STG, the parent company of General Cigar, has announced a new collaboration with none other than Dion Giolito of Illusione cigars. The collaboration will go under the Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur brand and called Illusione of Excalibur. This is a limited edition cigar and is the first Excalibur made in Nicaragua.
The Illusione of Excalibur was blended by Dion Giolito and STG's Justin Andrews.
Dion Giolito and Illusione's success in the premium cigar category has been driven by his rigorous standards for tobacco and his ability to create cigars that wow the market. So when it came to developing a blend for Excalibur, Dion was our hands-down first choice. I'm very proud of how this project came together. My only regret is that we couldn't make this a full-time launch.
Justin Andrews
When GCC asked me to do a collaboration and offered up Excalibur, I immediately jumped at the opportunity. In college, the Excalibur #1 Maduro was my go-to when I could afford them on a college budget. My buddy George and I would enjoy them after class or band practice. They were a real treat back then, and they still are to this day. For my part, I wanted to make a cigar in the spirit of Excalibur with a bold character and packaging that pays homage to the brand's origins. I believe this blend really hits the mark.
Dion Giolito
Illusione of Excalibur is rolled at the Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. (TABSA) factory in Nicaragua, where many other Illusione cigars are made. The blend is a Nicaraguan puro using a Nicaraguan Corojo 1999 wrapper from Jalapa, a 2012 Nicaraguan Corojo binder from Jalapa and a blend of Criollo and Corojo tobaccos from 1998, 1999 and 2006 grown in Esteli. It will come in only one size, a 7.25 x 54 Double Corona. Dion and Justin said this size best represents the aged tobaccos of its blend.
In a homage to the legendary sword of King Arthur that inspired its name, Excalibur Illusione will come in royal blue lacquered boxes with gold detailing, each containing ten cigars. The cigars will go on sale July 4, 2022. Only 4,960 boxes will be released and each cigar has an MSRP of $19.99.