Domenicos, 5.625” x 46 ring gauge, $9.25
Dion Giolito founded Illusione Cigars in 2007 and wasted no time in expanding his line of offerings. The Cruzado line was added in 2008 and is intended as a medium-bodied smoke that is still full on flavor. It is a Nicaraguan puro that uses both Criollo 98 and Corojo 2006 leaves in the blend. They are proudly shipped without cellophane to “promote box aging” but this proves to be more of a problem from my perspective as the wrapper of the one I smoked for this review was already cracked at the foot before I took it out of my humidor. Did it happen at the store? On the way home? Later on in my box? I don’t know--I frankly don’t care--it would have been far less likely to happen if there were a cello wrapper. If someone wants badly to “box-age” their cigars, they can more easily take the cello off than I can add cello to protect my investment.
Dion Giolito founded Illusione Cigars in 2007 and wasted no time in expanding his line of offerings. The Cruzado line was added in 2008 and is intended as a medium-bodied smoke that is still full on flavor. It is a Nicaraguan puro that uses both Criollo 98 and Corojo 2006 leaves in the blend. They are proudly shipped without cellophane to “promote box aging” but this proves to be more of a problem from my perspective as the wrapper of the one I smoked for this review was already cracked at the foot before I took it out of my humidor. Did it happen at the store? On the way home? Later on in my box? I don’t know--I frankly don’t care--it would have been far less likely to happen if there were a cello wrapper. If someone wants badly to “box-age” their cigars, they can more easily take the cello off than I can add cello to protect my investment.
The other problem with having no cellophane is the lack of aromas from the wrapper. This wrapped smelled faintly of musty leather and barnyard; there was little aroma from the foot, either. The appearance was rather rustic with a couple large veins. There was quite a bit of oil, too. After clipping, the prelight draw was excellent and there were flavors of light-roast coffee and cocoa powder, as well as some grassy/hay-like notes.
Initial light-up revealed a very flavorful cigar--mostly coffee (black, but mild), leather (again, mild), and hay notes, but it was in combination that was really unique and fairly fantastic. If the rest of the stick is as good as this, I might have a new favorite from the Illusione company. The rest of the first third continued to feature coffee and leather flavors, with the occasional hit of cocoa or hay. Toward the end of the third, some black pepper was noticeable as well, spicing up this decidedly medium-bodied stick.
The spicy pepper did increase through the second third, but the predominant flavor was leather. There was also an unusual citrus tang. Coffee flavors were there still, too, but underneath everything else. The burn line had been quite wavy and jagged, but even nonetheless. The draw had constricted a bit but I was able to successfully trim the first cut line with my Xikar multitool to open it up a bit again.
The Cruzado ended with as much flavor and complexity as it started--plenty of spice and leather, along with a smokey coffee flavor, with roasted nuts and cocoa powder underneath. The construction was very good all the way, with no major problems. Advertised as a medium-bodied cigar, it did start out that way, but it ended up reaching the medium-to-full range by the end. The crack at the foot burned as evenly as everything else, and the draw issue was easily remedied by opening a larger hole to draw through. I was very pleased with the flavor and look forward to trying other vitolas, although I do with the price was just a little less.
Body: 7/10
Strength: 7/10
Complexity: 9/10
AFP Scale
Prelight: 1.5/2
Prelight: 1.5/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
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