Illusione Epernay Le Elegance Petit Lancero
Illusione is the boutique brand founded by Dion Giolito in 2006, built around distinctive, carefully restrained blends rather than power first profiles. Epernay is one of its signature lines: named for the Champagne town of Épernay in France, it was conceived as a more elegant, slightly milder counterpart to the original Illusione blend. It uses Nicaraguan Corojo and Criollo tobaccos with no ligero, finished in a Café Rosado wrapper, and produced at Raíces Cubanas in Honduras.
The blend first appeared in 2008 as a limited ECCJ 15th anniversary cigar for European Cigar Cult Journal. In 2009 it became regular production under the Epernay name. Le Elegance, the slim 5 3/4 x 40 petit lancero, was among the original vitolas in that launch and remains a core size in the line
Stogie At A Glance
Review
First Third
Creamy coffee with Woody notes on the light, very light spice on the finish. Lots of creamy notes, thick smoke and a good amount of it as well. Slight salty note to the finish, like salted peanuts. Still very creamy with some coffee notes on the pallet, lots of smoke. The floral note is coming through with the coffee emitting nuts, still a savory note on the finish. Getting near the end of the first 3rd. The savory note is continuing, still with a floral coffee note on the pallet and light spice on the finish with the savory note on the finish as well. There's still a good amount of creamy nutty nuts as well. Mixed in with the floral and coffee notes.
Second Third
More pepper is coming out in the second third as well as a light cedar note as well. Still very creamy even with the pepper picking up. Spices and pepper are picking up in the second third, mixing with the creamy cedar notes. There was a slight sweetness in the first third that has all but disappeared in the second third, but the creaminess remains consistent. Halfway through the second third cedar floral and creamy coffee notes come through, still with a salted peanut on the finish and the pepper has lightened since the previous draw. Creamy earthy coffee notes with pepper coming through, creamy coffee and pepper on the finish, very consistent.
Final Third
Pepper and Earth or anything up in the final third, also it's a slight bit of bitterness as well. Still very creamy with coffee notes as well. Cigar became very bitter, ands unpleasant, I think due to some of the discoloration on the leaf if you look in the pictures you can see it. I purchased this cigar in from Atlantic Cigar Company, it was in my humidor for 4 days. I noticed the discoloration before I light up, but I hoped for the best. Ended cigar after the start of the final third.
Score
N/A