In terms of flavor, I would venture to call the MK Ultra full-flavored. Illusione gets an A-plus in this department. It begins with some chocolate notes that combine with coffee and leather in the first third. The second third picks up in strength and introduces spiciness and a meaty flavor. More chocolate is also apparent here. The final third gets smoother once again, featuring spice that is toned down and chocolate. I can say without fear of equivocation that this is definitely a full-bodied cigar in terms of strength.

I have to give it to Illusione, as they really impressed me with the MK Ultra. The construction was solid and the burn was on the mark. Toss in the superb flavor and you have yourself a top-notch cigar. Price-wise, the Uno Puro sells for around $6 to $7 each, depending where you shop. It also comes in packs of five. That’s a good value when you consider the amount of flavor it brings. This is not a cigar for beginners, but it is perfect for seasoned smokers looking for a full-bodied and full-flavored experience.

The Illusione MK Ultra earns a rating of 3.75 out of four stars.

Illusione MJ12 Maduro

As with many cigars from Illusione, Dion Giolito, the man in charge of the brand, slapped a moniker onto the line with an interesting meaning. M12 apparently refers to the Majestic 12, a group of scientists assigned by President Harry S. Truman in 1947 to investigate the Roswell UFO incident. The packaging of the original MJ12 consisted of silver foil to cleverly hint at a government cover-up. For the newer Maduro version, the packaging has turned to black foil. That’s a nice little story to prep me for my smoking experience, but now it’s time to get down to business.

The Illusione MJ12 Maduro measures 6 x 54 and carries a Toro Gordo format. The cigar's filler is Nicaraguan. The binder is also Nicaraguan, and a Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper tops things off. In other words, this is a puro. In terms of strength, the MJ12 Maduro supposedly falls somewhere between medium and full-bodied.