Illusione mj12:Toro:Natural?

Its been a while since I've done a review here, just been slightly busy with life and everything. So when I got the time to relax I traveled to my local B&M. Went inside the walk-in humidor and searched and what do I see? A big tin foil cigar. I later found out it was a Illusione. I never had a Illusione nor did I hear about them, so I came in with no bias. So will this smoke create a more favorable bias towards Illusione or will this be just another pretty on the outside, ugly on the inside case? Let's find out.

SPECS-
Size-Toro 6x54
Wrapper-Nicaragua
Binder-Nicaragua
Filler-Nicaragua
Cost-$9.00
Smoke Time-50 mins.
Cut-Punch,Guillotine
Drink-Starbucks Mocha Iced Coffee

FIRST IMPRESSIONS-This stick is sure to stand out in any humidor. The bright silver in a world of dark is quite something,it's safe to say this cigar needs no marketing. Once the silver is out to much mystery a matte brown stick is presented. The wrapper is pretty, the small veins throughout gives the stick a slick look. The very fragrant wrapper gave a slightly taste of leather to the lips but that cold taste and draw was good, it was like corn flakes. The stick looks neatly constructed and packed just right with no lumps. I guess this cigar is just as pretty on the inside as it is on the out.

FIRST THIRD-There isn't much flavors on the first puffs but the smoke does coat your mouth quite nicely. One of the first flavors that you recognize is a fine mocha with an undertone of herbal tea. Its very savory and with a mouthful of smoke it feels like your mouth is filled with tea. A good intro,only thing that's taking away from it though is the burn line. The line gets very wavy and slowly it canoes, it takes many touch-ups to get the stick burning the right way.

SECOND THIRD-Now this third is interesting. The main flavor can't be described by normal means. Only way to describe the flavor is if I describe it as a color. The color Grey. Its not a dark flavor as you experience in a Xikar HC, but its not a light Flavor you get in a AVO. It's in the middle and only way to describe is by a good taste of grey. Its slightly herbal, slightly mocha nutty and all parts good. Along with this greyness is an undertone of leather and cedar, its a very relaxing third, but again the burn line takes you from fully enjoying the flavors.

LAST THIRD-The greyness settles down some at this point but its still slightly present. The grey flavor is very creamy and coats everything in your mouth,its a super smooth smoke. At the last bit the cigar displays a tastes of sweet coffee and a subtle hint of coconut. This thing is packed with flavors if you digg and the spice was never strong it was just in the foreground. Sadly though the smoke was still wavy,

LAST IMPRESSIONS-This Illusione impressed me. I never thought I'd describe a flavor by a color. But at $9 bucks its just slightly expencive. This would be a great stick at the $6.50-$7.75 range. Its a weird price range, right in the middle. It reflects the smoke justly, this cigar is in the middle. Its not a bad smoke nor a spectacular one. Its not a mild smoke, nor a harsh overpowering stick. Again this cigar is grey, but whoever said grey is a bad thing?

RATING-88
Buy It Again?Yup, the stick I reviewed was my 3rd one and I bought another 1 already
Recommended? It does it's flavors good, so yes. Just wish it was slightly cheaper

Padron 1926:Robusto:Natural

So with all cigar blogs, if One has the Padron 1964, one must have the 26'. The 26 is usually mostly preferred of the 2. I can't agree with this statement. In my opinion The 64' is slightly better than its $20 counter-part.



SPECS-
Size: Robusto 5 x 50
Wrapper:Nicaraguan
Binder:Nicaraguan
Filler:Nicaraguan

Smoke Time: 50 mins
Drink: Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
Price:$18.80
Cut:Punch/Guillotine



FIRST IMPRESSIONS-Padron's rollsmenship is always consistent. They always make the best sticks. Nicely packed, robust for their size, smooth to the touch with tiny veins. And a stiffness that can only be challenged by a lead pipe, this 26's is no exception. The wrapper was a touch spicy with a sweet straw aroma. The foot smelt of slight earth intertwined with the wrappers scent. The draw was spectacular. This will be a long ash cigar, no doubt.

FIRST THIRD-The first inch of this cigar is powerful. I will even go out to say this stick is stronger than the Opus X,to me anyways. The first initial spice is good though, its very similar to Andy Capp's Hot Fries. This spice makes you pay attention to the cigar. But once that spice subdues some, you get introduced to sweet mocha notes that remain nicely on the palate.

SECOND THIRD-My favorite part. The mocha us joined with a different chocolate taste, one of slightly bitter chocolate which is a pleasure, this flavored is easily contrasted by the slight nuttiness that is being introduced. The nut flavor is nice and crisp, almost like almonds. The spice is still a reminder of how full flavored this smoke is. but its delightful and smooth on that palate.

LAST THIRD- The ash is holding on just amazingly. This is a long ash cigar through and through. The spice starts to pick up a little more here bring along more of a leather overtone as the tar builds up sum, but it doesn't effect at all the burnline or the pleasure of the smoke. The rum is complementing this cigar quite well. It brings small hints of vanilla wafer to a cigar, a taste I did not expiriece when I smoke this cigar by itself. Along with the spice the vanilla is adjoined with cedar and anise, giving the smoke a nice crisp taste. As the burn gets down to the band the cigar is loosing its steam. It's flavor slowly starting to descend to more of a natural tobacco taste. I soon let go of the cigar,it was good while it lasted.

FINAL IMPRESSIONS- This is a good cigar, but not an outstanding smoke. For the $18 dollars asked you can get much finner smokes that give more pleasure like its sibling the 64' usually a whole $8 dollars cheaper. There's a trend with super-premium cigars being spawned from their high range counterparts. For example the Ashton VSG vs. the ESG. But that's another 2 reviews.

Rating-87
Buy It Again? Yes, but not anytime soon
Recommended? Yes, but not this ring gauge, there's smaller and cheaper sizes of the 26's that offer a similar taste for $8-$3 cheaper.

Bands, Bands, And More Bands. A Time Machine.

A common trend with cigar smokers is to keep the cigar bands of the sticks they have smoked and liked. Some are avid collectors that search the web for one of bands of sticks that never made it. There are also less fanatic collectors, the ones that hold on to pretty bands, or bands that have a special meaning behind them, or just have them laying around just because. I think I fall in to that latter description. But the big question is whats the best way to present your beauties? I've seen everything from catalogs to a full coffee glass table inlaid with the stuff. I don't have quite enough yet to fill up a coffee table, but here's what I did:

A CD jewl case is the easiest way to display all of your bands attractively. Just pop the back jewel that hold the CD the Track listings and line up you bands and then BAM! Next time you pull out you your Fav CD and look at the back there they are, all your conquers and defeats. Then there you are, looking, and you're just reminiscing your favorite stick behind that plastic envelope. Its like a small time machine. When I look at my La Aurora 100 Anos Band I remember the trip I took this summer to Boston. Breaking bread with my cousins, just hanging out smoking cigars and laughing and bringing up old memories. I remember taking the Boston T, the adventure in itself to just get the cigar, nevermind the smoke. A single cigar band can bring you back in time. With most of these sticks I can picture the day or night, the reason why I decided to pick it up. They reminded me of great evenings, the laughter shared and missed. There's something truly magical about that, these simple bands tell a story. But when ever I do end up having enough to fill up a coffee table, I hope I remember every single evening,every single stick with such fondness as when I look at my simple CD jewel cases.