Laynard
02-19-2015, 05:37 PM
5/10/2014
Cigar: Illusione Epernay ’09 Le Petit
Size: Corona, 4.5"x44
MSRP: $6.80
Strength: Full
Wrapper: Habano
Origin: Nicaragua
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i281/Laynard/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/172F3E58-BCBD-401E-854E-5C3D958648FD.jpg (http://s75.photobucket.com/user/Laynard/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/172F3E58-BCBD-401E-854E-5C3D958648FD.jpg.html)
Prelight: The Epernay has a fairly smooth rosado wrapper with slight tooth and minimal veins. The wrapper – like other Illusiones – has a floral aroma with a note of cocoa. The foot appears a little under-filled and smells extremely floral. The cold draw is a bit loose and is also extremely floral.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i281/Laynard/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/87DC2D71-6A77-4C95-9A50-9F24630B0DAD.jpg (http://s75.photobucket.com/user/Laynard/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/87DC2D71-6A77-4C95-9A50-9F24630B0DAD.jpg.html)
1/3: The first third is extremely spicy. Lots of white pepper overpower any other flavors that could be hiding. It leaves a tingling sensation on my tongue. The ash is almost brown in color; this is something I’ve seen on other cigars that use aged tobacco. The burn is a bit ragged but corrects itself time and time again. At the end of this short third, wood flavors emerge.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i281/Laynard/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/27C8E156-7D57-4044-B40F-38413DA81CC9.jpg (http://s75.photobucket.com/user/Laynard/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/27C8E156-7D57-4044-B40F-38413DA81CC9.jpg.html)
2/3: The wood dominates the second third, with a backing floral note. There is even a bit of sweet nuttiness at this point. The burn starts to canoe, but it is very windy today. This self-corrects nearly immediately.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i281/Laynard/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/C24EDFD3-7545-4E6B-85A7-C4C89541EAAF.jpg (http://s75.photobucket.com/user/Laynard/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/C24EDFD3-7545-4E6B-85A7-C4C89541EAAF.jpg.html)
3/3: Cinnamon becomes a player to complement the wood and nuts. The wind may be too much for this cigar, and it is now tunneling. I relight and after a purge, sweet earth is noticeable in the array of flavors. Earth and cinnamon finish up the nub.
Overall: I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this cigar during the first third. It was so spicy, I kept telling myself, “It’s good, but not my cup of tea.” But, after the nuts and even cinnamon evolved into the profile, I really began to like it. I wish the entire cigar had the flavors I found in the final third. I would smoke an Epernay again, but I think I would choose a longer vitola. Not bad, but doesn’t top the 68 in my book.
Cigar: Illusione Epernay ’09 Le Petit
Size: Corona, 4.5"x44
MSRP: $6.80
Strength: Full
Wrapper: Habano
Origin: Nicaragua
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i281/Laynard/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/172F3E58-BCBD-401E-854E-5C3D958648FD.jpg (http://s75.photobucket.com/user/Laynard/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/172F3E58-BCBD-401E-854E-5C3D958648FD.jpg.html)
Prelight: The Epernay has a fairly smooth rosado wrapper with slight tooth and minimal veins. The wrapper – like other Illusiones – has a floral aroma with a note of cocoa. The foot appears a little under-filled and smells extremely floral. The cold draw is a bit loose and is also extremely floral.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i281/Laynard/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/87DC2D71-6A77-4C95-9A50-9F24630B0DAD.jpg (http://s75.photobucket.com/user/Laynard/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/87DC2D71-6A77-4C95-9A50-9F24630B0DAD.jpg.html)
1/3: The first third is extremely spicy. Lots of white pepper overpower any other flavors that could be hiding. It leaves a tingling sensation on my tongue. The ash is almost brown in color; this is something I’ve seen on other cigars that use aged tobacco. The burn is a bit ragged but corrects itself time and time again. At the end of this short third, wood flavors emerge.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i281/Laynard/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/27C8E156-7D57-4044-B40F-38413DA81CC9.jpg (http://s75.photobucket.com/user/Laynard/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/27C8E156-7D57-4044-B40F-38413DA81CC9.jpg.html)
2/3: The wood dominates the second third, with a backing floral note. There is even a bit of sweet nuttiness at this point. The burn starts to canoe, but it is very windy today. This self-corrects nearly immediately.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i281/Laynard/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/C24EDFD3-7545-4E6B-85A7-C4C89541EAAF.jpg (http://s75.photobucket.com/user/Laynard/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/C24EDFD3-7545-4E6B-85A7-C4C89541EAAF.jpg.html)
3/3: Cinnamon becomes a player to complement the wood and nuts. The wind may be too much for this cigar, and it is now tunneling. I relight and after a purge, sweet earth is noticeable in the array of flavors. Earth and cinnamon finish up the nub.
Overall: I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this cigar during the first third. It was so spicy, I kept telling myself, “It’s good, but not my cup of tea.” But, after the nuts and even cinnamon evolved into the profile, I really began to like it. I wish the entire cigar had the flavors I found in the final third. I would smoke an Epernay again, but I think I would choose a longer vitola. Not bad, but doesn’t top the 68 in my book.