The Illusione Epernay from Dion Giolito are beautifully balanced premium cigars blended to replicate the nuances of Nicaraguan tobaccos before the Sandinistas took over Nicaragua in 1979 when this country was growing some of the best tobaccos in the world. Epernay cigars are Nicaraguan puros that pair vintage Criollo and Corojo tobaccos with finest shade-grown Corojo Rosado wrappers from a prized 1999 crop. The result is an unforgettable medium to full bodied smoke that rewards the palate with warm and inviting notes of coffee, leather, and honey, accented with cedar, and just a dash of dried fruit. These stunning sticks were awarded the #3 spot in Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 Cigars of 2011.