Illusione Ultra No.4

Size: 4 3/4 X 54

Wrapper: Nicaraguan

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan


After sitting in my humidor for a few months it was time to pull out the Illusione Ultra No.4 cigar. A cigar recommended to me so I bought a couple and smoked one earlier. I am smoking this one for the review. I paired this cigar up with some Glenmorangie sherry wood finish 12 year single malt scotch.

This well-constructed, box pressed, chocolate colored cigar has minimal veins in it. The band is simple and straight forward. Black background, white trim and lettering. I sniffed the foot and smelled sweet hay and a sweet cherry aroma from the stick. I clipped the cap and got a blast of pepper from the first open dry draw. It mellowed and mixed with a hint of cedar. I toasted the foot and tasted flavors of cedar and cocoa. Later, I tasted notes of dry ginger, citrus and bitterness. The burn was uneven, probably due to the light breeze and the nice grey ash held it's form nicely. Smoke was full and dry.

The light dense ash held on almost halfway before it fell and the burn almost evened out. Pepper,  mild saltiness, bitterness and wood were the flavors I tasted. In the second section. I encountered a cigarette taste in my mouth when I wasn't smoking the stick. The smoke was full and dry, making the top of my mouth feel like chalk.

The last section and the small band came off without incident of tearing or glue blobs. No defects underneath. Wood, bitterness and dryness is what I tasted. The burn remained a little uneven. I started feeling heat in my mouth and a burning on my lips way before I should have. I put it down early and stop smoking. Someone walked by and thought I was smoking a cigarette because of the smell.

I smoked another one of these cigars about a month ago and had the same experience. At $11.00 or higher a stick, I can't recommend this cigar. There are so many great cigars out there I would pass, even for free. -June 10, 2013

Robert Anthony Meyers

robert@cigarassessor.com