Illusione mj12 Maduro
Tuesday, August 20th, 2013I recall liking the non-maduro version of the mj12, so I figured it was time to try this one. The black paper wrapper caught my eye. I admit it, sometimes I’m a sucker for presentation. It just looked cool. There is always a story behind the names of Illusione cigars. I’m far too lazy to post it here, but a quick Google search will yield results, if you’re curious.
Wrapper: San Andreas Maduro
Binder & Filler: Nicaragua
Size: 6 x 54
Price: $9.95
Pre-Smoke & Construction:
A wrapper looked really nice. It was shiny, oily, and had nice variations in color. What can I say, it was pretty. The odor was cedar and earth. There were some minor variations in the firmness of the cigar, but nothing of concern. The draw had slight resistance, and had a floral, woody, and earthy flavor.
The ash held for around one inch, and the burn required quite a few corrections.
Flavor:
The first third quickly ramped up with flavor. Up first was a sweet, bitter cocoa. Think cooking chocolate here. Retrohaling revealed pepper, with just enough kick to make it enjoyable. Up next were earthy and woody notes, along with black coffee.
The second third had more of a peppery bite. The cocoa calmed down a bit, which allowed espresso to really stand out. Like before, there was cedar, and slight earthy notes. The aftertaste was thick, and had a floral tone.
The last third kept the same flavor profile as the second. The only difference was in strength. The flavors stood out more, and everything had more kick. It was simply stronger.
Conclusion:
This was a good full bodied cigar. It had bold flavors, and it was plenty strong. I could see the pepper turning some people off. I wouldn’t push this on a new smoker, or someone who doesn’t like a full bodied cigar. But, after a good meal, I think this would go nicely. I’ll revisit this for sure.
