Illusione Cruzado cigars are a tribute to the escape artist Harry Houdini expertly blended by master tobacconist Dion Giolito.
Available in two vitolas, Dantes and Domenicos Extra, Illusione Cruzado cigars ship in boxes of 20, and are rolled at the NABSA factory in Esteli, Nicaragua, in small batches. Every stick feels like a treat and we'll take a detailed look at the construction and flavors in our Illusione Cruzado review below.
An introduction to Illusione Cigars
Illusione Cigars was created by Dion Giolito in an attempt to bring back the spirit of the hugely popular Nicaraguan smokes sold in the US before the Sandinista administration.
The revolution stopped the sale of these previously popular sticks and Illusione is one of several brands with an aim to revive the sense of the 1970s and restore Nicaraguan cigars to their rightful place in humidors throughout the States.
Cigar Specs
- Country of Origin: Honduras
- Factory: NABSA, Esteli
- Wrapper: Corojo Rosado
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Sizes available:
- Illusione Cruzado Dantes (5 x 48)
- Illusione Cruzado Domenicos Extra (6 x 56)
A look at the construction
Cruzado cigars are Nicaraguan puros, as you'd expect from a pre-Sandinista revival. Nicaraguan binder, Criollo '98 and Corojo '99 fillers are all wrapped up in a Nicaraguan Corojo Rosado leaf with a smooth texture, slight veins, and a tidy triple cap.
A single thin band features the words "Illusione" and "Cruzado", but other than that the wrapper is uninterrupted - these cigars want to be smoked.
What I got from the cold draw
On the draw, there's leather from the wrapper, along with woody and nutty notes. There's sweetness too, more reminiscent of cashews than any of the more traditionally 'nutty' nuts. It's a pleasant draw, and again just pulls you into actually lighting up and smoking the stick.
The flavors I got from the Cruzado
Cruzado cigars combine cedar wood with creamy coffee, baking spices, and vanilla. The nuts present on the cold draw play less of a part in the smoke itself, but they are there to be picked up on if you pay close attention. Retrohales are peppery and transform the overall taste, which is an unusual but welcome feature of Illusione Cruzado.
First third
An unusually brief spark of pepper spice starts off the smoke but very quickly fades, so savor it as much as possible while it lasts. But its departure is no bad thing, as you're left with a heady mix of cedar, coffee, vanilla, and spices, combining musky earthy flavors with some of that cashew-style sweetness mentioned above.
Second third
The mouthfeel transitions to become creamier, still containing coffee, cedar, vanilla, and spices. Cruzado is a 'build your own adventure thanks to the retro-hale, which bring through lingering pepper from those brilliant first few puffs and give you a sense of direct control over the smoking journey this cigar takes you on.
Final third
Cedar and musk remain throughout the final third, teamed with coffee, vanilla, oats, and pumpkin spices. It's been a consistent flavor profile throughout the stick, but there's enough variation and evolution - and the option to incorporate more or less of the retro-hale - to keep things interesting.
How strong is the Cruzado?
Illusione Cruzado cigars sit toward the top end of the strength scale. I have them pegged at medium-full strength and medium body. This is especially true if you incorporate those peppery retrohales into your smoking experience.
This strength and richness mean that these cigars will hold their own alongside some powerful food and drink pairings. Red wine, cognac, dark rum, and craft beers are no problem at all, along with seared steak, red meats, and game.
In conclusion
While paying tribute to Houdini's efforts to cheat death, Giolito has created a truly immortal blend that yearns to be smoked.
The strong flavors are expertly balanced so each Illusione Cruzado cigar stays on the right side of the line, and the masterful construction of these premium handmade cigars keeps the burn line even without the need to touch up or relight.
Illusione Cruzado cigars are available in boxes of 20 and in two vitolas, the 5 x 48 Illusione Cruzado Dantes and the 6 x 56 Illusione Cruzado Domenicos Extra. I particularly appreciate the narrowband and minimal approach to adding the logo to each stick.
These cigars are wrapped first and foremost in premium Nicaraguan tobacco, not paper, and that's exactly the way it should be.