Cigar Asylum Cigar Forum - Cruzado Avalitos (Dion's Firecracker)

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Cruzado Avalitos (Dion's Firecracker)

I picked a couple of these up at an Illusione/Cruzado Event last month!

This one has been resting in my cooler since the event!

Length/Ring: 4 X 46
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Natural
Strength: Medium

I have been a big fan of the Illusione cigars for almost a year now, but as soon as I tried my first Cruzado Marelas I became a bigger fan of this new line!!!

The Avalitos is very similar in size and shape to the Illusione ~68~ Bambone! The pigtail cap is unique to this line!
http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/4...uzado01sn7.jpg

The pre-draw, after cutting the cap, was very nice with no blockage whatsoever! After toasting the foot I took my first couple of draws and found a strong bitterness but plenty of white smoke. This was starting to remind me of Illusiones that I have smoked!
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2431/cruzado02ct6.jpg

The bitterness soon gave way to some sweetness and coffee notes. The white smoke from this cigar was incredible. The burn was even and I was detecting some of the flavor profile I remembered from the Marelas!
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/7...uzado03lo4.jpg

I must say that the construction on these, as with the Illusione are almost flawless. I really enjoy the dark natural wrapper with the smooth well-cared-for leaf!
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/5...uzado04ey5.jpg

I really don't like comparing cigars when I do a review but the dark zebra striped ash is very similar to the Illusione line. At this point I needed to pair this cigar with a drink and I decided on D' Art Port. I needed something sweet to help me find the sweet notes I remembered from the Marelas as more spice was coming though than I was expecting!
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/8...uzado05zs3.jpg

The spice was not bad! It was more reminiscent of black pepper than red! This cigar at the halfway point was reminding me of the strength of the ~68~ and I really like the ~68~ a lot! I removed the band at this point!
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/9...uzado06ot9.jpg

The Port helped me again find the sweetness that is locked away in this vitola! I found myself purging a little to push some of the bitterness out! At this point the cigar became hot and was almost going out! It was very soft. I let it cool!
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2066/cruzado07nj3.jpg

I am renaming this cigar - Dion's Firecracker! This cigar is not "strong" in the nicotine sense but is a powerhouse of flavor and black pepper on the tongue. I know what cigar to select from my humi when I want to enjoy black pepper!
http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/9...uzado08mz3.jpg

Total smoke time took 55 minutes.

Construction/Appearance: 9 out of 10 (I like the pigtail cap)
Flavor Balance: 8 out of 10 (Plenty of black pepper spice)
Strength: Medium/Full (Flavorful without a nicotine buzz) )
Over all experience: 7 out of 10 (this is because I was expecting the Marelas)
Value: I paid around $10.00 (California Prices). I would like to pay less! Who wouldn't?