"I really couldn’t be happier with this cigar in regard to performance and the flavor profile. It was never overpowering but had the fuller flavor profile that I prefer. I paired this with a barrel-aged stout (2022 Black Tuesday) and it was a perfect match. I would gladly recommend it to any of my cigar-smoking friends, and I will absolutely seek out more when I find out what this is! Very good cigar!" -Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
Fred Rewey has returned to the cigar industry. Illusione Cigars has hired him as their new Brand Strategist effective immediately. Rewey made his mark in the cigar industry as the founder and owner of Nomad Cigar Co. from 2012-2018. In 2018 he sold the company to Ezra Zion. He is also the co-founder an online marketing company, Exposure One.
Amendola Family Cigar Co. announced today that they have entered into a distribution deal with Illusione Cigars. Illusione Cigars has relationships with a wide range of retailers across the US and internationally.
In the case of shop events, it can be challenging for a small cigar shop. The difficulty comes in a few different forms. On one hand, a smaller cigar shop simply doesn't have as much space for customers. Also, a brand owner would typically be less inclined to spend the time money and effort to hold an event at a small cigar shop. But brands who have a broad following and dedicated group of talented sales reps can take chances on small shop events, and sometimes turn them into a success. In late July of 2018, I spent the evening at my local shop and had a wonderful time at a small scale cigar event.
ACMEAllBalmoralBill PaleyCaldwellCamachoCAOCrowned HeadsCubaCubariquenoDanny MoyaDavidoffDion GiolitoDominican RepublicDon Pepin GarciaDrew EstateDunbarton Tobacco & TrustEditorialFeaturedFoundation CigarFred ReweyH. Upmann (Cuba)Hendrik KelnerHondurasIllusioneIPCPRJon HuberJonathan DrewKyle GellisL'AtelierLa PalinaManuel QuesadaMax FernandezMoyaRuizNelson RuizNewsNicaraguaNicholas MelilloPartagasPete JohnsonQuesadaRick RodriguezRobert CaldwellRoMa CraftSkip MartinSteve SakaTatuajeTop 25USAWarpedWilly Herrera
·Voting Process
Each of our 16 panelists were given 10 votes to cast. Our list is made up of cigars that were RELEASED in 2015. The cigars that are eligible do not have to have been reviewed on Blind Man's Puff, but the panelist must have smoke it at some point themselves.
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.
Illusione is now the distributor of Black Star line Cigars. Black Star Line was started in 2019 by Aric Bey. The cigars themselves are rolled at El Titan De Bronze and Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. (TABSA.) We recently reviewed the Black Star Line War Witch and gave it a very impressive 91 in our blind test.
"Overall, this was a very very good medium bodied smoke that anyone could enjoy with an awesome first two thirds and a decent last third that wasn’t as impressive as the first two. The natural peanut butter flavor is what sold me on this cigar, who doesn’t like the great taste of a natural creamy peanut butter oozing with oils and deliciousness? While probably not the top tier of sticks I have had, it did make quite an impression with me and is deserving of more in the future." -John A. (Bostoneo)
"This was a good cigar, with lots of heavy cream notes, but there weren't any other flavors to keep my attention, It burned, and smoked great. Might be a good cigar in the morning with a cup of java." -Mickey T. (irratebass)
The Cigar Media Association, of which Blind Man's Puff is a member, is pleased to announce the 2014 Cigar Industry Award Winners. With the establishment of the Cigar Media Association in 2014, the 14 members involved in the association wanted to create an award ceremony where they could honor and celebrate the companies and individuals in the cigar industry. This marks the first time a collaborative effort among various brands of the cigar media have come together for such a process.