Illusione ~mk~

ILLUSIONE ~MK~
5 1/8 x 42

Not part of the original "Original Document" line from Illusione, the ~MK~ is a petite corona, blended with Corojo '99, Criollo '98, and the Cafe Colorado wrapper used on all of Dion's Illusione cigars. Despite being one of the smaller sizes in the line, it is billed as being among the strongest of the line. The brand's website specifically mentions the sweetness brought on by the high quality Viso used in the blend.

This particular ~mk~ has an oily, chocolate brown wrapper, with just a touch of red to it. It has a fairly heavy vein structure, more than I expected from this brand. Still an attractive wrapper though. The filler looks and feels great, and well packed. The whole stick has just the right amount of give to it. The aroma from the wrapper is just a gentle tobacco, and a somewhat musty note to it. The foot, however, offers a potent mix of dusty chocolate, the same musty tobacco from the wrapper, and leather. The cold draw is free, and tastes of chocolate, leather, and a slight earthy vegetal note. It also offers just a tingle of spice across the tongue.

Lit at 1:45pm.

The immediate flavor profile is sweet and savory all at once, combining sweet cocoa, that really lingers, with a spicy pepper and leather on the finish. There is a strong floral character, as well as a touch of dark fruit as well. Here's hoping this level of complexity this early is a sign of great things to follow.

The ash on this cigar is a brilliant, bright white, and is somewhat flakey. This is something I have noticed with the O.D. Illusione cigars previously, in several vitolas, so you have to be careful. The ash falls for the first time, for example, and a little less than 3/4 of an inch... in my lap. D'oh! There also appears to be just a touch of tunneling going on in one spot, so I will have to keep an eye on that. The flavor profile a little way into the first third here has gotten a bit heavier. At its core it features now a thick, oily leather, with just a nuance of that dusty sweet cocoa, and floral, dark fruit. The peppery finish has come down a touch, and is now a lingering, smooth flavor and sensation that sits in the back of the throat. The burn line is not razor sharp by any means, but keeps fine pace with itself, catching up within a few draws, before going weird again... and then catching up just fine.

Just a hair past the halfway point the Black Cherry flavor that people talk about with Illusione has just, all of the sudden, become very apparent. It isn't even just a subtle touch of Black Cherry. It is a heavy, sweet, dense flavor, that is strangely awesome with the leather that remains the core. The peppery finish has all but diminished completely. I have had to be careful, as I find myself almost smoking too slowly. For some reason this cigar is burning like a smaller ring gauge than it is, requiring a bit more attention to keep it going properly. Just something to keep in mind.

With about an inch and a half left, the flavor profile shifts yet again, with a sweet, earthy dark chocolate taking the forefront, and the spicy finish once again returning, much the same as it was in the beginning. Burn line has been pretty straight for a few inches now. Smoke production throughout the entire cigar has been great. Tons of thick, white smoke.

Ended at 3:00 pm for a total smoke time of one hour fifteen minutes. Great length of time for this size, and boy does it deliver on the flavor front. This level of complexity is just very satisfying, and is one example of what makes smoking cigars such an enjoyable experience for me, personally. I see this cigar taking its place as one I will revisit often (box worthy for sure). Performs wonderfully as well. Despite a weird burn line at times, and a tendency to want to go out if not given enough attention, it never was problematic at all. Highly recommended.

Cruzado Avalitos

CRUZADO AVALITOS
4x46 'Petite Robusto'

This small robusto (petite corona gorda?) is my first experience with this line from Illusione mastermind, Dion Giolito. The Cruzado line makes use of seco filler rather than ligero, for a full flavored, but lighter bodied experience than the Illusione line. Cruzado uses primarily Criollo '98 seed, with one part Corojo 2006, according to the brand website. The Cruzado is available in six sizes, ranging from this petite robusto to a 7x47 Churchill (called Marios). The entire line features flagged triple caps, for a certainly special look. The band is gold and silver, without being overly flashy. It actually has a somewhat gothic appearance to it, which fits with the Cruzado name, and artwork. The wrapper on this particular example is a slightly reddish brown, like wet, muddy clay. It has a dry, matte look to it (though it is certainly not underhumidified). The filler appears well bunched, and the overall construction, including the seams, appears tight, and professional. The aroma from the foot is mild, not offering much other than a medium, wet tobacco aroma, maybe a little sweetness. Removal of the cap allows for a free draw, offering a bold pre-light profile of pungent burning cedar and a leather character, oily and rich.

Lit at 10:15 pm

First impression is of a heavy spice character, with a woody core flavor. Not overly complex. I have a feeling, based on the way this blend is billed, that this spice will diminish rather quickly. Within a few draws, just as I suspect, the spice tones itself down pretty significantly. There is a flavor that I cannot quite describe perfectly, but I am leaning towards licorice right now. Very interesting. Still a woody profile overall. Maybe raisin, but not that sweet cinnamon raisin pastry profile that I get from certain Dominican cigars... Incidentally, we are getting hit with freezing rain right now, so this small format is perfect for a smoke tonight. By the time I finish smoking it, I figure I will just be starting to get too cold to continue hanging out outside.

Cigar is starting to run on one side a little bit, getting down to the end of the first third (on one side, only about 1/3 of the first third burned on the other side.) Not sure of the cause here, but unless if doesn't catch up, I'm not overly worried given the somewhat funny size of the cigar. Flavor profile is as follows at this point: Slight spice on the draw, with a tangy cedar flavor, tasting like the aroma of burnt cedar spills, followed by a big oily leather flavor that coats the palate, and remains present through the smooth, slightly peppery finish. It is a toasty, medium bodied and flavored cigar. Not overly complex on the palate, but certainly is rich, and satisfying. In a small format, I like this sort of profile. Good, solid, well defined flavors, that deliver with very little subtlety, and maintain their vigor throughout. A small cigar like this doesn't really have time to be overly complex, and this cigar is a perfect example so far, of what a small cigar should do.

Just past the halfway point and things are taking a heavier turn on the palate, earthy coffee notes, slightly bitter and even musty are moving in, along with the oily leather. The strength is basically non-existent in this cigar, but flavor, and overall feel is heavier than it started. The burn has been great aside from the slight canoe in the first third, which corrected itself within probably 10-15 minutes. The smoke production on this cigar has been phenomenal, big clouds of white smoke, which is a sign of good construction and combustion in my mind.

Ended at 11:35 for a total smoke time of one hour twenty minutes. Probably could have gotten another 5 or 10 minutes from it, but left my nubber at home. This is a killer flavor bomb of a little cigar. Because of the lack of nicotine strength in this cigar, it would make one hell of a morning coffee smoke, but really I could see it being enjoyable any time, due to the richness.