Illusione – IPCPR 2016

Arguably the two coolest booths at IPCPR 2016 were Caldwell and Illusione, with the latter taking the top spot for most members of the Cigar Dojo crew. The booth was basically its own entity, moving away from the shared feel with Casa Fernandez from 2015.

No longer did Illusione “play it cool” (one year there were literally no cigars on display), now demanding your attention with a loud and colorful, hypnotic display. It had the brand’s usual illuminati vibe, shown with new, ’50s-style comic book artwork – a clear improvement (and noticeably busier) from past turn outs.

Illusione embodied the overall feel from the show, basically pulling out all the stops and expanding on any remotely popular cigar they have in their arsenal. No more limited editions – fan-favorites like Singulare and ~eccj~ are now regular production. They may not be mass-produced, but, like most Illusione products, they’ll be made on a continuous, small batch basis.

Cígares Prívé

Originally, this series was made to accommodate shop exclusives such as Smoke Inn’s Pactum or Stogies World Class Cigars’ H-Town. As you’d expect, it’s now regular production. The previously mentioned two cigars showcased two different blends: one wrapped in Corojo, the other in Mexican San Andrés maduro – these are the blends for the now-regular-release cigars.

Corojo

Maduro

Originally, these boxes were 15-ct for the shop exclusives – they will now be offered in 25-ct boxes. Both blends feature the same sizes/prices, although it appears the Maduro blends are box-pressed and the Corojo is not.

Frontmarks

Cruzado

The Cruzado brand was released in 2008 and is now being revamped. The cigars have a similar, yet modernized look, slimming the bands down to match other Illusione cigars. Sizes have also been slimmed down (to 4 vitolas) and the blend has even been altered.

Frontmarks

~eccj~

There is a god! The ~eccj~ blend is hailed as one of Illusione’s all-time best (and one of our top rated cigars) and it’s now in regular production. This blend was also introduced in 2008 as the ~eccj~ 15th, commemorating European Cigar Cult Journal’s 15th anniversary. The blend would become the basis for Illusione’s Epernay lineup and in 2015 was released in another limited run with a new size, this time celebrating the European Cigar Cult Journal’s 20th anniversary (yeah yeah, weird math, just go with it). The cigars use prized tobaccos from the famed AGANORSA farms (à la Casa Fernandez).

Frontmarks

Garagiste

This is one of the entirely new lines from Illusione. Garagiste again uses AGANORSA leaf, this time showcasing Viso Corojo and Criollo and finished with and Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.

Frontmarks

Haut 10

The other totally new blend at Illusione’s booth. Haut 10 is the Illusione 10th anniversary cigar and uses a Nicaraguan puro blend. The cigar’s tobaccos are said to be triple sorted to utilize only the highest grade leaf.

SEE ALSO: Illusione Haut 10 Cigar Review & Rating

Rothchildes/Gigantes Connecticut

Everyone’s favorite rothschild has gone to the light side… Illusione *R* Rothchildes and its larger sibling, Illusione *G* Gigantes will now come in Connecticut shade versions. Strangely, both cigars featured the red band found on the original Rothchildes cigar. When we asked if perhaps both maduro versions would take on the Gigantes’ puple band, Dion intimated that they would stay the same… so it looks like 3 red bands and 1 purple – interesting.

The sizes and prices are on par with the original blends, considering the recent price increase across the Illusione line.

Frontmarks

Singularé

Singularé is usually regarded as the most premium experience from the brand (with mixed results). Most years (since its launch in 2010), Illusione introduces the cigar in completely new sizes and blends, having varying production numbers due to the limited availability of the given year’s tobacco chosen for the blend. The 2011 and 2012 editions were both released in 2012 due to tobacco constraints and also signified the brand’s departure from Raíces Cubanas in Honduras to the TABSA factory (Nicaragua) used today.

Apparently enough tobacco has become available to bring the line regular production (most likely in small batches, as the tobacco becomes available). There will be 4 sizes offered, featuring the original 2010 edition, 2014, 2015, and 2016’s Kadosh.

Frontmarks

Other

Line extensions coming to Fume D’Amour (introduced at 2014 IPCPR) and Ultra (introduced at 2011 IPCPR).

Fume D’Amour gets its 6th vitola, dubbed “Concepciones” –  a 5⅝ x 46 Corona Gorda ($9.05).

Ultra (billed as the strongest Illusione at its launch, later receiving #6 Cigar of the Year in 2015 with Cigar Aficionado) will receive two sizes: OP No. 3 is a 4¼ x 50 Short Robusto and OP No. 8 a 6¾ x 48 Churchill. Pricing will be $8 and $13 respectively.

Both new sizes are now shipping.

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