In France, most wine making is tightly controlled and highly traditional. Rules about methods, blends, varietals, and more are adhered to by well-recognized châteaux and vineyards with ancient names. And if you don’t want to fall in line, the powers that be will run you through the mud - which, in their opinion, is where you belong.
What’s an innovative, independent, small batch wine maker to do?
Go on making wine anyway, and to hell with the powers that be!
That’s the mindset of the “garagistes,” the winemakers who bucked tradition and did things their own way. Industry leaders in France insulted them, wondering who would want wine that was “being made in someone’s garage?” As it turns out, a lot of drinkers want those wines. After a few hundred years, the same old thing can get a little, as the French say, bohr-eeng?
Illusione Cigars takes a similar posture towards the tobacco industry.
Instead of doing everything the way it was always done, company founder Dion Giolito stepped up to the leaf with his own agenda in mind, making small batch cigars that intrigued his palate. Some blends were traditional, others were more innovative, but the focus was always the same: make an excellent smoke.
Here, with the Illusione Garagiste cigar, it’s a long-filler blend of Nicaraguan Criollo '98 and Corojo '99, with an emphasis on ligeros from two different regions. Outside, the wrapper is “Grade AAA” Colorado Habano Ecuador tobacco. The result is medium to full-bodied smoke with earthy undertones, balanced against vanilla, tea, and maple-pecan sweetness. The “powers that be” in the cigar world couldn’t help themselves, judging this one to be worthy of a 90 rating.
New is fun, especially in the hands of a talented blender like Dion Giolito. We can’t wait to see what other independent-minded blends he comes up with next.
Vive les garagistes!
Please browse our selection of Illusione Garagistes cigars at your leisure.
