Illusione MJ12

[danm.528i]

I am sitting here enjoying a MJ12, paired with some Woodford Reserve. Ahh, a match made in heaven!

Alas, it is my last one from a box that I purchased a couple of years ago, when they first came out (2009?). The few samples that I've had since Dion made the switch from wrapping them in foil (2010?), were very good, but didn't seem to quite as good as the original release. I am wondering if the foil wrapper made much of a difference, or if it was simply a matter of the additional age being the determining factor. I am debating if I should embark on a mission to try to located a box with the original packaging.

Any thoughts?

 

[Cornrow_Wallis]

Did you smoke the OR and the new ones with a similar amount of age? IE. One of the new ones when it came out and one of the OR when it came out? If so, then it might be the different tobacco crops, but if not it might be the age of the cigars.

 

[reliefdvm]

As I undedrstand it there was only a short period of time when Dion could not get the foil. All the new boxes I have seen again have the foil. It might just be the extra age on th OR that made them a little bit better.

 

[cigarhombre]

I'm a huge fan of the MJ12, my fav. illusione, been smoking them regularly for a couple yrs; foil wrapped & naked. I really haven't noticed a difference, albeit I haven't bought a box to age until a few months ago. my guess would be aging...

 

[NicM0411]

In the past year I smoked them without and more recently with foil. The foil cigars seem to be more squishy and smoke really quick. Maybe just my imagination. Still taste great though.

 

[BrandonP]

It was indeed just an issue getting foil as to why they were naked for a short period. That is not the expectation going forward, they should all be foil wrapped. Just a hiccup in production.

 

[njstone]

I've been smoking them since release as well, though I must have missed the sans-foil era, lol. I love these as well, possibly my favorite Illusione, certianly up there.

With age, these smooth out a bit and some of the flavors become more prominent, though they loose a touch of spice (just a touch, thankfully).

I'm betting the difference is age ... assuming that they were both at the same rH, etc.