Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Torpedo
Size : 5 1/4 x 52
Wrapper : Nicaraguan
Filler : Nicaraguan
Binder : Nicaraguan
Hand-Made
Price : ~$8-9 each
The Illusione ~2~ looks feisty. Short and stubby but a deep brown that exudes power and as I turn it to peer down the foot, I see a dense weave of ligero throughout the bunch.
As I light it, I find myself a bit surprised. At first it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be as spicy as I thought and certainly not as spicy as the ~mk~ (which is a limited release with an extra oomph thrown in).
Maybe this is like the Bolivar Belicoso Fino from Cuba? The BBF is a thick torpedo that sub-delivers on purpose and gives you a nice mellow mild smoke.
As I smoke further I realize this is not going to be a BBF, but it will not be as strong as the little firecracker known as the ~mk~. This cigar actually has some sweetness, but there is also a mesquite meatiness to the flavor (maybe I should back away from the grill). But really, this is a sweet, meaty smoke, with just a touch of pepper and cedar.
The smoke is voluminous and the ash is very flaky which is typical of a lot of Nicaraguan tobacco. The burn is mostly even though it does partially canoe in a few places.
The really cool thing is that this cigar is so different from the ~mk~, which hopefully means this is the case throughout the whole line.
As I smoke thru the halfway point, the cigar gets even sweeter and woodier. I am enjoying this cigar referred to “and crowned of thorns” from the Illusione website.
The finish is nice and long and I pick up the standard licorice/anise notes at the end (this is pretty common as the cigar heats up, tar is produced which often gives off a licorice taste).
I like this quite a bit more than the ~mk~, as I prefer refined to power. Great cigar!
This post was initially published at Zen & The Art of the Cigar, a cigar reviews blog. Click here for more articles by Zen and more information.
