Illusione Epernay Le Ferme
BlueRings
Posts: 367
Epernay Le Ferme
My hesitation in rating this cigar is selfish at best because of such limited availibility. I made sure to secure myself a box of these ahead of this review.
PreLight
Between a corona and robusto size 48 x 5.25 with a reddish brown Cafe Rosado wrapper. Binder and filler of a combination of Criollo and Corojo tobaccos. A Prelight sweetness with a tea and earth note. Cut with a Cuban Crafter guillotine straight cut. Toasted and lit with Xikar Axia.
First third
A light peppery note, almost bubbly tickle in the nose like champagne. Floral notes of hibiscus with a cedar and leather back note. A mouth feel of buttery toast with a malted sweetness in the back of the throat. Burn of a flaky silver grey ash with a razor sharp line.
Second third
Pepper fades into background and becomes so smooth you can retrohale 100%. A Cuban coffee back note on the follow through with a bit of cinnamon on the finish. Holding on to leather and cedar on the retrohale. Also noting anise on the tongue with a cherry note in the back of the throat.
Final third
Cherry note has moved to the retrohale and the cigar leaves me with a light feel on tongue. My palate does not feel overworked leaving me wanting more. Cedar and leather hanging on and never overwhelms or disappates. Every note playing off each other with a complexity not found in many cigars. This is a strong medium and does not change through out the stick. Flavors of leather, cedar, cherry, tea sweetness, creamy butter remain and add to the complexity and longevity of the flavors.
Final thoughts:
This is a ROTT cigar without question. It doesn't need more time as the time for this cigar is now. Seldom does a cigar capture so perfectly everything you would want in a cigar. This a cigar I would want if stranded on a island and could only hope I had enough to last during my stay. I finally see what many have predicted would happen one day where a non Cuban cigar would beat a Cuban cigar.
My hesitation in rating this cigar is selfish at best because of such limited availibility. I made sure to secure myself a box of these ahead of this review.
PreLight
Between a corona and robusto size 48 x 5.25 with a reddish brown Cafe Rosado wrapper. Binder and filler of a combination of Criollo and Corojo tobaccos. A Prelight sweetness with a tea and earth note. Cut with a Cuban Crafter guillotine straight cut. Toasted and lit with Xikar Axia.
First third
A light peppery note, almost bubbly tickle in the nose like champagne. Floral notes of hibiscus with a cedar and leather back note. A mouth feel of buttery toast with a malted sweetness in the back of the throat. Burn of a flaky silver grey ash with a razor sharp line.
Second third
Pepper fades into background and becomes so smooth you can retrohale 100%. A Cuban coffee back note on the follow through with a bit of cinnamon on the finish. Holding on to leather and cedar on the retrohale. Also noting anise on the tongue with a cherry note in the back of the throat.
Final third
Cherry note has moved to the retrohale and the cigar leaves me with a light feel on tongue. My palate does not feel overworked leaving me wanting more. Cedar and leather hanging on and never overwhelms or disappates. Every note playing off each other with a complexity not found in many cigars. This is a strong medium and does not change through out the stick. Flavors of leather, cedar, cherry, tea sweetness, creamy butter remain and add to the complexity and longevity of the flavors.
Final thoughts:
This is a ROTT cigar without question. It doesn't need more time as the time for this cigar is now. Seldom does a cigar capture so perfectly everything you would want in a cigar. This a cigar I would want if stranded on a island and could only hope I had enough to last during my stay. I finally see what many have predicted would happen one day where a non Cuban cigar would beat a Cuban cigar.
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Comments
Where do I sign up, I mean where can I get one or two, okay a box lol.
Nice review, I'm sold on it.
I am glad to hear you like them so well. They are amazing in my book and I can say that they are my over all favorite stick. Matter a fact I think this deserves to light one up!
I have one of these (graciously sent by RCY Cigars!) and I can't wait to smoke it!
for those of you have smoked both, is there any real comparison in the experience of the cigars, or do they just have similar tasting notes?
Some may argue but the biggest difference I noticed is Epernay is much more complex and refined. The Cristobal is an awesome and obviously a DPG blend. The Elegance is very close but still losing in the strength of the wrapper. The Corojo wrapper on the Le Ferme makes this cigar. It is rich and satisfying. This is still my favorite non-cuban. I am going to smoke a Le Ferme tonight to reassert this. I smoked an Elegance last night so it is fresh on my mind and a good time to do a side by side.