More Illusione for New Zealand. The Illusione importer Canteros informed us that he included the One Off and the Epernay Serie 2009 series to the list of cigars he’s offering to his clients.



Illusione



Illusione was founded in 2004. A longtime cigar aficionado and cigar shop employee Dion Giolito started the brand and sold it in and around Reno, Nevada. A few years later, he managed to distribute his cigars around the country and is now one of the faces of the boutique cigar brands.



OneOff

OneOff is an older brand, founded in 2001. The Italian cigar lover Andrea Molinari wanted to create a Cuban brand of his own but Habanos would not allow it. Then he turned to Nicaragua, to Plasencia and the One Off was born. After changing distributors a few times, the brand was owned by Cuban Crafters in Miami.

In 2017, Giolito bought the brand and relaunched it with a new blend. The cigars are now made in the TABSA factory with all Nicaraguan tobacco from Aganorsa. The cigar comes in eight sizes, but only the Canonazo (6⅛x52) and the Corona Gorda (5⅜x46) are available Down Under.



Epernay Serie 2009

The Epernay Serie 2009 is an Illusione classic. Named after the French wine region, this line has been a bestseller for the company for years. Made from Nicaraguan Criollo and Corojo binders and a Corojo Cafe Rosado wrapper, this line is smooth and complex. The Illusione Epernay Serie 2009 comes in eleven sizes. The 4½x44 Le Petit and 6×64 Le Grande are on the Canteros website.

Canteros

Canteros is the sole importer and retailer for non-Cuban cigars in New Zealand. The company imports Alec Bradley, Arturo Fuente, Drew Estate, Fratello, Oscar Valladares, Joya de Nicaragua, Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, Roma Craft Tobac, La Zona/Espinosa, A.J.Fernandez, CAO, Camacho, Davidoff, Curivar, Buenaventura, Berger & Argenti, J.C.Newman, Caldwell, Black Label Trading Co./Black Works Studio, Foundation Cigars, My Father Cigars, Tatuaje, Gurkha, Total Flame, Illusione, Kafie 1901 Cigars, El Viajante, Ohana, Padron, Oliva, Rocky Patel, Villiger and White Owl. And the company has a few new brands up its sleeve.

Besides cigars, the company is also the largest pipe-tobacco importer and retailer in New Zealand. They are also the sole distributor for Cigar Oasis, Craftsman Bench humidors, Xikar, Select Draw, and Boveda products.