Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo 2006
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 5 x 52 Robusto
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $10.90
My sticks have had nearly two months of naked humidor time.
BACKGROUND:
Factory: Agricola Ganadera Norteña S.A.
Releases July 2022
Regular Production
From Atlantic Cigar:
“Illusione Allegria is the sister brand to the Illusione Oneoff line. The Illusione Allegria blend exhibits an abundance of true Nicaraguan tobacco essence with interesting notes of fennel, star of anise that comes from the Viso corojo 2006 used in the blend. The Illusione Allegria marks the first time Illusione cigars and owner Dion Giolito has incorporated this tobacco into one of their creations, showcasing Dion’s outstanding skill in blending to achieve interesting, unique and flavorful cigars. The cigars are made in Nicaragua using the finest of Aganorsa Leaf tobaccos in this full-bodied blend.”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
Peanut butter leads off as my muzzled beak finds aromas sent out via Maritime Signal Flags. Notes of chocolate, Nilla Wafers, sweet cream, cedar, malt, a generic nuttiness, and assorted dried fruits leave their tobacco crypt and find their way to my schnoz.
The cigar feels evenly filled and has a nice heft that gives me hope. We all need hope.
I have a new S.T. DuPont Ligne 2 lighter with a soft flame. It uses both butane and a flint for its functionality. But getting used to lighting my cigars with a soft flame is harder than I anticipated. I swear it feels like an I.Q. test. But since I’m smarter than the average bear, Boo Boo…I manage nicely. I’m kidding…still learning.
Nice opening bell. Complex notes of red and black pepper, creaminess, spicy cinnamon, dark chocolate, espresso, lots of malt, and cedar.
Extraordinarily rich start the surprises me. I smoked one stick 3 weeks after receipt, and I thought it was a dog.
A little bit of lying naked amongst the throngs in my humidor allowed the blend to spread its wings.
The cigar has significant strength from the get-go. Nearly medium/full.
Lemon-lime enters and reminds me of the back in the day soft drink, Bubble Up. The drink was created in 1919 and found its home in the 1960’s.
The cigar creates huge plumes of smoke. Ever been in a house fire? Twice. Scary. I’m ashamed to admit that the first things I ran out of the house with were my basses. I went back for people when I knew my basses were safe. Musicians are fucked up.
Indian fry bread pops up. That came out of nowhere. Living in Mesa, AZ during the entire 90’s, it was a regularly available food. Street vendors were the best source. Don’t know if it is merely a brain fart but I also see the spiciness become jalapeno.
Not a highly complex blend…but it is a very pleasant blend and I’m enjoying it. I discovered that 3 of my sponsors carry the blend in many sizes. All charging the same price point.
I’m getting some minor runs. Holding back from torching the shit out of the foot. The cigar self corrects without my interference. Good boy.
Is it me or have you noticed that removing the damn cigar band from all Illusione sticks is akin to Custer’s Last Stand? I invariably nick the wrapper as I thrash away with my fingernails.
The creaminess is bold. It carries the weight of luring flavors of extreme nuttiness, cinnamon, fry bread, Bubble Up, and cedar into the sunshine of my love.
Strength is just dying to hit medium/full but is held back by mystical forces that only the Cosmic Muffin and painter, Bob Ross can understand.
1-1/2” burned. 25 minutes.
The char line is behaving.
Sips of water give renewed life to the flavor profile. Rich notes are light sabers that control the direction of the cigar. (I don’t know what’s wrong with me either).
The first sweet spot is delivered to the public at 2” burned. A perfect balance of Sweet v. Savory has taken the helm. Flavors meld into an odd shaped parabola that works.
Nowadays, when structural project managers are called out to a jobsite because something is fucked up, they whip out their laptops and use sophisticated software to calculate advanced geometry and trigonometry. Sure, it is a time saver…but I miss the era when we used formulas and a pencil to do this. It was a puzzle that needed solving and that was fun for me. I know it sounds nuts, but I loved math when it was up to the individual to have the skills of memorizing the infinite number of formulas needed. It kept you sharp. Sigh. Just an old man waxing poetic.
OK. Got off track as usual.
The Allegria is a slow roll. I approve. Excellent construction.
The profile is very smooth and relaxing. Not a flavor bomb, nor will it ever get there. Just a solid blend that causes no stress.
I wish the price was lower. But one of my sponsors does get the cost down to around $7.50 each. It is a doable price point that allows me to consider making this a regular go-to stick.
While flavors dash and then hide as the cigar heads towards its doom, creaminess never fails to be the driving force.
Transitions are not a part of the equation, but it doesn’t affect me liking this cigar. The finish is wonderful with a laundry list of flavor notes that have parked themselves on my palate.
The cigar is anything but linear. It progresses nicely with a certain shyness that impresses me.
It is a quiet rainy Saturday morning. We’ve all been experiencing terrible heat, so the change is nice.
I’m listening to the best of Paul Simon and the mellow sound goes well with the Allegria.
Strength finally nails medium/full at the halfway point. 45 minutes.
The Allegria is a great morning cigar with your coffee. Mellow Yellow.
I reviewed the Henk Maori Ediciõn Limitada 2020 yesterday. Luxury Cigar Club is the only authorized seller of these cigars in the U.S. It was a masterpiece. They still have 4 sizes for sale…and they are extremely limited. Check out my review.
Complexity has reached an intense level now. Sparkling flavor points find my palate doing the Hokey Pokey.
Creaminess, citrus, cinnamon, fry bread, mild black pepper, espresso, cedar, malt, peanuts, and dark chocolate. Very nice.
The first half was merely a prelude to a rich blend full of diversity and depth.
I’m not sure if the cigar was designed this way or more humidor time will start the blender’s intent earlier. I have a few more sticks sleeping, and I will allow them to remain in their coma for several more months and decide.
The cigar is a regular production stick. Makes me happy. So many limited releases these days that it feels like a horse race and if you don’t act quickly, you are left in the dust.
Strength never exceeds medium/full.
I love the smoothness of the blend.
Final smoke time is 90 minutes.
You can seek these cigars out from sponsors Luxury Cigar Club (15% off with promo code ‘katman), Cigar Page (no promo code), and Atlantic Cigar (no promo code).
RATING: 92
Discover more from Cigar Reviews by the Katman
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
