Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo Café Rosado
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 6.75 x 56 Torpedo Box Pressed
Strength: Medium
Price: $14.00
My cigars have had 5 months of naked humidor time.
90% of the reviews I found were written over a dozen years ago just after the cigar hit the shelves. I thought it might be a good idea to hit refresh and possibly ignite new fervor and romance for a regular production cigar initially released in 2009.
BACKGROUND:
From Illusione Cigars:
“A blend of Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 and Corojo ’99 and finished with a AAA Grade Corojo Cafe Rosado wrapper. Mild bodied and very complex. A connoisseur’s cigar.”
Succinct. To the point…Nice.
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
Strong caramel, citrus, creamy, floral aroma. Delicioso.
This is one fully packed snausage. Too heavy to hang from my lips. I’m going to live out the rest of my life smoking this Gordo. And yes, it is a Gordo. 60 ring gauge is 15/16” diameter. This 56 ring gauge is 7/8” diameter. Close enough for jazz.
A little jammed up in the draw department. Will most probably loosen up.
Nope.
Still congested. Need my PerfecDraw to bail me out. Not from jail. Charlotte does that.
Creamy caramel notes waste no time.
Strength is mild.
My cigars needed nearly half a year of humi time. Smoking the sticks 2-3 months in, proved to be insufficient sleep. The reward is indeed a very sophisticated blend. Notes are very subtle. It is not required that you be a connoisseur. The required demand of this blend is notable patience with time spent…and the understanding not to rush it. If you are a puffer and a huffer, you won’t enjoy this cigar.
Strength reaches medium at 2” burned. 40 minutes.
Cinnamon is almost an afterthought. Nearly elusive. Refined and delicate. Very nice.
Citrus is light and effusive. A lovely, malted influence is lager-like.
Honey pops up. Coffee and hazelnut inference.
Sublime.
Speaking of sublime…if you like rockin’ blues, listen to the 2019 album “Reese Wynans and Friends – Sweet Release.” The number of important blues artists on board is impressive.
I watched “60 Minutes” last night. I like the man’s attitude: “If you got no haters, you ain’t popular” …Rich Paul (sports agent).
Char line is straight and erect. Like me, 30 years ago.
As I look back, I find that most people feel their best in their 40’s. Sassy and accomplished. You still remember your 20’s swagger and your 30’s eagerness.
Sort of applies to how I write. My early reviews were all shit. I still write like shit. Gotta keep chooglin’ no matter what.
A splendid richness dominates. Smooth as my discarded foreskin. At 8 days old, I gave all I got.
This is a forever cigar. No end in sight.
This baby puts more expensive cigar blends to shame.
Very Casdagli-like. Thoughtful and decisive. There are no interpretations at hand. It is what it is. You get it or you don’t.
At 3” burned, lemongrass sticks it. Thai food. Heavy cream. Chocolate nougat. Cinnamon buns. Malted milk balls. Cashews and hazelnuts. Light spiciness. Good.
All subtle. Nothing in my face.
If I were anymore relaxed, I’d be a puddle of goo goo dolls.
‘You mark that frame an eight, and you’re entering a world of pain.’
Strength hits a potent medium at 3-1/2” burned. Light switch moment.
Creamy galore. The progression of flavors is as subtle as Walter Sobchak.
“The chinaman is not the issue here, Dude. I’m talking about drawing a line in the sand, Dude. Across this line, you DO NOT… Also, Dude, “chinaman” is not the preferred nomenclature. Asian-American, please.”
Flavor notes pick up speed. Flying by. My palate is a blintz looking for its cream cheese.
The halfway point clocks in at 1-1/4 hours.
Fuck it. I’ve been woke my entire life. I’m done.
Bliss enters. What’s your name? Who’s your daddy?
There are $25+ cigars out there that can’t touch the hem of this blend. Strength goes by the wayside. It is all about the experience. It is my favorite Illusione now.
31 degrees outside. A portent of things to come. Slippin’ away on black ice.
‘That rug really tied the room together.’
The cap is remarkably un-sloppy. I can’t stand shooting the shit and the other smoker’s cigar looks like a colostomy bag drenched in spit. Snip the cap, motherfucker.
The Bonamassa concert we attended was a disaster. The sound guy must have been drunk. Everything was moosh. The bass was a deep drone. And the highs were ear piercing. Luckily, tickets were very expensive.
Superb construction throughout. I can manscape with the char line.
2-3/4” to go. A major sweet spot occurs for the first time. Knocks me on my ass.
‘I don’t roll on Shabbos! Shomer fucking shabbos.’
Notice. My Atlantic Cigar order of 601 La Bomba Warhead IX Figurados has shipped. Almost gone.
I’ve Got a Right to be Blue. Yes, I do.
Snip.
The only flavors missing are earth, wind, and leather.
The longer one smokes this cigar, its impression becomes indelible to the palate. While I am not one who generally smokes mild/medium blends, this cigar has turned my head. It has attained favorite Illusione status. But you need to quiet your brain when you engage this blend. Flavors are indirect at times. Flavors are perceived in scant glances.
‘He lives in North Hollywood on Radford, near the In-and-Out Burger… Those are good burgers, Walter. Shut the fuck up, Donny.’
2-1/2 hours.
Masterpiece of blending.
My sponsors carry the Epernay: Small Batch Cigar (10% off with promo code ‘katman), Luxury Cigar Club (15% off with promo code ‘katman’), Cigar Page (10% off with promo code ILLUSIONEKAT), and Atlantic Cigar.
RATING: 97
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
