This one has been sitting around for a while. Tend to stay away from the larger rg and length premium cigars (don't care on yard gars) because I don't have 2+ hours to smoke and enjoy without doing something concurrently.
With thanks to AR who used to be on the cbid forum, but we have done beer for cigar trades via email the last few years.
Had no idea what this one was until I pulled the foil off. Original release Illusione MJ12. Cold draw medium tight some spicy notes among sweet hay and coffee beans.
First light was heavy on the black pepper. Disappointed initially given the age, (I prefer milder spectrum) thought maybe the foil prevented the mellowing of the aging process.
But an inch in, and its settled in nicely with a touch of sinus bite if the retrohale is over 50% draw volume, but within my tolerance. Nice creamy texture in the mouth, very long finish. Starts with cedar and a little spice, then a bit of semi sweet nuts or tea, and settles into a dairy cream with honey.
Fantastic cigar. A bit fuller than I prefer, so likely not going to seek more but this is a great smoke while brewing out in the garage. Hopefully the rest of the cigar continues along the same track as the first third.
Edit: I smoked this thing for two and a half hours and still didn't nub it, put it down so I could cook dinner and transfer the brew to the fermenter. It was good to the end. Got a lot of distractions in the last half with wife n son joining me in the garage as well as keeping on the hop schedule for brewing. So I can't say if there was any major changes in flavor as I was concentrated more on other stuff. But it was good, a bit fuller than I prefer, but would gladly smoke again if I ever had 3 hours to spare for a smoke
With thanks to AR who used to be on the cbid forum, but we have done beer for cigar trades via email the last few years.
Had no idea what this one was until I pulled the foil off. Original release Illusione MJ12. Cold draw medium tight some spicy notes among sweet hay and coffee beans.
First light was heavy on the black pepper. Disappointed initially given the age, (I prefer milder spectrum) thought maybe the foil prevented the mellowing of the aging process.
But an inch in, and its settled in nicely with a touch of sinus bite if the retrohale is over 50% draw volume, but within my tolerance. Nice creamy texture in the mouth, very long finish. Starts with cedar and a little spice, then a bit of semi sweet nuts or tea, and settles into a dairy cream with honey.
Fantastic cigar. A bit fuller than I prefer, so likely not going to seek more but this is a great smoke while brewing out in the garage. Hopefully the rest of the cigar continues along the same track as the first third.
Edit: I smoked this thing for two and a half hours and still didn't nub it, put it down so I could cook dinner and transfer the brew to the fermenter. It was good to the end. Got a lot of distractions in the last half with wife n son joining me in the garage as well as keeping on the hop schedule for brewing. So I can't say if there was any major changes in flavor as I was concentrated more on other stuff. But it was good, a bit fuller than I prefer, but would gladly smoke again if I ever had 3 hours to spare for a smoke
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) Had to abstain from pipes, cigars, and snuff for a month. Not fun. It was that or pay another $40/mo for tobacco use.
