Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Illusione Gigantes is medium brown with splotchy darker spots. There are a few thick but lightly raised veins and the caps are well applied. The band is white, gold and purplish blue and denotes the company and line on front with the country of origin on the sides. The aroma from the wrapper is a light mix of cedar and earth while the foot brings oak, baking spice and tobacco sweetness. The pre-light draw brings cedar and light tobacco sweetness.

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted cedar and light amounts of baking spice and mustiness. At a half inch in, some earth joins the profile. The retrohale is toasted cedar and light baking spice. As the third comes to a close, the profile is toasted cedar up front, with earth a bit behind and light amounts of baking spice and mustiness in the background. The strength was slightly below medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the baking spice and mustiness both pick up a bit. At a half inch in, the toasted cedar transitions to toasted oak. At three quarters of an inch in, the earth increases and the baking spice transitions to black pepper. The retrohale is now toasted oak, earth and mild black pepper. As the third comes to a close, the profile is toasted oak and earth up front with black pepper in the middle and light mustiness in the background. The strength has bumped up to medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the black pepper mellows and the overall profile has become a bit dry. The retrohale is now toasted oak and mild black pepper. At an inch in, a light wood bitterness joins the profile. As the cigar comes to a close, the profile is toasted oak and dry earth up front with black pepper, mustiness and wood bitterness in the background. The strength remained at medium.

Burn

The burn was straight throughout, but the cigar did go out once in the final third, requiring a re-light. The ash held on in about inch and a half increments.

Draw

The draw was a bit tighter than I prefer, but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

The cigar began with toasted cedar and light amounts of baking spice and mustiness. Some earth joined a bit later. The second third saw the cedar transition to oak and the baking spice transition to black pepper. The final third saw some wood bitterness join in. 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.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.50

Cost/Point

$1.69

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Illusione Gigantes