Illusione Cigars Epernay

Illusione Epernay L’Alpiniste Torpedo

Kohnhed · Oct 9, 2023

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo Café Rosado Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Size: 6.75 x 56 Torpedo Box Pressed Strength: Medium Price: $14.00 My cigars have had 5 months of naked humidor time. 90…

Torpedo Box Pressed · 6.75″ × 56 · Medium

Illusione Epernay Serie 2009 Le Grande - Cigar Review Redux by Kaplowitz

Kaplowitz · Dec 20, 2018

Epernay? More like Eper-yay! Front-loaded w/ a driving & buttery white pepper paving the way for a rich toasted cream w/ a slight citrus attachment. Truckstop coffee, white chocolate, nutmeg, car-a-mel, clover honey, nougat, ginger. Smooth as the once baby butt of the Baron Administrator of Cloud City. As complex as that imagery. Finish is long and sweet and leathery-oily. Draws evenly and cooly gate-to-wire. Burn-line is a razor. Ash clings to an admirably solid length.

Corona · Nicaragua

Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary D'Aosta (6 x 50)

Tiny Tim's Cigar Blog · Apr 26, 2020

6.00″ × 50

Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary D'Aosta

Cigar Aficionado · Jan 1, 2020

The Illusione Epernay series turned 10 years old in 2019, and to highlight this milestone, brand owner Dion Giolito released an extraordinary cigar: the 10th Anniversary D'Aosta, a typical toro size blended with atypical tobacco. Epernays aren't strong smokes, nor were they ever intended to be. Giolito wanted to stress refinement and subtlety over strength, so Epernays are made without ligero, the most powerful tobacco on the plant.Rather, Epernays are made with lower-priming tobaccos to give each puff the elegant, effervescent qualities of a fine Champagne, hence the name (Epernay is named after the town in France's famed Champagne region). The blend for the 10th Anniversary D'Aosta is the same formulation of tobaccos as the rest of the line, save for a different binder to better showcase the filler. Unlike other Illusiones, which are made in Nicaragua, Epernays are produced in Honduras. At one time, the Illusione core line was made in Honduras as well, but Giolito moved production to Estelí.Since Epernay's inception, however, Giolito believed that the Honduran Raices Cubanas factory understood the intricacies and logistics of the brand, so he kept Epernay where it was. The D'Aosta, with its luxurious layers of gingerbread, orange peel and caramel, marks the fourth time an Epernay has made it to the Top 25 list.

Toro · 6.00″ × 50 · Medium-Full · Honduras

Illusione Epernay Le Ferme

The Cigar Authority · Apr 18, 2017

Originally released as the ECCJ to celebrate what is now Cigar Journal's 15th Anniversary, this box pressed stick from Illusione is smooth & elegant.

Illusione Epernay 10 th Anniversary D’Aosta

Cigar Snob · Jan 9, 2025

In a market pushing towards stronger blends, the Illusione Epernay stands apart with its nuanced flavors, rich aromas, but minimal strength. Brand owner Dion Giolito developed it to pair with Champagne – hence the name Epernay, a town in France’s Champagne region. The vitola references Valle d’Aosta in Italy, where Giolito has family.

Toro · 6.00″ × 50 · Honduras

Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary d'Aosta

Halfwheel · Dec 4, 2019 · October 2019

For my palate, there are few things more enjoyable than when a Dion Giolito creation is truly on, which I'm happy to report the Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary d'Aosta is. As has generally been the case with the Epernay line, the profile is a bit on the lighter side but don't let that lure you into thinking that this is another cigar competing for the title of not your father's Connecticut. Rather, the blend offers a good bit of pepper before beginning a near symphonic journey that weaves creaminess, sweetness, pepper and a number of other supporting flavors together remarkably well. The technical performance is on par as well, making for a truly special cigar that somehow comes with a fairly reasonable price tag. A very enjoyable cigar that performs well now and shows the potential to further develop with time.

Toro · 6.00″ × 50 · Honduras

Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary D’Aosta

Cigar Coop · May 20, 2021

In 2019, Illusione Cigars marked the 10th anniversary of its Epernay line with the release of a commemorative cigar, the Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary D’Aosta. The Illusione Epernay is considered somewhat of a game-changing cigar. For a long time, cigars with Nicaraguan tobaccos were often associated with strong and bold, but when it came to […] Key flavors: Earth, Natural Tobacco, Cedar, Citrus, Must, Baker’s Spice, Black Pepper, Cream, Nuts.

6.00″ × 50 · Mild to Medium · Honduras

Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary d’Aosta

Blind Man's Puff · Jun 22, 2020 · October 2019

The Illusione Epernay line first came out in 2009 as a line extension to the Illusione ~eccj~ which came out in 2008. This blend was lighter and meant to pair well with Champagne. Epernay is part of the Champaigne region in France. The first Epernay was a 5 5/8 x 46 corona gorda and only 300 boxes of 15 cigars were made. Since then, there have been many iterations and sizes. This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience. This latest release is a special tweak on the blend meant to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the line and in a new size, d’Aosta, which is a toro measuring 6 x 50. The Epernay line is rolled at the Raíces Cubanas factory in Danlí, Honduras. It uses a Nicaraguan wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and fillers from Nicarauga and Dominican Repbulci. The name d’Aosta comes from a region of Geneva where wine is famously made using Fumin and Cornalin grapes.

Toro · 6.00″ × 50 · Medium · Honduras

Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary d'Aosta

Developing Palates · Jan 20, 2020 · October 2019

The profile of the Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary d'Aosta kept with my experience of a smooth and flavorful profile for the line. While I wish the profile from the first half had lasted longer, it still provided a good overall experience. I would have no problem mixing this vitola in with smoking the other vitolas in the line. If you're a fan of Illusione, this is a definite must try.

Toro · 6.00″ × 50 · Honduras