Illusione Epernay 10th Anniversary D'Aosta (6 x 50)

Video review HERE.

(Description taken from Cigaraficionado.com website)

The Illusione Epernay series turned 10 years old in 2019, and to highlight this milestone, brand owner Dion Giolito released an extraordinary cigar: the 10th Anniversary D’Aosta, a typical toro size blended with atypical tobacco. Epernays aren’t strong smokes, nor were they ever intended to be. Giolito wanted to stress refinement and subtlety over strength, so Epernays are made without ligero, the most powerful tobacco on the plant.

Rather, Epernays are made with lower-priming tobaccos to give each puff the elegant, effervescent qualities of a fine Champagne, hence the name (Epernay is named after the town in France’s famed Champagne region). The blend for the 10th Anniversary D’Aosta is the same formulation of tobaccos as the rest of the line, save for a different binder to better showcase the filler. Unlike other Illusiones, which are made in Nicaragua, Epernays are produced in Honduras. At one time, the Illusione core line was made in Honduras as well, but Giolito moved production to Estelí.

Since Epernay’s inception, however, Giolito believed that the Honduran Raices Cubanas factory understood the intricacies and logistics of the brand, so he kept Epernay where it was. 

Wrapper: Nicaraguan

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Vitola:

6 x 50

The cigar is well made and has a very nice feel in the hand. 

The test draw after cutting the cap was just a bit firm but workable. The initial flavors at light up were citrus tang, cedar, a little brown sugar, a lot of cinnamon, nutmeg, cream, and black coffee. There was black pepper noted at a 7. The cigar is fairly balance at the outset. The cream notes may be lacking somewhat but overall the cigar is balanced.

At the first third (30 minutes) the cigar has somewhat changed. There were subtle changes. There is still the somewhat tangy citrus, cedar, brown sugar, cinnamon, quite a bit of nutmeg, earthy notes of leather, and the black coffee base. The cream notes aren't evident any more. This type of nutmeg, leather, and earth is appealing when it's combined with the type of sweeter notes. The cigar remains in balance. The cigar is medium bodied even with the lack of ligero. The finish is nutmeg with hints of sweetness from the citrus notes with a nice amount of lingering black pepper. The cigar is very good at this point. I rated the first third 93.

Moving through the second third (1 hour 11 minutes) the cigar improved. The tangy citrus notes and the brown sugar increased. The cigar is still fairly in balance. There are also still the leathery nutmeg with earthy notes but they do not detract from the cigar. The cigar tastes medium to full bodied but since there is no ligero there is no ligero rush. The finish is unchanged; still the nutmeg with citrus influence that seems to have also increase. The black pepper overall has slightly increased, which is also a good thing. I rated the second third 94.

The cigar lasted an impressive 1 hour 52 minutes. An amazing burn time. In the final third I had the same nice flavor notes but the coffee notes increased which did not hurt the cigar. The lack of ligero does not hurt this cigar at all. The finish was unchanged. The cigar still tastes medium to full bodied. This is a surprising cigar but in a good way. A very good cigar from Illusione. I rated the final third 94.

Overall Score: 93.67