Cigar: Illusione Epernay L'Alpiniste
Size: 6 3/4 x 56 box press Torpedo
Wrapper: Cafe Rosado
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
Price: $7.00
I have only smoked one other Illusione brand cigar and I was not overly impressed, so I was somewhat hesitant about purchasing another one of their products. That being said, the fact that the Epernay placed in the top 25 cigars of 2011 as rated by Cigar Aficionado, along with the suggestion that I should give their brand another shot, led me to try the Epernay L'Alpiniste. I must also say that I am a huge fan of the torpedo and box pressed styles, so the fact that the L'Alpiniste was of that configuration may have played a role in my selection. In any case I am extremely happy that I gave this brand a second chance. The Epernay is a fairly hefty cigar measuring in at six and three quarters inches with a ring gauge of 56. The construction was impeccable, with a very nice even color and no large veins or any other blemishes that I could see. The burn was fairly even throughout the entire smoke, with the ash being a darker gray and firm, yet easily tapped off. The smoke was of normal color and consistency. This was an extremely delicious cigar. It was spicy upon lighting, but quickly mellowed out into very nice black tea and leather flavors. Floral notes crept in near the middle of the cigar. The thing that really put this cigar over the top for me was the lusciousness of it. It was extremely velvety and creamy throughout the entire smoking session, a factor that made the Epernay a joy to smoke. I smoked this cigar down to the nub, and I wished there was more of it. I would highly recommend the Illusione Epernay to anyone who enjoys a good medium bodied cigar, and it would be a wonderful cigar for a novice to experiment with when moving up from the milder sticks. I am rating the Illusione Epernay L'Alpiniste as follows:
Appearance: 10/10
Aroma: 9/10
Construction: 10/10
Flavor: 10/10
Burn: 8/10
Final score: 94
Fondest Regards,
N
