The Illusione Singularé Origen Corona Gorda provided some interesting, engaging and pleasant flavor combinations for the majority of the cigar review. I enjoyed the Singularé Origen Corona Gorda and I found myself wondering how the cigar would perform for flavor if it didn't have any re-lights. I'd happily return to this, as I would to almost the entire Illusione portfolio.
Best Habano that Illusione has ever released, and best Illusione in some time. While this Illusione Original Documents Habano Corona Gorda is not a breathtaking Habano, there are few of those, this will be a popular and high demand release from Illusione. The flavor profile was solid throughout and there was some complexity and transitioning throughout the thirds. I would definitely smoke again, and would definitely try all of the vitolas.
The Illusione Allegria Lonsdale had a nice flavor profile through the first two thirds and then dropped a level in the final third as the balance got off a bit. I think this cigar is a good fit under the OneOff umbrella as I enjoyed it similarly to those releases. This carries a bit of a lower price point than those offerings, and I'd be interested in trying some of the other vitolas in this line. If you're an Illusione fan, I'd suggest giving this one a try.
The Illusione Gigantes had a fairly average flavor profile throughout. Just simple flavor components that didn't do anything to elevate the cigar. The price point is fairly attractive for the size, so if you're a fan of larger ring gauges, this could be something to try. It didn't seem to translate the similar blend from the Rothchildes vitola and I'd go to that offering over this one.
Going into the review of the Hoyo de Monterrey The Illusione of Excalibur No. 1 was a bit intimidating given it's large size and ring gauge. Fortunately, the flavor balance found the right point between engaging flavors without being palate fatiguing, which is challenging on a larger cigar. The first third and the second thirds were the most engaging, with the last third being pleasant, but not quite as complex as the rest of the cigar.
The Illusione hl Candela started well, with a nice combination of flavors. The second third dropped a level as the flavor profile wasn't as dynamic as it was in the first third and maintained that level the rest of the way. This is probably one of the best candela offerings on the market, but with that said, it isn't a cigar I would come back to all that frequently.
The Illusione Jeremy Piven Collection PIV Robusto was a nice cigar, and it is a cigar I would come back to down the road. Really solid medium offering with good flavors. The core flavor profile had a nice level of complexity which kept the cigar entertaining throughout each third. There was not too much transitioning, but it wasn’t needed. The earth, cocoa, cream, spice and nut flavors were lovely.
The Illusione 2021 TAA Exclusive had a promising start with a complex and nuanced medley of flavors that you can often get from Illusione blends. The second third couldn't maintain the same level of complexity, and the last third was largely earth driven and monotonous. There are so many brilliant Illusione offerings that I would find myself reaching for instead of the 2021 TAA.
The Illusione PCA 2020 Exclusive is the first Illusione cigar released in the last few years in which I did not enjoy. There was no balance and complexities to the cigar. Being heavily charred red pepper spice and dry cedar oriented, it's not the typical DNA of Dion's masterful blending style that I'm accustomed to. I guess you can't win them all.
In the case of the Illusione Singularé 2019 Seven Horns, it has the baseline of what a Diademas ought to be. The cigar starts off with namely soft/white flavors, soon building up to plenty of spice and minerality, but never abandoning the soft/white flavors. This is all packaged by a building strength from medium to medium plus.