Pre-light Experience

A light tan wrapper with a couple of raised veins. There are a couple of greenish spots on the wrapper. The seams are visible but smooth. There appear to be two caps and the top cap has a vein protruding on an edge. The band is the standard Rothchildes band, but rather than the red background and side lettering, it is more of a burnt orange on this Connecticut version. The aroma from the wrapper is a faint cardboard while the foot aroma is a pretty full dry hay. The pre-light draw is that same dry hay from the foot aroma along with a slight spicy tingle on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Illusione Rothchildes Connecticut has a claro shade wrapper with various under-fermented green spots. Veins are roughly pressed and seams tight but visible. Roll and bunching feels spot on as there are no soft spots and a uniformed give throughout. Head is finished off with a well applied double cap. Nosing the wrapper gives cedar, barnyard and faint white pepper. Nosing the foot gives dry nuts and white pepper. Cold draw tells dry cardboard, hay and white pepper.

First Third

The cigar starts with a very interesting spice note which is a bit reminiscent of nutmeg but doesn’t quite fit the full profile of it. There is also some wood in the background. The retrohale is also carrying this interesting spice. At a quarter inch in, a good amount of cream joins the profile and dilutes the spice while the wood is still in the background. At three quarters of an inch in, the profile morphs into a slightly spicy and creamy cedar. The retrohale is a very creamy cedar with a little spice in the background. This is how the third finishes. The strength in this third was mild-medium.

First Third

The first third has notes of sweet cream, dry nuts, hay and dry wood. A nice mouth layering black pepper and baking spices surrounds the above mentioned notes. Through the nose, elevated black pepper spice, cedar and dry nuts. The finish has lasting notes of baking spice, tongue layering black pepper and dry wood. In terms of body and strength, medium.

Second Third

As this third begins, the spice has completely gone away and left a very creamy cedar. At a half inch in, the cedar transitions to a general woodiness while the nice dose of cream remains. As the third nears the end, the cream drops back quite a bit and the general woodiness is the primary component. This is how the third finishes. The strength in this third is right at medium.

Second Third

The second third has slightly more baking spice and toned down sweet cream. Still notes of dry nuts, hay and dry wood. A wood bitterness forms, rounding out the array of flavors. The retrohale remains unchanged, still providing elevated black pepper, cedar and dry nuts. The finish also remains unchanged giving lasting notes of baking spice, tongue layering black pepper and dry wood. Body and strength continues to be at the medium mark.

Final Third

As this third begins, the cream increases back up to mix with the wood. At a half inch in, the cream reduces once again with the wood becoming more defined as oak and moves up front. The retrohale is a nice warm oak. This is how the cigar finishes. The strength in this third was just slightly above medium.

Final Third

The last third’s flavor profile has decreased in complexities leaving me namely with dry wood, black pepper and faint bread. The other notes mentioned within the second third are still there but takes a third row seat. The retrohale remains unchanged continuously providing elevated black pepper, cedar and dry nuts. The finish is now comprised of dry wood, wood bitterness and faint black pepper. Body and strength finishes off at the medium mark.

Burn

The burn was slightly jagged at times, but always kept up with itself.

Burn

Burn performance was overall very good. Total smoking time clocked in at one hour and thirty minutes. Smoke production was plentiful, with slightly flowery ashes averaging one inch increments. Burn line was fairly razor sharp throughout the entire smoking time.

Draw

The draw was just slightly looser than I prefer, but didn’t cause any issues with the cigar heating up and I felt it allowed the cigar to smoke as intended.

Overall

This cigar smoked with the spirit that the original Rothchildes did. A rustic, not so pretty looking cigar that provided full flavors and a great smoking experience at a low price point. It’s also another great addition to the slew of good Connecticut cigars that came out this year. Just like the original, I see fans of this cigar buying in bulk and smoking them regularly. It is definitely one I could see going back to often and another winner for Dion and the Illusione portfolio.

Draw

The draw although good, was a tad too loose and effortless. Although this did not cause the cigar to overheat, it was close to breathing air.

Overall

Given the wide array of Connecticut Shade cigars reviewed this year, the Rothchildes stands unique amongst the rest. The uniqueness comes in the form of the mixture in baking spices and black pepper spice. I appreciated this as these components worked very well with more of the classic Connecticut Shade flavors such as mild cream and nuttiness. Dion time and again proves he creates flavorful cigars, and this one is no exception.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.67

Cost/Point

$0.82

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.47

Cost/Point

$0.74

Scoring System