The weekend is upon us!
For this week’s cigar, I chose something that I’ve been a fan of ever since a friend sent me one to try a couple years ago. Illusione’s Garagiste, in this writer’s opinion, is one of the most understated cigars in an already understated brand.
From the humble, brown band that barely distinguishes itself from the wrapper, it’s hard to know just what kind of experience is awaiting the trial by fire. And yet, I keep returning to this cigar any time I’m looking for something outside of the norm. It’s elegant, bold, and charmingly unpredictable.
Upon first light, Garagiste opens up with notes of leather, brown sugar, cardamom, and hay. The body is noticeably full in the first couple minutes, but eventually throttles back to a medium-full category. Retro haling this cigar blasts the nostrils with spice before soothing them with a delightful finish that reminds of a Mocha-latte.
Burning in a little further, I get impressions of waffle cone, additional exotic spices, and chocolate teddy grahams for another inch or so. The tasting notes are bright, fueled by the medium-full body, and really hit the spot.
The second third begins with salty sunflower seeds, toast, and really works the savory angle. And that’s why I love this cigar so much – it flips the script more often than a frustrated playwright. From experience, I can tell you that this cigar will swap back again past the midway point and delve into bold notes of espresso and leather tempered with soft nuances of chocolate and (once again) brown sugar.
I believe this is where I’ll take my leave to admire Dion Giolito’s work! Cheers to a wonderful weekend and a great week ahead.
Suggestions
If you like your cigars with a little more giddy up, I’d head for the robusto. If you prefer your cigars a little smoother, milder, and a tad sweeter, I’d recommend selecting a larger size like the toro.
For a pairing suggestion, I’ve always enjoyed these with sweeter pours like Diplomatico rum and Benjamin Prichard’s Double-Barreled whiskey. For something with less octane, I’d imagine a Cream Soda or Root Beer would do the trick nicely!
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