Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is on the lighter side of medium brown. There are a couple of slightly raised veins running down the length of the cigar while the seams are very hard to spot. The head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. The band is the traditional band for the line being a strip band that is silver on white. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of wood and barnyard funkiness while the foot brings leather, sweet hay and a very slight white pepper. The pre-light draw is primarily leather with a very faint spiciness on my tongue and my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Illusione Singularé 2018 Turin is by far the largest Singularé in the series coming in at 6.25×52. The wrapper is a caramel shade with good oil content on the finger tips. Veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll uniform and head finished off with a well applied triple cap. Aromas from the wrapper give white pepper, fresh barnyard and cedar. Foot aromas tell a stronger white pepper presence, rich dried nuts and toast. Cold draw gives namely hay and cedar.

First Third

As the cigar begins, it brings heavy dark wood along with baking spice and some cinnamon jumping out at times. At a half inch in, both the wood and baking spice lighten up to create a smoother profile. At an inch in, a very light creamy coffee note joins the wood and baking spice. After a few more draws, a floral note joins in as the creamy coffee drops out. At an inch and a half, the creamy coffee comes back as the floral note increases. The wood and baking spice are still present in this unique profile. The retrohale carries a creamy chalkiness. As the third comes to a close, a slight amount of the chalkiness has made it in to the mouth draws. The strength started at slightly above medium but settled in at slightly below medium.

First Third

The first third opens with what I tend to expect from a well executed cigar using Aganorsa tobaccos. A profile centered around bread, graham cracker notes, white pepper, rich nuttiness, cedar and baking spices. Past the inch mark, the white pepper and strength quickly elevates. The strength jumps from medium to medium-full (body being medium) and the white pepper layers the palate. These notes do a great job of mixing together such that they work well with each other and at the same time stand well by themselves. Through retrohaling, intensities of white pepper, rich nuttiness and cedar pick up. The finish consists of a long and lingering bread mixed with refined earthiness/dirt.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the profile of wood, baking spice, floral notes, creamy coffee and slight chalkiness continues. At a half inch in, the baking spice and coffee are very faint while the wood, cream and floral notes are up front. The retrohale maintains the chalkiness with a bit of cream. At an inch and a half, some mustiness joins the profile as some baking spice returns to the mix of wood, cream and floral notes. The chalkiness is now faint in the background. The strength in this third bumped up to medium.

Second Third

The second third is a story of spices. The white pepper spice is layering the palate and on the finish, providing a slick oily feel that is well matched with the medium-full strength. This spice paired with the baking spices, bread and cedar notes creates a bold profile up front but enough of the softer flavors to even it out. Body remains medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, some of the coffee comes back to the profile to go along with the wood, cream, floral notes and baking spice. At a half inch in, the coffee drops back out and the profile is wood, cream, floral notes and a faint baking spice. At an inch in, the baking spice picks up as the retrohale is now baking spice forward with some floral notes in the background. As the cigar comes to a close, the cream increases a bit. The strength in this third bumped up to slightly above medium.

Final Third

The first first half or so of the last third focuses less on the spice delivery but instead is characterized by rich nuttiness and bread. The power of the oily spice shows up on the second portion, but moving towards a very full strength delivery. Body finishes medium.

Burn

The burn line was slightly wavy but always kept up with itself. The cigar did go out on me once requiring a re-light. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Burn

Smoking three samples within the past 3 weeks, the cigar creates some notable burn issues. Unfortunately, the wrapper has a difficult time burning, needing multiple touch-ups. The ashes were sturdy but slightly flaky averaging 1.5 inch increments. Burn temperature was cool.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar began with some strength in a profile of dark wood and baking spice but settled down about an inch in where the core of the cigar presented itself in wood, cream and floral notes. There was the addition of coffee and chalkiness at various points. The construction was pretty good. I believe a little more time will do this cigar wonders even though it’s still pretty good as it is now. I think revisiting it in 6 months will provide quite a treat. This is a cigar I will definitely return to and could easily recommend it to those that enjoy the profile I described. It’s a blend well deserving of the Singulare name.

Draw

The draw was ideal, giving the perfect medium between air flow and resistance.

Overall

The Illusione Singularé 2018 Turin is by far the strongest Singularé in Illusione’s line-up being medium-full an inch into the cigar and finishing very full. But this isn’t to say the company’s concept and execution of “deep in flavor” is unmet, as the cigar is equally flavorful, nailing down full flavors of bread, graham crackers, white pepper, rich nuttiness, cedar and baking spices. This type of cigar reminds me of the way in which I purchase Cuban cigars in the sense that a fresh box is sharp and at times harsh, but I bank on the box melding into a wonderful cigar with proper age. It’s full in flavors and strength now and a substantial meal is recommended before the cigar, but it is very much so worth picking some up to smoke and age in your humidor.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

7.17

Cost/Point

$1.81

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

8.28

Cost/Point

$1.57

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Illusione Singularé 2018 Turin