Tag Archives: illusione

August 9, 2026 · 9:33 am

Oz Family Maracana, Illusione Original Documents and La Sirena Original Cigars

I stopped in a local shop Tuesday evening to meet up with someone who never showed! I guess I’ll catch up with him the next time he’s in town. Anyway, I picked up a couple cigars, the first of which is is the Oz Family Cigars Maracana in the gordo size. This is the newest cigar from Oz, so new it’s not even on their website! Of course, Oz Family Cigars is Tim Ozgener’s brand, and this Maracana is his return to Brazilian tobacco. You may remember hi from such hits as the CAO Brazilia! Ozgener is the O in CAO for those who didn’t know. Anyway this cigar is made at the My Father Factory with a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper, Honduran and Nicaraguan double binder and fillers from the Talanga Valley (Honduras) and Garcia-managed farms (Nicaragua). The gordo is 6″ x 60, and I chose it for the reason most people probably choose this size, it seemed like the best value, and I am not anti-60 ring. I admit, I rather like them. This was a delicious cigar, not anything like the aforementioned Brazilia, which is heavy and dark. This is a bright, citrusy cigar which was very refreshing on a warm evening. The ash on this cigar was stunning, if I posted a picture I’d be accused of using AI. Burn and draw were great, flavor was delightful, and I may have to go grab a toro to try. This cigar was another cigar that pays homage to the 2026 World Cup, so I was late to the game, as usual. Good cigar, not stupidly priced and recommended.

Another cigar I picked up was one I am sure I have smoked, but it’s been a long time and packaging has changed, so I figure I’d include it here. The cigar is the Illusione Original Documents Maduro in a toro size, which they call a gordo, it being 6″ x 56. I call that a toro, but everyone is free to call cigar sizes whatever they want. The Original Documents line comes with paper sleeves, the Maduro is black, and has no markings on it, save for the barcode. When one finally peels this paper sleeve off, and it caused me some aggravation doing so, I found a beautiful cigar with a new, rather ornate and well done, band. This had me scratching my head. Why design new bands, and hide them? On the store shelves, the only way one knows the cigar is by the box, which I think would look much better with a clear cello sleeve, showing the beautiful cigars. I would have thought a brand owner with a retail background would get this right. Obviously, my opinion. The cigar has a San Andrés wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and fillers and is made at the San Lotano factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua. This is a delicious chocolaty cigar! I spent about two hours smoking this and enjoying the cocoa goodness. I’ve been fortunate to smoke some great cigars lately!

I had another cigar slotted for this spot originally, but after I smoked this cigar last night, I decided that it needed to be addressed. It’s no secret that one of my favorite brands over the last 14 or so years has been La Sirena, a small, boutique brand that started out as a Miami Cigar and Co. brand. Eventually Arielle Ditkowich took the brand private and made it a family brand, with her father, Danny, handling a lot of it now. Originally what’s now known as the La Sirena Original was made at the My Father factory, then production moved to La Zona, and now it’s made at Tabacalera La Isla. I absolutely loved the La Zona blend, it’s amongst my most smoked blends over the years, and I was nervous when Danny told me he was making the change. I made sure I had a box of the Tridents put away before the change. I wasn’t concerned about the quality of cigars out of La Isla, the Mexican Mermaid which is. made there, is another favorite, I was concerned it would be different. I smoked a 6″ x 52 Toro last night and I see a box in my future, it’s better than the previous iterations! Holy crap was it good. There’s the undertone of sourdough that I love in the previous blend, it’s subtle, but there’s a rich, creamy sweetness that was delicious, and I considered lighting a second one when I finished! Sorry the other cigar got bumped, but I couldn’t not share the new blend La Sirena experience that I had. The three core lines continue to be in my top cigars, and I still have some unicorns in the humidor, including some of the My Father Tridents (Churchill). Smoke this brand with confidence!

Funny enough, I pasted this into CoPilot to proofread, and it came back with this: “Your write‑up already reads like a fully formed CigarCraig installment — lively, detailed, and anchored in the kind of factory‑level nuance you’re known for.” I’ll take that as a compliment from the AI. That’s all for today, until the next time,

CigarCraig

😃+

Some Illusione and J.C. Newman Cigars

We were going to take a roadtrip this weekend, but decided against it early in the week. After a week of rain and overcast, it was going to be a beautiful weekend and we had some stuff we needed to get done around the yard. Today my back is feeling it. Anyway, I figured I’d smoke some cigars this week! Wednesday I have a regular group therapy session that we call “The Round Panel”, or, sometimes, the “Secret Society”, which is usually good for around 2 hours of hysteria. I tend to grab a larger cigar, and this week I went with a La Unica #100. This cigar is a beefy 8½” x 52, Connecticut shade wrapper with Dominican fillers, made at the Fuente factory. Back in the mid-90s, this was the first premium cigar to come in a bundle, or was it the first bundle cigar to be premium? I think they are presented in a box now. This is a really nice shade cigar. Shade cigars aren’t really my preference, although there are a few that I like. It’s creamy and mellow, certainly not without flavor. My only gripe was that it smoked in about an hour and a half, which is my usual smoking time for a Toro, not sure why that it, I’ll have to smoke another one and clock it. La Unicas are great cigars, always have been, at a wallet friendly price.

You’ll recall I had gotten a sampler of Illusione cigars a few weeks back, and decided to finish it off this week. The Garagiste has been one I’ve been anxious to try since it came out a few years ago. I had the 6″ x 54 Gordo size (the whole sampler was 6″ x 56, I like the size!). This is a bit of a departure from the usual Illusione range, as it’s a rather strong cigar, with a lot of pepper to start out. It has an Ecuador Habano wrapper with Criollo 98, Corojo 99 (both Aganorsa staples, with Ligeros from two Nicaraguan regions. Like I said, the Ligero is apparent in the strength of the cigar. I found this to be a very enjoyable cigar, there are certainly more in my future.

The last cigar I had from the Illusione sampler was the Original Documents MJ12. This was another 6″ x 56 cigar, with a Corojo Rosado wrapper from parts unknown, and the Criollo 98 and Corojo 99 in the fillers. Let me start by expressing my displeasure with the tinfoil wrapper. It was a pain to get off, and the only identification on it was the barcode label. It’s not big enough to make a hat out of, so why bother, let’s see the beautiful cigar! The cigar smoked perfectly, and was really a pleasure to smoke. It had some spice, but more citric than the pepper that the Garagiste had. I’d certainly smoke this again, but I’m afraid I’d avoid it because of the foil wrapper.

Finally, I smoked the new Angel Cuesta from J.C. Newman in the Toro size. This is another cigar with a Rosado wrapper, along with what the company describes as tobaccos from three continents. I had the opportunity while I was at the factory last December to see some of these being rolled, ironically, by a gentleman named Angel. This line is named after Angel Cuesta, who was one of the founders of the Cuesta Rey brand. I got to see the aging room filled with these cigars as well. I was fortunate enough to get a sampling of all three sizes of this, and started with the 6¼” x 52 Toro with a pigtail cap. This cigar smoked wonderfully, and I can’t recall, but I’d bet it has some Florida Sungrown tobacco in the blend, it has that tang to me. It’s not a cheap date, heck, it’s made in the USA, ranging from $18-22. Definitely worth a try.

That’s all for today, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as Angel Cuesta, cigar, cigars, Garagiste, illusione, J.C.Newman, La Unica, MJ12, Original Documents

April 16, 2023 · 9:30 am

Some Illusione Cigars: M12, Fume D’Amore and CG-4

Last week I mentioned buying some cigars from Discount Cigar Warehouse, and I dug into the second sampler this week. This was a selection of 6″ x 56 cigars from Illusione. I actually went into this sampler blind, as there is no information on the website. It seems to be an exclusive to DCW. I smoked two of the four this week, starting with the Illusione Maduro M12 Plan MJ-1949. This cigar has a medium dark San Andrés wrapper over Nicaraguan Criollo and Corojo fillers. The name of the cigar refers to the Majestic 12, and the contingency plan that they put in place should a public announcement be made regarding UFOs. OF course, this all happened before Ancient Aliens was on TV, aliens are no secret now. As is the case with many of the cigars in the maduro line, I really liked this cigar. It was rich and dark, with some cocoa sweetness. The burn was perfect.

Next up was the Fume D’Amore Capistranos. This is a much lighter cigar than the Maduro. The fillers seem to be the same varietals, perhaps lower primings, with a café Corojo wrapper. I struggle to remember if I’ve smoked this blend before, I don’t think I have. To be honest, there are a lot of the Illusione Line I haven’t smoked. I’m not sure why that is, I’m acquainted with Dion Giolito, we’ve spoken on numerous occasions, but except for the Rothchild, and the occasional lancero, I’ve been negligent. This Fume D’Amore started out with a tighter draw than I would have liked, which opened up after a while. This isn’t a good cigar to take for a walk, it’s far too delicate and complex, it’s better sitting quietly. I found this out the hard way. It’s possible another one of these samplers might be in my next DCW order, it’s a great value. Next week I’ll get to the other two cigars in the sampler.

Last night I smoked something from the Original Documents line, the CG-4 White Horse. I bought a bunch of these several years ago, for a specific purpose. We had a stretch of a few years of going to the Diner En Blanc in Philadelphia, and I always tried to take “white” themed cigars. Macanudo Inspirado White, Montecristo White, my wife smoked a Leccia White one year. You get the jist. The last time we went I somehow forgot my cigars and ran to Holts (the diner was a few blocks away in Rittenhouse Square), and the best I could come up with was some Padron Damaso, which had a white band. Good cigar. Anyway, I had gotten the White Horse for the next year and, between the pandemic and losing interest, we stopped going. This cigar is a classic Corona Gorda, perhaps where the CG in the name comes from? It’s 5 5/8″ x 46, which, next to the various toro iterations, is probably my favorite size. This also has the Criollo and Corojo fillers, with a Rosado Corojo wrapper. I’ve smoked a bunch of these, and I really like them. It’s got the dark, rich flavors I like with some subtle spices. I may need to get my hands on more, or, better yet, smoke some other cigars in this line. I know I must have smoked a 88 or 888 at some point.

That’s all I have for today. I had planned on getting to one of the Black Label Trading Co. events with James Brown Thursday or Friday, but lacked the energy to get out after work. It’s not so much the drive to these things that dissuades me, it’s the thought of the drive home after. I’m getting old, smoking on my porch after a long day at work is much more appealing than going out, I’m afraid. One more thing: I am a customer of Discount Cigar Warehouse, these posts aren’t sponsored in any way. It’s just a place I picked up some good deals on stuff I hadn’t tried before. Anyway, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as Capistranos, CG-4, cigar, cigars, Fume D'Amore, illusione, maduro, MJ-12, White Horse

June 9, 2022 · 6:21 pm

News: Announcing The Illusione of Excalibur Cigar

This is pretty interesting. Back when I first started smoking cigars in the ’90s one of the cigars I bought and kept around for special occasions was the Excalibur No. 1. This was a pricey cigar for me at the time at around $5, but I liked keeping a few around. It was, and is, a pretty large cigar, the same size as this new release, 7¼” x 54, which was a very large ring cigar for the time. I eventually progressed to the Excalibur Maduro. Any time Dion has his hand in a cigar, one can expect it’s going to be good, so I hope I get to try this, even if it’s four times the price of the Excaliburs I remember!

Excalibur will roll out its first collaboration next month with The Illusione of Excalibur, a limited-edition blend that marks the first Excalibur to be made in Nicaragua.

The Illusione of Excalibur was blended by Dion Giolito and STG’s Justin Andrews. The new expression harnesses aged Nicaraguan tobaccos to deliver a rich and layered smoking experience befitting of both Excalibur and Illusione.

Justin commented, “Dion Giolito and Illusione’s success in the premium cigar category has been driven by his rigorous standards for tobacco and his ability to create cigars that wow the market. So when it came to developing a blend for Excalibur, Dion was our hands-down first choice. I’m very proud of how this project came together. My only regret is that we couldn’t make this a full-time launch.”

Dion Giolito said, ““When GCC asked me to do a collaboration and offered up Excalibur, I immediately jumped at the opportunity. In college, the Excalibur #1 Maduro was my go-to when I could afford them on a college budget. My buddy George and I w

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ould enjoy them after class or band practice. They were a real treat back then, and they still are to this day. For my part, I wanted to make a cigar in the spirit of Excalibur with a bold character and packaging that pays homage to the brand’s origins. I believe this blend really hits the mark.”

Handcrafted at the TABSA factory in Nicaragua, the Illusione by Excalibur is a puro featuring a Nicaraguan Corojo 1999 wrapper from Jalapa, a 2012 Nicaraguan Corojo binder from Jalapa and a blend of Criollo and Corojo tobaccos from 1998, 1999 and 2006 grown in Esteli. The result is a smoking experience that is chewy and rich, producing notes of Christmas spices, leather and espresso in a refined, medium-plus profile.

The Illusione of Excalibur will be released in just one size, chosen by Dion and Justin to best represent the aged tobaccos of its blend.

In a nod to the legendary sword of King Arthur that inspired its name, Excalibur Illusione will be presented in royal blue lacquered boxes with gold detailing, each containing ten cigars. The cigars will be available for purchase starting on July 4. A total of 4,960 boxes will be released.

No 1. (7.25” x 54); SRP per cigar $19.99

About Excalibur Cigars

Excalibur cigars are produced by General Cigar Co. Inc., which manufactures and markets handcrafted cigars for the premium marke

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t. Committed to delivering cigars of the finest quality, General Cigar also produces Macanudo®, Cohiba®, Partagas® Hoyo de Monterrey®, Excalibur®, La Gloria Cubana® and several other leading premium brands. In addition, the company grows its own premium Connecticut Shade wrapper tobacco, as well as natural and candela wrapper in the Dominican Republic. General Cigar also operates Club Macanudo®, a cigar bar in New York City. Based in Richmond, VA, General Cigar sells through tobacconists nationwide. For more information, please visit www.cigarworld.com.

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Tagged as cigar, cigars, Excalibur, hoyo de monterrey, illusione

March 3, 2021 · 7:00 am

News: Amendola Family Cigar Co. to be Distributed by Illusione Cigars

Here’s some news from Amendola Cigars. I’ve heard of this brand, but never smoked any of their cigars. MAybe now that they are being distributed by Illusione, I’ll find some locally. I was just saying I needed to smoke more Illusione cigars, wasn’t I?

Amendola Family Cigar Co. announces that they have reached a distribution deal with Illusione Cigars. Illusione Cigars casts a wide net of retailer relationships across the US and internationally which will further expose Amendola’s premium cigars to smokers.

Jeffrey Amendola, a proud New York native, launched Amendola Family Cigar Co. in 2017, but his tobacco journey began in 2010. In his previous profession as a police officer, Jeffrey became immersed in what started as a cigar hobby. His passion for cigars grew and traveled to Ybor Cigar in 2012. There he learned to blend and roll premium cigars under the direction of Odelma Matos. In 2011, his blending and rolling education led to opening a small factory and tobacconist shop in Durham, N.C. In his mind the next logical step was to create his own brand, named in honor of what he cherishes

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most, family.

Jeffrey Amendola said: “I am grateful every day to my grandparents who arrived in the United States from Italy, penniless, and created a better life for us. Amendola cigars was created in honor of them and my Italian heritage. Together with my business partner and best friend, Christopher Monaco, we look forward to working closely with the Illusione Cigars team to further expose our story and Amendola Cigars to the smoking public.”

Brian Motola, Director of Sales of Illusione Cigars stated:” I have known Jeffrey and Chris for a long while. These gentlemen have worked hard to create exceptionally good cigar brands, I feel confident that Amendola Cigars will fit perfectly within the Illusione portfolio of products.”

ABOUT AMENDOLA CIGARS:

Amendola Cigars was established in 2017. First generation cigar blender and roller Jeffrey Amendola combined his passion for cigars with his Italian family heritage to create Amendola Ci

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gars. Together with business partner and best friend, Christopher Monaco, Amendola Cigars boast a series of brands cigar that proudly represent their Italian American heritage.

For more information please visit: www.AmedolaFamilyCigars.com