illusione / Cruzado Production Update -- ALL EYES

[vudu9]

Hello All!

Just back from about two weeks of travel. Saw a few botl's at the BSLV - good to hang and shoot the shit while smoking great cigars.
I've been in Nicaragua and Honduras all last week both out in the barns and in the factory. Half of the time was spent smoking and validating various components i.e. viso, seco, ligero etc., for use in illusione and Cruzado production for 2009. I'm very fortunate in that I'm able to venture out into the barns in the regions where these pilones are kept. Usually in our crew is the Factory owner, Jacinto, an agronomist from Aganorsa, Arsenio Ramos, who is a master farmer and the person credited for showing Cuba how to properly do maduro fermentation. The Cohiba maduro coverleaf?, yeah - that's Arsenio. Also along was Paul Palmer, President of Casa Fernandez. It's great to really get out there and actually be a part of the selection process. It is a rarity and an honor for any brand owner to be involved at this level of selection. It is also where you can literally select the best of the best before anyone else has a chance to get their grubby little paws on it before it goes to Pre industirias for sale. For the most part, Factory owners and clients go to Pre-industira for tobacco selection. This is like a tobacco market of sorts for leaf buyers of all sorts.
The second half of the trip was spent in Honduras at the Factory. I needed to tend to some issues with production. I've been seeing batches of Cruzado coming in a little on the dark side....too dark. No biggie, we sorted that right out. I also worked on some cigars, possibly something for IPCPR next year in New Orleans. Nothing's written in stone yet. I can tell you that the blend is friggin' killer and the sizes are the following;

46 x 6
40 x 5 3/4
44 x 4 1/2
48 x 5 1/4

Yep, that's right - no great big Donkey Di*k cigars in this line-up either!

Boy oh boy - there sure are alot more people in the factory having cigars made than there was a year ago! For the most part, I don't pay attention. I just keep my head down and stay 3 steps ahead of the rest, just like my bro over there in JPG's house. Speaking of houses. I got invited over to Jonathan Drew's place in Nicaragua. HOLY F****NG $H!T !!!!!! INCREDIBLE !!! He just finished the bunk house, deck area and pool for his Cigar Safari's and it's like a cross between Pablo Escobar's compound and the Vatican. For reals. It's backed up to the best view in Esteli overlooking rolling meadows, trees and a large river that runs through it all. Adjacent to it is the new factory. We had a great dinner prepared by one of JD's chefs and got drunk on rum and smoked lots of cigars (mine of course), talked a lot of shit, dissagreed on a few things but agreed on most. Jonathan's a very gracious host and has tons of knowledge about tobacco and is extremely passsionate about the cigar culture. I was also very humbled at just how much he knew of me and my cigars without any real formal conversation beforehand. It was a very prosperous and eventful trip. I'll keep you guys up to date as more info comes along.


Later -

Dion Giolito
illusione cigars

[Coop D]

Sounds like a very interesting visit!
can't wait to see pics of the production.

[Lighthouse]

Glad to hear things are going well Dion. I noted you made a correction on the Cruzado's. How might this effect the taste? I picked up a box of Domenicos and had a couple fo them but am giving the remainder some time to rest. They were good, but I do enjoy the Illusione's most!!! The new lineup of sticks sounds interesting too!!

[boomerd35]

Holy spit you scared me. When I read production update all eyes, I feared the worst. Then when you started talking about checking out the tobacco, I thought you were going to tell us it all ran out or something. Do whatever it takes to keep making the same aweseome Illusiones- legal or illegal (kidding)(well maybe). Just keep em coming!! And thanks!! I'll admit, I was a big ring type of guy until I got ahold of your sticks. Flavor lives under the 50!

[Jughead]

Thanks for the info Dion you make one hell of a stick!

[tobacmon]

Can't wait to try one of these-Anything Dion Giolito has his hands on has got to be worth trying----they do look awesome and what more can a guy or gal ask for. Looking for the same distinctive taste of the illusion but maybe as it says "Unlike illusione cigars, the Curzado's lighter shade will fall between a cafe clara and cafe rosado shade. Man now that sounds tatsty---Thanks Dion!

Woo Hoo!!!!

[vudu9]

Originally Posted by Lighthouse

Glad to hear things are going well Dion. I noted you made a correction on the Cruzado's. How might this effect the taste? I picked up a box of Domenicos and had a couple fo them but am giving the remainder some time to rest. They were good, but I do enjoy the Illusione's most!!! The new lineup of sticks sounds interesting too!!

Not at all. Same coverleaf, same priming, just a lighter shade.

[drac-cl]

Glad you had fun D. I have been smoking alot of Cruzado, great stick.

[madoqa]

Nice info!
I wish adding short fat vitola(Nub like).

[houdini-cl]

Great to hear Dion! The Cruzados are amazing....I hope you didnt change or fine-tune a thing! Happy Thanksgiving Bro...H

[tx_tuff]

I have yet to smoke a bad stick from you Dion, and most of the time its the best stick of the day! You really know how to pack in the flavor without making it a knock you d*ck in the dirt smoke! I love the sizes of this new line you are comeing out with, can't wait to grab a 46 x 6 and 48 x 5 1/4!!

[Ceedee]

When I get to hear such passion and downright giddyness from the owner of one of the industry's top-tier manufacturers, it makes me feel like a real part of the whole lifestyle. I mean, it's downright COOL as hell to hear the straight scoop from you Dion and know that you are so passionate about what you do. Your product shows your personality and I for one love that product! Thanks for the update, I am looking forward to the Illusione/Cruzado 2009 crop!

CD

[drac-cl]

Let me tell you guys a story about Dion ans his passion for the integrity of his product. When D was up here with me a few weeks back he gave me a Cruzado and as I smoked it, it had the most minor uneven burn, almost unnoticeable. He said "give me that" and handed me another one. I said "D, that was no issue at all", he said "that is unacceptable". This is the kind of quality control you can expect from Dion.

[SmokinJoe]

Thanks for the update Dion...sounds like a productive trip! I smoked a Domenicos after work tonight with a glass of Zacapa 23. Perfect way to fininsh off a LONG day!

Looking forward to seeing the new possibilities for next year!

[vudu9]

Originally Posted by SmokinJoe

Thanks for the update Dion...sounds like a productive trip! I smoked a Domenicos after work tonight with a glass of Zacapa 23. Perfect way to fininsh off a LONG day!

Looking forward to seeing the new possibilities for next year!

Perfect combination. RZ and cigars are a match to be reconed with.