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Cigar Review: Illusione Epernay Le Matin

25 Jun 2012

This cigar boasts a lovely wrapper, excellent construction, and more flavors than you’ll find in a collection of three-star restaurant menus. This Illusione vitola, introduced in 2010, has become a favorite since I smoked my first one only a month or so ago.

I’ve read that the blend has no ligero and that seems believable. Le Matin is no nicotine horse choker. Instead, it’s a medium strength, complex cigar that, to me, can compete with any cigar in the world.

In fact, if there’s someone who’s convinced Cubans are the only ones worth smoking, I recommend Le Matin. Pour whatever you like to drink, light up this 6.75-inch lightly pressed cigar, and prepare to spend 90 minutes or more enthralled. The 46 ring gauge Nicaraguan puro burns slowly and cool with a tight ash.

It’s difficult to enumerate the flavors without sounding like a tasting wheel. There’s a sweetness in parts that lingers on the finish, a variety of floral notes, a bite at points that complements the spicy notes, and coffee undertones sprinkled throughout.

Like other creations of Don Giolito—interestingly, another cigar master and musician—Le Matin isn’t the easiest cigar to find. Frankly, I don’t think I’d seen it until recently when I quickly stocked up.

At around $11 per stick, the price may be a bit steep. But I can only tell you it’s worth every penny. If you aren’t initially committed to giving Le Matin the time and attention it deserves, you’ll probably find yourself abandoning whatever plans you had to focus on the cigar shortly after lighting up.

When Cigar Aficionado named Le Matin No. 7 on its list of top cigars for 2010, the magazine wrote about Giolito’s “impeccable quality.” I can only concur. For me, this is, without question, a smoke worthy of a rare rating of five stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. A list of other five stogie-rated cigars can be found here.]

–George E

photo credit: Stogie Guys

6 Responses to “Cigar Review: Illusione Epernay Le Matin”

  1. Ashburn Dave Monday, June 25, 2012 at 7:52 am #

    Can't say I've ever had an Illusione that I didn't love. Right now the B&M has 888 maduros, so that's where my money's been going.

  2. George E. Monday, June 25, 2012 at 12:09 pm #

    Speaking of maduros, I recently had a couple of the MJ12 maduros. Man, what a smoke! I think I prefer the MJ12 natural, but when you're talking about that level of cigar it's really splitting hairs.

  3. Chris S Monday, June 25, 2012 at 3:04 pm #

    I still haven't had an Illusione, and I continue to disappoint myself by not buying any. I'll absolutely have to get my hands on one of these now.

  4. Francis Monday, June 25, 2012 at 3:46 pm #

    AGREED 100%. This cigar rowks!

  5. George E. Monday, June 25, 2012 at 4:37 pm #

    Chris S. – I was sort of late to Illusione as well. But I'm a convert now. And it's well worth searching them out.

    • Chris S Monday, June 25, 2012 at 8:05 pm #

      Hey George,
      Did you guys ever think about putting a forum up, or do you plan on staying with the comments only method exclusively?