New Cigar from Illusione

T.G · 07-21-2009, 10:45 PM

Here's the full text of the article for those interested:

--BEGIN

DREW ESTATE TO MAKE NEW ILLUSIONE
By Gregory Mottola from Cigar Insider 7/7/09
For the first time in the history of Drew Estate, the company best known for making infused and flavored cigars will be making a non-flavored, premium national brand for a third party—namely Dion Giolito, the man behind illusione cigars.

The new illusione Nosotros, which translates to “us” in Spanish, refers to the collaboration between Giolito and Drew Estate founder Jonathan Drew. While this is not Drew Estate’s first foray into the world of non-infused premium cigars (Chateau Real, Liga Privada No. 9), this is the first time that Drew Estate will be making a traditional premium mark for someone else. “Moving into the traditional market for us was a real challenge because many cigar smokers had a preconceived notion about Drew Estate,” said Jonathan Drew. “They thought of us as the ACID guys or the infusion guys. It was really the opening of our factory Gran Fabrica Drew Estate that moved us towards all areas of tobacco, including the non-flavored traditional market.” Giolito, who has all three of his brands made at the same factory in Honduras, had been seeking a new factory since 2007 in hopes of diversifying his brand portfolio. “Originally, Cruzado was supposed to made in the Joya de Nicaragua factory,” said Giolito. “I went down to the factory in December of 2007 and blended a cigar. At about that time, Drew Estate went into negotiations to distribute the Joya de Nicaragua brand. Subsequently, I wasn’t part of the deal and got kicked to the curb. No biggie.” According to Giolito, Drew approached him the following year at the 2008 IPCPR trade show and invited him to the Drew Estate factory in Nicaragua to brainstorm.

“Quite honestly, I had no intention of making a brand for anyone or with anyone,” said Drew. “Then I met Dion and my attitude changed. It is well known that I have been a personal consumer of his brands, but I knew nothing about the man who made them, other than his avant-garde marketing and conspiracy theory rhetoric. I also knew that the tobaccos in his brands came from well-celebrated farms in Nicaragua controlled by Aganorsa…I pursued working with Dion because his vision is original and raw. He understands that a great-tasting cigar need not be jam packed with ligero.” Drew said he has set up a “micro-factory” within his factory dedicated solely to the construction of illusione Nosotros cigars. It was designed to reflect the spirit of the brand with Nosotros murals on the walls and rollers wearing branded T-shirts.

Nosotros will be introduced at this year’s trade show and will come in eight sizes:
Corona 4 x 46
Corona Larga 6 x46
Robusto 5 x 50
Robusto Larga 5 ½ x 54
Toro, 6 x 52
“660” 6 x 60
Torpedo 6 ½ x 54
Churchill 7 x 48

Although prices have yet to be officially determined, the brand will retail in the range of approximately $7.95 to $11.95 per cigar and, unlike other illusione brands, will be available to Internet and catalog vendors. The brand draws its flavors from a Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 wrapper, Nicaraguan filler, and Connecticut Habano binder grown in Connecticut.

“I’ve never used these filler and binder tobaccos before, and they create a flavor profile that I crave but seldom get to smoke,” Giolito said. “Spicy and clean on the palate with richness and power that really sneaks up on you. The blend is well out of my comfort zone and very nonpareil to my other lines. As it turned out, the first combination of tobaccos that we experimented with wound up being the final blend.”

--END

Link to rehosted press release in pdf format
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=56B8ASED

Anyway, I can't wait to try this cigar as I like how both Dion and Jonathan blend their cigars (Jon's traditional stuff that is - not an ACID fan, but I do respect the cigars).

07-21-2009, 10:45 PM	#18
T.G Grrrrrr Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: The Other Adam Posts: 15,561 Trading: (37)	Re: New Cigar from Illusione Here's the full text of the article for those interested: --BEGIN DREW ESTATE TO MAKE NEW ILLUSIONE By Gregory Mottola from Cigar Insider 7/7/09 For the first time in the history of Drew Estate, the company best known for making infused and flavored cigars will be making a non-flavored, premium national brand for a third party—namely Dion Giolito, the man behind illusione cigars. The new illusione Nosotros, which translates to “us” in Spanish, refers to the collaboration between Giolito and Drew Estate founder Jonathan Drew. While this is not Drew Estate’s first foray into the world of non-infused premium cigars (Chateau Real, Liga Privada No. 9), this is the first time that Drew Estate will be making a traditional premium mark for someone else. “Moving into the traditional market for us was a real challenge because many cigar smokers had a preconceived notion about Drew Estate,” said Jonathan Drew. “They thought of us as the ACID guys or the infusion guys. It was really the opening of our factory Gran Fabrica Drew Estate that moved us towards all areas of tobacco, including the non-flavored traditional market.” Giolito, who has all three of his brands made at the same factory in Honduras, had been seeking a new factory since 2007 in hopes of diversifying his brand portfolio. “Originally, Cruzado was supposed to made in the Joya de Nicaragua factory,” said Giolito. “I went down to the factory in December of 2007 and blended a cigar. At about that time, Drew Estate went into negotiations to distribute the Joya de Nicaragua brand. Subsequently, I wasn’t part of the deal and got kicked to the curb. No biggie.” According to Giolito, Drew approached him the following year at the 2008 IPCPR trade show and invited him to the Drew Estate factory in Nicaragua to brainstorm. “Quite honestly, I had no intention of making a brand for anyone or with anyone,” said Drew. “Then I met Dion and my attitude changed. It is well known that I have been a personal consumer of his brands, but I knew nothing about the man who made them, other than his avant-garde marketing and conspiracy theory rhetoric. I also knew that the tobaccos in his brands came from well-celebrated farms in Nicaragua controlled by Aganorsa…I pursued working with Dion because his vision is original and raw. He understands that a great-tasting cigar need not be jam packed with ligero.” Drew said he has set up a “micro-factory” within his factory dedicated solely to the construction of illusione Nosotros cigars. It was designed to reflect the spirit of the brand with Nosotros murals on the walls and rollers wearing branded T-shirts. Nosotros will be introduced at this year’s trade show and will come in eight sizes: Corona 4 x 46 Corona Larga 6 x46 Robusto 5 x 50 Robusto Larga 5 ½ x 54 Toro, 6 x 52 “660” 6 x 60 Torpedo 6 ½ x 54 Churchill 7 x 48 Although prices have yet to be officially determined, the brand will retail in the range of approximately $7.95 to $11.95 per cigar and, unlike other illusione brands, will be available to Internet and catalog vendors. The brand draws its flavors from a Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 wrapper, Nicaraguan filler, and Connecticut Habano binder grown in Connecticut. “I’ve never used these filler and binder tobaccos before, and they create a flavor profile that I crave but seldom get to smoke,” Giolito said. “Spicy and clean on the palate with richness and power that really sneaks up on you. The blend is well out of my comfort zone and very nonpareil to my other lines. As it turned out, the first combination of tobaccos that we experimented with wound up being the final blend.” --END Link to rehosted press release in pdf format http://www.megaupload.com/?d=56B8ASED Anyway, I can't wait to try this cigar as I like how both Dion and Jonathan blend their cigars (Jon's traditional stuff that is - not an ACID fan, but I do respect the cigars).