IPCPR, but I decided to do a preview the entire month of April in lieu of the implementation of SCHIP,” said Giolito, referring to the expansion of the federal State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which is being funded by increased taxes on tobacco products. The number of Epernay cigars slated for production this year is still undecided, as Giolito is waiting for market demand to ultimately determine 2009’s production numbers. When asked about releasing a new cigar in the face of a downward economy and the onslaught of higher taxes, Giolito answered: “Retailers, brand owners and manufacturers are pretty skittish right now. I think that the new release lets everyone know that the hobby of cigars will continue to move forward, regardless of restrictions or the draconian efforts by government.”
What the article did not mention is that it is the same blend as the e c c j 15th EL - extended into 4 unique sizes. It also did not mention my "target audience" previously posted.
as soon as i can track these down i will splurge on a cab no doubt. with my stock of anejo I am going to bypass that purchase this Dec to justify a 450 hit.
"Cuban seed tobaccos grown in Nicaragua and Cuba. The wrapper would be from Cuba. The binder leaves would be from Nicaragua. For the ligero tobacco in the filler, he would use two types, one from Esteli and the other from Jalapa in Nicaragua. The other filler components, seco and viso, would come from Cuba, the former from Villa Clara, the latter from Pinar del Rio. That Cigar, he says with pride, would score 100 points." -Don Pepin Garcia
The Honduran-made Illusione brand, owned by Dion Giolito, has a new, lighter extension called Illusione Epernay. Named after the heart of France’s Champagne region, Epernay is an all-Nicaraguan cigar comprising tobacco from two specific farms and finished with a shade-grown Corojo ’99 wrapper leaf. "Certain cigars and Champagne go together fabulously,” said Giolito. “I think that this cigar is the perfect complement to great Champagnes, so I named it after a region in France that made this grape famous.” According to Giolito, the blend is more suited to a “European palate,” which, to him, entails using a lighter shade of wrapper, and replacing some of the spicy character of his other brands with a sweeter, more floral tobacco. Epernay is the third brand in Giolito’s portfolio, after the core Illusione line (which has scored exceptionally well in Cigar Insider and Cigar Aficionado) and the newer Cruzado series. The Epernay comes in four sizes: Le Grande, 6 inches by 46 ring; Le Ferme, 5 1/4 by 48; L’Elegance, 5 3/4 by 40; and Le Petit, 4 1/2 by 44. They have a suggested retail price from $6.95 to $9 and come packaged in slide-lid cabinets of 50. “I think that this cigar deserves a cedar cabinet,” said Giolito. “All the cigars are uncellophaned to promote box aging.” The cigars are adorned with the same simple white bands as the Illusione line, only the Old English letters, which read “Epernay,” are gilded rather than black. Retailers and consumers can purchase pre-release boxes of Epernay as part of a monthlong sneak preview for April, then the cigar will not be available until the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers trade show in August. “Originally, they were supposed to premiere at IPCPR, but I decided to do a preview the entire month of April in lieu of the implementation of SCHIP,” said Giolito, referring to the expansion of the federal State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which is being funded by increased taxes on tobacco products. The number of Epernay cigars slated for production this year is still undecided, as Giolito is waiting for market demand to ultimately determine 2009’s production numbers. When asked about releasing a new cigar in the face of a downward economy and the onslaught of higher taxes, Giolito answered: “Retailers, brand owners and manufacturers are pretty skittish right now. I think that the new release lets everyone know that the hobby of cigars will continue to move forward, regardless of restrictions or the draconian efforts by government.”
What the article did not mention is that it is the same blend as the e c c j 15th EL - extended into 4 unique sizes. It also did not mention my "target audience" previously posted.
Dion
They are fantastic smokes, you did an impressive job with them.
"Remember you have to stroke that tobacco when you handle it, because the tobacco it is like a woman and it responds to good treatment."
Posts: 179 | Location: California | Registered: December 27, 2007
Originally posted by Dion: Who is your target audience?
ME: People with toy dogs, scarf’s, tight ponytails and over-sized sunglasses that sit in outdoor Cafe’s reading subversive literature while sipping on the blood of Kings.
Who is your target audience?
ME: People with large dogs, defying trends, who sit in outdoor Cafes smoking cigars (at the risk of quick dismissal) reading subversive literature while sipping on the blood of Kings.
And here I thought it was mysterious women who like long walks on the beach, and read Rumi.
Posts: 1224 | Location: In your Humidorz... messin' with your smokes! | Registered: September 28, 2008
"Cuban seed tobaccos grown in Nicaragua and Cuba. The wrapper would be from Cuba. The binder leaves would be from Nicaragua. For the ligero tobacco in the filler, he would use two types, one from Esteli and the other from Jalapa in Nicaragua. The other filler components, seco and viso, would come from Cuba, the former from Villa Clara, the latter from Pinar del Rio. That Cigar, he says with pride, would score 100 points." -Don Pepin Garcia
I had my first Illusione tonight an mK. I thoroughly enjoyed this cigar. What a great stick! I will be buying more and I look forward to giving the cg and Robusto a try in the near future as well. Thanks, Dion. The mK was great and definitely lived up to the hype.
Well, I've had a bunch of Illusione now, and I love em! one of my top smokes. Only had an issue with one, and i think it was because my humidor tweaked. we had two 90 degree days sandwiched between 60 degree days...not good for the climate in there! Thanks for a great smoke Dion!
"Maybe it's like becoming one with the cigar. You lose yourself in it; everything fades away: your worries, your problems, your thoughts. They fade into the smoke, and the cigar and you are at peace." -Raul Julia
Posts: 189 | Location: Haverhill, MA | Registered: March 03, 2009
Agree. This is a fantastic cigar. I've had plenty and they're are just as good now as the first I had. The wrapper always gets me...it's a beautiful wrapper.
Smooth, bold cigar that has been very consistent for me.
Im sorry I was not that impressed. Yes I am coming down from a Ramon Allones Cuban high, but I have 8 of those in the box and keep going back to try and find the great cigar in them. So far no luck..
Formerly the owner of The Smokin Bean Cigar Cafe in Staten Island, New York
Posts: 193 | Location: MYRTLE BEACH, SC | Registered: March 24, 2009
I was fortunate over the weekend to smoke the new MJ12 and I have to say that it was a good smoke. I normally don't venture over 49 ring gauge, but this 6x54 monster packed a punch... was just what I needed to relax.
I want to smoke a few more before I give an end all be all verdict, but if you like Illusione nothing has changed... still great quality and just as much Nicaraguan greatness as ever.
