Illusione Rex | Cigar Review

By Cigar Reviews by the Katman on February 14, 2014

Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo 98 & Criollo 99
Filler: Nicaraguan (Estelí & Jalapa)
Size: 4 x 44 “Petit Corona”
Body: Full
Price: $4.35 by the 5 pack

This will be a short review.
Thanks to Smoke Inn.

From Smoke Inn:
“Fans of the Illusione Rothchildes get ready, because this cigar might as well be considered the sequel to 2013’s ultra-popular Rothchildes release. The blend consists of a Mexican San Andrés wrapper and Nicaraguan filler, similar to that of the Illusione Rothchildes. The Illusione Rex comes in a short, 4×44 Petit Corona, making for the perfect “anytime smoke”. And being offered in 50-count boxes, this could easily be your next daily cigar.

“The Illusione Rex was originally released in a very small quantity, only being offered at Illusione’s FUMARE shop in Reno, NV. Now, we offer you the chance to try this exclusive release. Expect flavors of cinnamon, spice, earth, and floral characteristics, we hope you’ll enjoy.”

These cigars were released in August 2013. Eighty-six cabinets of 50 cigars were all that was released. As soon as SI released the news they had them, they disappeared. Maybe more on the way.

The cigar is named for one of Dion Giolito’s customers in Reno.

The PR says this cigar is very similar to the Illusione *R* Rothchildes blend. Both have a San Andres wrapper and Nicaraguan fillers and binders. Price point is about the same.

The wrapper drips with oil. The color is a very dark coffee bean. And it feels very toothy. Construction is beautiful. Tight seams. Only a few veins. A perfect double cap.

I clip the cap and find aromas of sweetness and very floral to the schnoz. A dried fruit component follows along with some spice.
Time to light up.

The cigar becomes a flavor bomb in about one minute. Flavors slam into my palate like a crash dummy into a semi.

Spiciness is first and foremost. The draw is excellent. There is a wonderful combo of sweet elements such as caramel, cinnamon, something fruity. I read someone’s review and they mentioned a banana note. I don’t taste that but the fruitiness is leaning that way. To me, it is something besides banana.

There is a strong bread flavored element. The strength moves to medium/full almost immediately.
The fruit is driving me bonzo.

Creaminess appears at the half inch line. It helps delineate the fruity flavor which is pineapple and mango. Exotic fruits. It is the tartness that final gave it away. The bread note is so strong that it was disguising that fruit note and might be why it tasted like banana to this other reviewer.

The cigar is very complex at the 1” mark. A richness from the tobacco flavor is full of character and depth. Flavors: Creaminess, spice, cinnamon, fruit, and caramel.

This little fire cracker packs a wallop.

The ash is hanging on like a champ. Waiting to fall into my lap or on the keyboard.

With each puff, the flavor intensity becomes stronger. The trifecta of creaminess, spice and caramel complement each other nicely. The cinnamon gives it some zing. The fruit gives it balance. This stick has an extremely long finish.

At the 1-1/2” mark, the flavors are dripping down my leg. (With apologies to Led Zep)

Yeah, it is a small stick but well worth the $4 price point and more. If this was another blender who shall go unnamed, it would have been an $11 stick. So we she could give a collective thanks to Mr. Giolito for doing the right thing.

Another flavor joins the party. It has to be mocha java. It is subtle and light. The strength hits full bodied now but without a sign of nicotine yet.

Man, I am digging this cigar. I have three left and I don’t know if I should smoke them or put them in Lucite and make a pen and pencil desk set out of them.

Clearly, Dion is some sort of mad genius. I love this whole line of cigars; including the La Grand Classe…which I’ve reviewed.
This is a very slow smoke. Thank you baby Jesus. And baby Moses too.

I’ve burned almost two inches. Time? 20 minutes.

The char line has been a dream. Not a single touch up required and the cap doesn’t let loose of a single piece of errant tobacco.

The flavor profile seems canonized now. Nothing new; just more intensity.

I’m always losing my cigar roach clips, or rods, if you will. I found one as I will need it to nub this cigar.

I’m exactly at the halfway mark. I measured. I remember when I was young and a bon vivant; I would measure other things as well before I went out on the third date. I always used a construction tape. And one time, the tape got loose from me doing damage to the thing I was measuring. She was ready. I was injured. But when you are young, a mere injury never stops you. Although, she did ask why I kept screaming. I told her it was passion, not a construction accident.

The stick is on cruise control. The complexity is now a part of the cigar as much as the leaves themselves.

At first, I thought that this diminutive size would not be enough to enjoy the cigar. As usual, I was wrong.

If you can find this cigar, buy as many as you can. That’s an order from your Uncle Katman.

Every sip of water just floods my palate with flavors. I puff. I swig. I puff. I swig. You get the picture.

This cigar is supposed to be very similar to the Rothchilde. But I wrote that review back in June of 2013. There are some similarities but this cigar stands on its own. In fact, I think this is a better cigar than the R.

With a little more than an inch to go, there is no sign of harshness or bitterness; so common to cigars this small at this stage. And no nicotine. Nice.

I insert the rod and cause some cracking of the wrapper. Figures.

The cigar finishes and I am sated. What a wonderful blend. My hat is off to Dion. Illusione doesn’t release a lot of new cigars every year but when they do, wow.

The nub is cool and without a bit of harshness. The cigar is blazing away at full bodied. And once more, no nicotine kick. Brava.
Go find some.