Thursday, November 30, 2017

Illusione Ultra op. no. 9 - Cigar Review

Right here, under an Illusione banner ad, I dare no DARE no  D A R E  review an Illusione Ultra no ~ULTRA~ offering. I don't even know what to say. Not bad weather to-day, warm 'nuff and the rain is holding off for the most part. A hoodie gets it done, and my sweatpants are aided by long-johns underneath. Nice. Nice 'nuff, anyways. Metal folding chair. Porch. Sure -- nice. How's 'bout them Damn Yankees firing the beyond expectations Joe Girardi, seemingly sans greater plan? Lesser-so nice. 

This cigar was 2015's numero six-best, according to Cigar Aficionado. To be clear, this is the newer iteration which is manufactured in Nicaragua. Not the prior Honduras-made offering. I didn't wanna assume you'd assume.

NOTES:
Burn-line wobbles-some, requires a couple/few Bic re-directs which are somewhat begrudgingly accepted. Ash ain't a grower nor a shower, as it's darker than Nicaraguan per usual. Ligero? I knows this gots it. Smoke out-put ebbs and flows, leaves a bittersweet room-note that's sometimes a tick irritating. Rolled well 'nuff.  Draw wiggles around a medium to medium+ tension, wants to be puffed a bunch but is also prone to being over-smoked. Finicky. Worth it. Seams open a bissell tick-ahead of wide-ish mascara line.
  • Black Pepper
  • Chili Powder
  • Cinnamon
  • Chocolate (semisweet)
  • Paprika (smoked)
  • Cream (toasted)
  • Anise
  • Nutmeg
  • Espresso
  • Meat (roasted)
  • Leather (oils)
  • Molasses
  • Salt
  • Buckwheat
  • Manure
  • Compost
Full-bodied and then-some. Rich and palate-clinging. Beefy. Throaty once in a while. Draw at times doth flirt with a tick'a bite, but smooths into a long bittersweet finish. Oils and cream cushion a warm tongue-tingle. A well-trained bull in a China-shoppe. Flavors are bold and sometimes brash, but I would not say off-putting. It's enjoyable in a swift-kick-in-the-tuchus manner. Strength sits in the gut like a hearty meal. Nice nicotine levels, but not in a head-swoon way. Heavily balanced.

WRAPPER: Nicaraguan
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan

STRENGTH: Full
FORMAT: Toro, Box Press
ORIGIN: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. (TABSA)

FINAL GRADE: B+
A 90-100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59

Whilst Illusione is a sponsor buy a box of this, my schtick, that in no way buy a box influenced my review. Buy a box.

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