Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Corona
Size : 5.1 x 42
Wrapper : Nicaraguan Corojo
Filler : Nicaraguan
Binder : Nicaraguan
Hand-Made
Price : $7.80 each
More info about purchasing Illusione MK Ultra cigars...

The Raices Cubanas factory has made a quite a bit of noise the last few years with releases from the likes of Viaje and especially Illusione. Dion Giolito has carved out his own niche in the cigar world and keeps coming up with new hits. The Ultra MK supposedly is the first release of a new line of cigars within the Illusione mainline brand (his other brands being Epernay, Cuchillos Cubanos, Cruzado, and the former joint venture Nosotros). These particular cigars were recommended by buddy Abdul @ Habana House Cigars in Austin, TX (3601 South Congress, Suite-D200, (512)447-9449). Abdul has pretty similar tastes to my own, and these new sticks came in, and he immediately took me into the humidor to pick these up along with some of the new Cruzado Domenicos Extras. This being only my second review of Illusione cigars for Cigar Inspector, how did it fare?...

Read the full review of Illusione Ultra MK...

Illusione 88 Candela VS Viaje White Label Project Candela
Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Robusto
Size : 5 x 52 (Illusione), 5 x 50 (Viaje)
Wrapper : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : $8-9 each
Smoked 2 of each for review

Since two of the top brands in the industry (Illusione and Viaje) decided to come out with candela cigars, I found it only appropriate to match these up face to face to see how they compare. The two cigars are the Viaje White Label Project Candela and Illusione’s 88 Candela. What makes this match up even more interesting is that both cigars come out of the same factory. For a lot of people out there this may be a problem, especially for those loyal to their brands and they don’t like the fact that the factory allowed two candelas to leave its doors. Some even have gone as far as to say that Andre Farkas of Viaje is following (or copying) the lead of Dion Giolito. But the only question to myself, was which one of the cigars was better? So whose cigar is King of the Candela?

Read the full review of Raices Cubanas Candela War...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Robusto
Size : 5 x 50
Wrapper : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : USA
Hand-Made
Price : ~$8 each
More info about purchasing Illusione cigars...

The long-awaited Illusione Nosotros blend was released in 2009 in a joint venture between Jonathan Drew from Drew Estate and Dion Giolito from Illusione Cigars. These cigars are rolled in Drew Estate's factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. They come in eight vitolas with the Robusto been the subject of today’s review.

Read the full review of Illusione Nosotros...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Petit Corona
Size : 4 x 44
Ring : 44
Wrapper : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$5 each
More info about purchasing Illusione 68 cigars...

The Bombone is the smallest vitola in Dion Giolito’s Illusione line, but looks can be deceiving!

I decided to partake in this little treasure while laboring away at the rituals of fall. Wisconsin is seeing the last days of warmth, and with that comes leaves and yard-work. The day was relatively warm and sunny, with temperatures in the 50’s, but my hedge trimmer was even hotter! While raking and trimming I decided to find a smoke that would be quick and wouldn’t require too much attention. The Illusione 68 fit the bill. Here’s my take…

Read the full review of Illusione 68...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Lancero
Size : 7.5 x 40
Wrapper : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$7-9 per stick
More info about purchasing Illusione Holy Lance cigars...

The following review comes courtesy of Robert (Twitter), a cigar lover from Central Ohio. Enjoy!

In the same league as the Holy Grail and Shroud of Turin, the Holy Lance is considered a relic of Jesus Christ. Believed to be the spear that pierced Christ's side as he hung on the cross, according to legend, Constantine the Great (the first Christian Roman Emperor) carried the weapon in battle. Some believe that Hitler pilfered the Holy Lance and ordered it to be hidden in Antarctica, where it remained until being retrieved by European Nazis in the seventies.

Since it is impossible to track down the current whereabouts of the Holy Lance, we will just have to examine the Dion Giolito blended Illusione ~ hl ~ the more user friendly Holy Lance.

Read the full review of Illusione ~ hl ~ Holy Lance...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Toro
Size : 6 x 54
Wrapper : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$7-8 each
More info about purchasing Illusione MJ12 cigars...

The naming conventions used by Dion Giolito for Illusione normally revolve around significant times in his life or Jesus Christ… the latter of which I think is awesome! I was a little puzzled in determining the origination of the name mj12 because it’s not listed on the Illusione website, so I googled onward. Well.. the Majestic Twelve happen to be a committee of scientists, military leaders, and politicians whom were charged with the investigation of UFOs. Based on Dion’s other names I’m guessing this isn’t it, but this is what stogiereview.com lean toward because the shiny foil wrapper makes it look like a UFO; I tried linking it to Christ. The only thing I could come up with was the original 12 disciples of Jesus. This makes sense, because Dion considers the Illusione mj12 a classic connoisseurs cigar, and the 12 disciples were true connoisseurs of Christianity. Let me know if I’m right Dion!

Much like the 68 I smoked the other day, I decided to enjoy a cigar while toiling with leaves and branches. A word of warning: a power hedge trimmer can cut through an extension cord while your concentrating on the flavors of a smoke! Though this did give me the opportunity to retest my soldering skills. I was leaning towards LFD Double Ligero Chisel Head, but I had a light lunch and was working with power tools… bad idea. I still wanted something medium-full bodied to match the crispness of Autumn, so I decided on the Illusione mj12 ‘The Majestic 12′. It had been staring me in the face for several weeks, because I haven’t tried this vitola yet. Here’s my take…

Read the full review of Illusione MJ12...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Petit Corona
Size : 4 x 44
Ring : 44
Wrapper : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$5 each
More info about purchasing Illusione 68 cigars...

The 68 is a Nicaraguan puro made by Dion Giolito the founder of Illusione cigars. There seems to be some kind of reported conspiracy or mysteries regarding the reasons behind the names of the Illuisone cigars. There need not be any mystery. All the information is available right on the Illusione site, http://www.illusionecigars.com. In the case of the 68, it is the year Dion Giolito was born. I received this cigar as a gift. It is the only 68 I have smoked, and it’s the only Illusione I have ever smoked.

Read the full review of Illusione 68...

Origin : Honduras
Format : Perfecto
Size : 5 5/8 x 46
Wrapper : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua, Honduras
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$8 each
More info about purchasing Cruzado cigars...

In this review, Tim A.K.A. Handypilot draws a comparison between Cruzado and Illusione flavor profiles. Enjoy!

This stick is part of Cruzado series of smokes from Dion Giolito's Illusione brand. Similar to the Illusione, though a slightly lower price point, they incorporate blends of Criollo and Corojo. However, the Cruzado line is 2 parts Criollo and 1 part Corojo, as opposed to Illusione's 1 part Criollo and 2 parts Corojo. This stick was gifted to me from a fellow BOTL and was my first Cruzado. I was somewhat anxious to smoke the Marelas as I'm a big fan of Illusione. Here's my take...

Read the full review of Cruzado Marelas...