Cigar Geeks - Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary D’Aosta Toro

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary D’Aosta Toro
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Neal (ntanner)

90
Cigar Geeks Rating

A new, regular-production size that commemorates the Illusione brand's 10 years on the market. It's also the 12th cigar in Epernay's portfolio. Epernay is named after the Champagne-producing town in France whose effervescent wine inspired the sweet and floral character of the cigar. Lighter in body than the core Illusione brand, Epernays contain no strong, ligero tobacco, as brand-owner Dion Giolito wanted to emphasize balance and finesse over power and richness. Unlike the rest of the Epernay series which all have French names, D'Aosta is Italian, referring to the mountainous region of Northern Italy where Giolito's family is originally from.

Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary D’Aosta Toro

Brand:: Illusione
Name:: Epernay 10th Anniversary D’Aosta Toro
Length:: 6
Ring Gauge:: 50
Country of Origin:: Honduras
Filler:: Nicaragua
Binder:: Nicaragua
Wrapper:: Corojo
Nicaragua
Color:: Colorado
Strength:: Mild-Medium
Shape:: Toro
Notes:: https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/anniversary-epernay-shipping-soon?

This cigar was enjoyed with coffee

Pre-Light: 9 Points of 10 Possible

Simple band, nice looking wrapper, has a slight oily sheen and a solid cannon with just a touch of a spongy feel by the foot. Decent triple cap that takes a punch cut well enough. Pre-lite the draw is good with just the right amount of resistance and a earthy tobacco flavor.

Lighting and Burn: 13 Points of 15 Possible

Takes a flame pretty well and produces plenty of smoke. Ash was a salt and pepper and unexpectedly dropped on me at about 3/4 of an inch in, just about where it started to get spongy. Fortunately it held well through the rest of the smoke managing to stay put well past an inch and only coming off at my encouragement. Burn was slow and cool and although it got a little wavy a time or two it never required any correction.

Construction: 28 Points of 30 Possible

The triple cap is a bit uneven and has a small wrinkle but aesthetics aside it appears well applied. It takes a punch cut well enough and when cut reveals a good draw with just enough resistance.
The wrapper is a nice looking leaf, some sheen and pretty smooth with only one vein line noticeable on the cigar I smoked.

Flavor and Aroma: 40 Points of 45 Possible

Getting a decent amount of spice in the retro, some creaminess and a almond come through and I'm also getting a toasted malt. Pretty smooth and tasty beginning. nice room aromatics too, toasty and slightly nutty.

The second third has a bit of an up-tick in the spice in the retro along with a woody note coming in. Getting a mildly sweet coffee taste, a first for me, along with a cream and some leather, an odd combination that actually works well together.

The last third starts with the toasted malt and cream again, spice goes up a bit more in the retro and that sweet coffee note is there in the finish. Thing's really come together nice in this last third, a really good finish.

Don't think this ever got out of the medium zone on strength but a very nice set of flavors made this one quite enjoyable.

Summary

This was an excellent cigar in my opinion. The flavor profile just clicked for me. A shout out to ninfiction for sponsoring this one and letting me participate. This is a smoke I will definitely be adding to my list to acquire.