IPCPR 2018: Illusione

There are quite a few companies at the 2018 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show that either released a host of new products of their own design or brought nothing new, only a few came to the show with a brand that was had been thought of as dead.

That was the case with Illusione, which used this year’s show to formally reintroduce the OneOff Cigars line, a brand that was first released in the early 2000s by Andrea Molinari who operated a La Casa del Habano store located in Milan, Italy. Molinari had tried and failed to get a cigar brand of his own made in Cuba, but he eventually contracted with the Plasencia family to roll his creations at their Segovia Cigars S.A. factory in Nicaragua.

The brand had its U.S. distribution through Felipe Gregorio Cigars Inc. until 2004, when it was transferred to Paul Giacalone. The trademark was then sold to Cuban Crafters before finally landing with Giolito last year.

OneOff

Last year, Illusione owner Dion Giolito acquired the trademark of the OneOff brand from Cuban Crafters and reblended the line using all Nicaraguan tobacco at Aganorsa Leaf’s Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A.(TABSA) factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Giolito then decided to release the updated cigars in eight of the original 16 vitolas packaged in 10-count boxes, seven of which began shipping to select retailers in May.

• Wrapper: Nicaragua
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• OneOff Canonazo (6 1/8 x 52) — $16.95 (Boxes of 10, $169.50)
• OneOff Cartuchos (3 7/8 x 52) — $11.95 (Boxes of 10, $119.50)
• OneOff Corona (5 1/2 x 42) — $12.95 (Boxes of 10, $129.50)
• OneOff Corona Gorda (5 3/8 x 46) — $14.95 (Boxes of 10, $149.50)
• OneOff Julieta (7 x 47) — $17.95 (Boxes of 10, $179.50)
• OneOff Pyramides (6 1/8 x 52) — $16.95 (Boxes of 10, $169.50)
• OneOff Robusto (4 7/8 x 50) — $14.95 (Boxes of 10, $149.50)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: May 2018

OneOff +53 Super Robusto

While seven of the vitolas all feature the same blend, Giolito told me that the +53 Super Robusto size is a little different, although he refused to elaborate further. The last vitola in the line is also packaged in 10-count boxes and is scheduled to ship to retailers in August. It did not ship with the rest of the vitolas in the line.

• Wrapper: Nicaragua
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• OneOff +53 Super Robusto (5 3/4 x 48) — $30 (Boxes of 10, $300)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: August 2018