OneOff +53 Super Robusto

In June 2018, Illusione released a new incarnation of a brand that Dion Giolito, the company’s founder, acquired from Cuban Crafters in 2017. OneOff was a brand that was founded in the early 2000s by Andrea Molinari, an entrepreneur who operated a La Casa del Habano store located in Milan, Italy.

After failing to get a cigar brand of his own made in Cuba, Molinari eventually contracted with the Plasencia family to roll his creations at that company’s Segovia Cigars S.A. factory in Nicaragua. The U.S. distribution of the OneOff brand was handled by Felipe Gregorio Cigars Inc. until it was transferred to Paul Giacalone in 2004. Eventually, the brand ended up in the hands of Miami-based retailer Cuban Crafters for a time before being acquired by Giolito.

From the launch of Illusione’s OneOff, there have been two Illusione OneOffs. Seven of the cigars—the ones with just one band—are one blend, a Nicaraguan puro. There are now three vitolas that are designated as +53, which is described as a stronger blend compared to the others. For those wondering, +53 was part of the Molinari era OneOff; +53 is the country code used for phone numbers in Cuba.

In my recent review of the Tatuaje 15th Anniversary Ecuadorian Rosado Claro I stated that the profile was so different from the vast majority of Pete Johnson’s normal releases, and the OneOff +53 Super Robusto is in the exact same boat. It is unlike just about any other Illusione release I have ever smoked. Where most of Dion Giolito’s blends are complex, nuanced and balanced—almost to a fault—the OneOff +53  is in your face aggressive, with flavors that are so obvious they are almost harsh at times. While the amazing construction is not unusual by any means, time and again I found myself noting a flavor that I had almost never tasted in one of Giolito’s blends—most notably asparagus. Of course, none of the preceding points change the fact that the +53 Super Robusto is an extremely expensive cigar, and while people will try to compare it to cheaper blends from Illusione, it is unique among the cigars that Giolito has released so far.

This cigar is covered in an attractive cinnamon brown-colored wrapper with some thin veins in various spots, and the covered foot is a nice visual touch. The OneOff +53 Super Robusto features a bit of tooth and a small amount of oil, in addition, it is nicely firm when squeezed. Aromas from the wrapper are easily identifiable, including a strong dark chocolate note followed by creamy wood, dirt, barnyard and light mint. Due to the aforementioned covered foot, the notes from that area of the cigar are very similar to those found on the wrapper, but I also detect slightly more oak and the addition of some generic nuttiness. Finally, after a straight cut, the cold draw brings flavors of creamy almonds, dank earth, hay, nutmeg, leather and milk chocolate sweetness.

The covered foot lights up quickly and the cigar’s profile starts out with plenty of both spice and black pepper—on my tongue and on the palate, respectively—although neither is close to overpowering. Strong, gritty earth is the first flavor I taste, but the profile quickly moves to include main flavors of creamy oak and cocoa nibs, followed closely by sourdough bread, leather tack, earth, lemongrass and a light asparagus flavor that comes and goes. Also, I taste a distinct mineral saltiness on my lips, while the retrohale includes a combination of black pepper and cotton candy sweetness. Flavor ends the first half firmly at medium-plus, while the strength and body are at a point just under the medium mark. I have absolutely no issues at all when it comes to the construction, with the cigar exhibiting a razor-sharp burn line, plenty of thick smoke and an excellent draw with just the right amount of resistance.

There are some changes in the profile of the OneOff during the second half, including more mineral saltiness on my lips and a shift in the main flavors to a combination of cinnamon and almonds. Secondary flavors of oak, coffee beans, gritty earth, lemongrass, toasted bread, dark chocolate and nutmeg. While the asparagus note from the first half is still noticeable, it fades in and out until ultimately disappearing for good halfway through the final third. In addition, there is less black pepper on the retrohale, which allows the cotton candy sweetness to flourish and become a major player in the profile. Flavor easily passes into full and stays there until the end of the cigar, while the body increases to a solid medium and the strength increases just enough to hit medium-plus. All three aspects of the construction—including the burn, draw and smoke production—continue to give me no issues at all, and I put the nub down with less than an inch remaining after one hour and 54 minutes of smoking time.

Brooks Whittington

I have worn many hats in my life up to this point: I started out as a photojournalist for the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, then transitioned to photographing weddings—both internationally and in the U.S.—for more than a decade. After realizing that there was a need for a cigar website containing better photographs and more in-depth information about each release, I founded my first cigar blog, SmokingStogie, in 2008. SmokingStogie quickly became one of the more influential cigar blogs on the internet, known for reviewing preproduction, prerelease, rare, extremely hard-to-find and expensive cigars, and it was one of the predecessors to halfwheel, which I co-founded.