Illusione Cruzado Domenicos Extra Cigar Review

According to the Illusione Cigars website the Illusione Cruzado Domenicos Extra “is a blend dominant with Criollo ’98 tobaccos complimented with one component of Corojo 2006. The blend exhibits a rich aroma in the air. The flavor profile is palate-forward with hints of leather, coffee and winter spices. All vitolas come packaged in cedar dress boxes of 20 cigars and are non-cellophaned to promote box aging.”

Cigar Review: Illusione Cruzado
Size:  6 x 56 (Domenicos Extra)
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium-Full

The Look (10/10): The cigar is covered up in gold foil, that needs to be removed in order to the see the cigar. Once the foil is removed it reveals a caramel color wrapper that is flawlessly rolled. Under inspection the wrapper itself is perfect and loaded with oils. The silver black and gold band denotes Cruzado and illusione. The cigar is firm with no soft spots and a nice weight.

The Notes (32/35): The cold draw off the Cruzado by Illusione offers up an earthy component with a touch of cedar and a very faint berry like sweetness that I didn’t pick up until my 3rd pull. Under the nose the wrapper and foot have some continued earth with a touch of pepper that almost makes me sneeze.

Smoking the first third there is a pepper note through the nose that is subtle with a hint of mocha and cinnamon over a base of leather. As the first third of cigar comes to a close a chocolate covered graham cracker note develops that has me salivating.

The second third of Cruzado gets a little darker with a mix of coffee and leather forming the base notes. There is an abundance of flavors including some black cherry notes, cinnamon and wisp of vanilla bean on the moderate finish. As the second third comes to a close there is some cinnamon on the aroma.

The last third of the cigar has some citrus notes added to the mix over a base of leather. The sweetness experienced on the first two-thirds of the cigar is non-existent as we close out the cigar that has a lengthy wood finish.

The Burn (31/35): The Illusione Cruzado Domenicos Extra is a cigar that produces an ample volume of smoke, which I love in a cigar. The draw was perfect, but the burn at times was not. At times is was as jagged as a seismograph but it always managed to self correct. The ash was firm holding for a little more than a third at a time and the cigar burned cool.

The Finish (18/20): While I love the original document Illusione more, the Cruzado is a cigar that I feel is often overlooked in the portfolio. The cigar offers an amazing myriad of flavors that keep the smoker interested and intrigues as to where it will turn next. I will definitely be adding the Cruzado back to my regular cigar rotation and I suggest you give it a look as well.

Price: $9.95
Score: 91

Bullet Points

• I remember when this cigar was new and twitter hadn’t completely blown up, the fun we would have with Jerry Cruz from Stogie Review over the name of the cigar.
• When the Cruzado first came out I loved the cigar but moved away from it over wrapper and draw issues. I’m glad to see neither is a problem any.
• I like the gold foil that covers the cigar as it provides a nice protection and stands out on the shelves.
• The cigar stirred up some memories of the original release, and that was pretty damn awesome.
• I paired the cigar with water
• Smoking time was 1 hour 55 minutes.