I couldn't help topping this after smoking my first Illusione. I was enabled to do so by CrazyPoet's generosity whose PIF included a 4/2g. Since he packaged and humidified it so well I didn't wait my usual 2 weeks for recovering the stogies in my humi from the "jetlag" and I reached for this beauty today. Just awesome! Slight burning issues never got in the way of my enjoyment of full flavors, including spice, earthy and herbal tones, some leather, with finish and aftertaste bringing cocoa-like and nutty hints. Excellent cigar. No wonder one of the series scored high in CA top 10. Not saying the greatest cigar I ever smoked, but I think it's great to the extent that when I travel to US, I'll make sure to bring back some Illusones.

Tons of thanks, CP!

Thanks for the feedback - it's always good to see how these compare against CCs in areas where Habanos are the norm.

quote:

Originally posted by CrazyPoet:
Thanks for the feedback - it's always good to see how these compare against CCs in areas where Habanos are the norm.

Well, there are plenty of NCs here, but I've never seen in B&Ms any Illusiones, Ashtons, Opus X, and most of the others that you sent to me. And although CCs (again, we've got lots of CCs, but even more are not available) are generally my preference, I do like variety and smoke NCs very often.
With all that Illusione scored very high in my book! Thanks CP for introducing me to something new and tasty!

I smoked an 88 the other night, which I believe also came from CP. WOW, what a cigar, it definetly stacked up with the better Cubans I've smoked. Tons of coffee and sweet tobacco taste. I only wish it hadn't been so cold here when I smoked it. I can only imagine what this cigar would be like while sitting on the deck in the summer sipping mojitos.

I just finished a cg4. The one I've enjoyed the most so far is the smallest one, the 68. I didn't enjoy the f9 or the cg4 that much.

Not a bad cigar, just too much herbal flavor for me. I keep thinking about my Padrons while smoking it. They have a very distinct flavor as the Padrons have a very distinct flavor. I love the flavor of the Padrons... The Illusiones, not so much.

I still have the 88, 888, 2 and m7 to go through. I'm hoping the thicker 88 allows me to taste the other flavors everyone's raving about.

quote:

Originally posted by cigdogg:
Dion i finally got a box of 68 from Mark at Tower.Congrats on the f9 being CA CIGAR OF THE WEEK.All of your cigars are great Keep up the good work.

I have smoked 3 cigars from this box (Oct 15 2007)..The first one when i bought the box and the first 2 inches bout blew my head off then settled down a wee little bit..

The last one i smoked bout 2 weeks ago..still very bold at first but what came after was pretty damn nice...it will be nice to see what these are like on Oct 15 2008(their b-day) and beyond..

I bought a box a couple weeks ago of the #2, and have smoked 3 so far. These are fantastic. I love the 68's, but my local is out of them. They said maybe a week or two they will get more in. The 68 blows me away....

Ecord I ordered a sample pack of the Illusione a while back. They are well constructed, medium to full bodied cigar. I felt they were a bit one dimensional and found them lacking complexity. Not a bad cigar by any means, but certainly not a fav!
http://www.newhavanacigars.com/Illusione_Cigars_at_NewH...aCigars_com_s/29.htm

I ordered a box of the the 88's, they're delicious. I think they would benefit a few months or so in the humi. On a side note, I recently met Pete Johnson creator of tatuaje at a Tatuaje event at Gloucester St. cigars in Boston... extremely personable and very informed guy. Learned a bundle from talking to him, drinking some Basil Hayden and smoking his Cazadores... terrific time.

I'm really surprised that more haven't tried them. Must be a distribution thing. Beautiful cigars!!! Each with its own distinct characteristics. Have been smoking them from three different Minneapolis/St. Paul shops for months now. 68 is a beautiful powerful little cigar with coffee bean notes. Great morning cigar to get me going. 4/2g is a masterpiece 2 1/2 hour smoke. Has some tobacco sweetness to it. 88 is a cocoa powered robusto. 1 is an awesome "A" size very soft on my palate. Possible tea and floral notes. Try 'em now, let them age. Beautiful, Awesome!!! Thank you Dion!!!

One of my local B&Ms carries the entire lne, and I've tried just about all of them.

The 888, the 2 and the f9 are welcome regular favorites in my humi.

MB

I get my Illusiones from a local B&M and have bought 2 boxes of 68's already. However, I had an f9 this weekend that was disappointing. It tasted fine but it had some really bad burn issues. I had to re-light the thing about 6 times. It had been in my humidor for 2 months. Everthing else that I keep in that humidor is ready to smoke. I keep my Tat's, DPG's and Illusiones in it. I guess I'll give them another chance.

Sorry about the issue with the f9 GoSmokeOne. I'm staing on top of the factory - BELIEVE ME, it's a struggle up hill every day. Cigar making still isn't an exact science by any means but, it's getting closer.

Take care,

Dion

Dion,
Thanks for your reply. The f9 is the only one I've had a problem with. I took some 4/2g's to Jamaica with me as beach smokes and they were awesome. They burned for about 2 hours. I defintely will retry the f9. It's nice to see a cigar company owner that responds to forum complaints. Keep up the great work!

While traveling to Boise for a job interview I visited Sturmans in downtown Boise. This little shop has the complete line. I bought one of each to try. Can't wait to get them home. I brought my travel humi, planning on finding some good cigars there. I will keep you posted on the quality of them.

I've only tried the cg4, but would gladly have this as a regular in my humi...

So far I have had the 88 and the 2. The 88 was a peppery powerhouse which I LOVED! The 2 was totally different, with a straight up full tobacco flavor. Have a 888 and a cg/4 to try yet. Can't wait. I will buy a box based on my trials, So far I am leaning towards the 88. Great cigar Dion. Keep it up!!

Thanks SmokinAviator.

Last night I smoked my first 888. Once it got warmed up it was full of sweet tobacco notes with a little bit of cedar on the finish. The last third of the cigar was the best, when it actually developed a flavor reminiscent of maple syrup. Overall, the draw was perfect, it had lots of smoke, and it was very enjoyable. Another winner Dion.

I had a Illusione 2 at lunch today. Out of the 4-5 different Illusiones I've sampled, this was by far my favorite (68 coming in second - and I normally hate little tiny cigars)

It still had that floral/herbal flavor I've found in all, but much more going on in this one. I was outside in the smoking area alone. Just about every person that came out that exit commented on how good the cigar smelled, even the non-smokers.

I still have the M7. That looks interesting.