Illusione Epernay le ferme

[Don Fernando]

Dion Giolito, creator of Illusione cigars, created this cigar to pair well with a good champagne and named the line after a well known Champagne region, Epernay. This blend is created with the European palate in mind, the cigar has a lighter shade wrapper than other Illusiones and is less spicy and more floral according to Illusione. I got a few of the 5¼x48 Le Ferme and of the 6¼x52 Le Monde in a group buy on my Dutch website. They are not for sale in The Netherlands.



The wrapper, even though it is a lighter shade than other Illusiones, is still reasonably dark and is quite oily. I see a few veins. The band is simple yet tasteful. The cigar has a mild barnyard smell. The construction feels good and I can't complain about the predraw, which is mild spicy.



I taste a peppery coffee flavor and after half an inch I taste a lot of earth flavor. The flavors are sticky and creamy. After an inch and a half I taste wood, nuts and chocolate.



Slowly the wood gets stronger and I taste some herbs too. The nut and chocolate flavors have gone. Little passed halfway I taste some chocolate again, very mild and a good amount of pepper. The pepper slowly loses some of its strength.



This cigar has a smoke time of an hour and fifteen minutes. I got a lot of smoke that starts out reasonably thick and gray but it turns thick and white. The draw is great, but I had to correct the burn a few times. The ash is dark and reasonably firm. This cigar is full bodied and medium to full flavored.



Would I buy this cigar again? Yes, I love these.

Appearance: 8 / 10
Construction: 8/ 10
Draw: 8 / 10
Burn: 7 / 10
Smoke & ash: 8 / 10
Aroma first part: 8 / 10
Aroma second part: 8 / 10
Aroma third part: 8 / 10