Illusione ECCJ
Size: 5 5/8 X 46
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
MSRP: 9 but good luck finding them anywhere!
Appearance & Construction: The wrapper looks like roasted acorns. The wrapper is seamless,
but there are some light veins, and a little tooth to it as well. It has a slight heft to it
due to it being very well packed. This is a very firm stick with virtually no give to it.
Prelight Draw: Nut's, Clean Tobacco, Light Spice. The Draw was very slightly
resistant. Perfect!!!
1st 3rd: This stick is a Flavor Bomb!. I lit the foot and Got smacked in the face with white pepper and
espresso. The espresso would last all the way
through this one, and it mixed with other nuances such as cream, and leather
in the first 3rd. It's producing tons of clean smoke! No oil on the finish. (Just espresso!)
2nd 3rd: The full flavored medium body experience continues, in this part cream is introduced
for the first time! It blends very well with the espresso ala cafe au lait, but soon after, leather,
and get this burnt caramel! This was a first for me and it is very enjoyable. Every now and
then roasted nut's would show it's head and then disappear. I guess groundhog's day must be
around the corner! This stogie is still producing volumes of smoke! So much that i'm getting
a lot of coffee and leather in the nose.
Final 3rd: I can only assume that all of the retrohale is taking it's toll and i'm now getting a
medium-full body experience! This stick has kicked it up a notch!Notes of leather, espresso,
burnt caramel, cream, and now roasted almond are beautifully intertwined.
The finish was a very rich espresso. I can't wait to smoke another one!
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[Reply]
Nice review and a very nice smoke!
:-)
I will have to smoke the Epernay line again because the ECCJs seem to taste almost exactly like the Illusione Epernay Le Ferme IMO (the Le Ferme is the only one I've had from the Epernay line).
I know the Epernay line was designed from the original ECCJ but I expected it to have a bit of a different flavor if not a small change to the blend...
I will try to do a taste test in the near future and see if I can pick up some different nuances or if they truly are the same to my palate.
[Reply]
