8. Illusione Cigares Privé Corojo Prensado Suave
Illusione
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Factory: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A.
- Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Length: 5 1/2 Inches
- Ring Gauge: 56
- Vitola: Robusto Grande
- MSRP: $8.55 (Boxes of 25, $213.75)
- Release Date: July 2016
- Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
- Original Score: 91
At the 2016 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show, Dion Giolito said that FDA regulations didn’t signal a race to the end, but rather, a race to the beginning for Illusione. While the company didn’t completely overhaul its portfolio, it did do a fair amount of shifting, including moving the Cigares Privé line from store exclusives to a regular production offering, with three sizes offered in both either a Mexican San Andrés wrapper or a Nicaraguan corojo, with a Nicaraguan binder and filler.
The 5 1/2 x 56 Prensado Suave vitola with the corojo wrapper found a good bit of favor among our staff for its complexity and balance that is led by creamy flavors of peanut and cedar, while a mild raisin sweetness ties everything together. Giolito is well-regarded for his palate and blending ability—the Cigares Privé line is further proof of that fact—and thankfully it’s likely to be more widely available for enjoyment. — Patrick Lagreid.