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Illusione Cigars

Hecho en Nicaragua Featured: Churchill Ring Gauge: 48 Length: 6 3/4”


Nothing can stop a great cigar. Through social unrest, political upheaval and natural calamities Nicaraguan tobacco has proven its durability. From the moment Castro’s forces swept through Havana and Cuban tobacco seeds were transplanted to Nicaruaga’s Jalapa valley a smoker’s revolution took root. The two decades prior to the rise of the Sandanistas in 1979 can be seen as the original glory days of Nicaraguan cigar lore. Throughout the world robust, unspoiled tobacco came to characterize the verdant plantations on the border of Nicaragua and Honduras. This legacy was nearly lost from 1979 to 1990 due to political unrest. However, due to the visionary thinking of creator Dion Giolito and master grower Arsenio Ramos, Illusione Cigars have emerged from Nicaragua’s torrid history to become one the world’s finest brands.

Giolito knows what it takes to cultivate an award-winning tobacco. His line is recognized for its full-bodied and earthy notes – caramel, chocolate and pepper just to name a few. Illusione is a genuine smoker’s delight produced by a boutique manufacturer with an obsessive attention to detail. Given the amount of labor that goes into each one and the birth pains that mar its past, it’s remarkable that Illusione hasn’t received more adulation. Sure, Cigar Aficionado named its “CG4” one of last year’s 10 finest stogies and many a supplier has a difficult time keeping them in stock. However, Illusione has yet to receive the sort of critical praise that separates Kenny G from John Coltrane.

As stated, the “CG4” has gained the most attention, but the dazzling assortment of flavors, hues and textures offered by Illusione will keep us smoking for centuries to come. For example, Illusione’s “2” gives smokers a rare organic flavor that distinguishes it from the others in this line. This cigar is the perfect merger of ripening fruit and an earthy wine. Simply put, this smoke has legs.

The MK is a cigar for those connoisseurs who can’t get enough. The charisma of this cigar derives from a mixture of cinnamon and leather that will keep you drawing until the 18th hole.
We all know sometimes a cigar satiates the palate, but leaves the olfactory lacking. Illusione’s “HL” appeals to all of the senses. From its scent to its grip, this cigar is a mild-mannered masterpiece. Its rich floral notes stand in contrast to its Dirty Harry proportions. It is the embodiment of petal-to-the-metal flavor.

Regardless of the Illusione Cigar you choose, remember that you’re having more than just a smoke. You’re holding aloft a torch that allowed Nicaragua to emerge from the darkest of valleys with the finest of tobacco.

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