vudu9

Concept<br />
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The basic concept behind illusione cigars is relative to my Faith in God and our constant struggle between good and evil. <br />
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Backround<br />
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My life was forever changed when I decided after of two years of college in Oklahoma to come back to Reno in 1988 to be closer to home (Las Vegas) to finish school. I was a theory and composition major back in OK – I wanted to be a film score composer. UNR didn’t have that degree, instead they gave me the same scholarship provided I enroll in the College of Education. Sure, fine I thought. It was shortly after working various part-time jobs that my friend Ansar hooked me up with a gig at the Tinder Box. It allowed me flexible hours for school and allowed me to tour with the band I was in the summertime - I always had a position to come back to no matter what.<br />
I started student-teaching and, hated it. I dropped out of school with around 17 credits left to go. Soon after that, The Tinder Box became a full-time gig. I floundered there for years, tried moving back to Vegas – just didn’t work out so, back to Reno, I came to my old job. In 2004 after almost 12 years of working at the Box, I decided to go out on my own. I got a SBA loan, did it on a shoe-string budget and opened my own store. It was the following year that I decided to bring in a cigar that Pete Johnson had bought from Tabacalera Tropical to liquidate and make a couple of bucks on. I bought practically everything he had. When supplies dwindled, I asked him if he could get me more. 50 boxes were the minimum purchase. “F* me!” I thought.” Oh well, I’ll do it.” I had the cliché on the box changed to 88 – the year I decided to come to Reno. I was a BIG fan at the time of the AVO ~22~ packaging. I designed my private label 88 to resemble that type of cliché, even though my packaging was different. <br />
After about 6 months or so of positive comments about this cigar from local customers, I decided to drive to LA and meet Pete to extend the line and possibly convert it into a national brand. Pete and I had a lot in common. We both got into the cigar business about the same time, we both played in Rock bands (mine was more Punk-Rock) – we even found out that we used the same entertainment lawyer! Pete decided to just introduce me to Paul Palmer while we were on a trip to Miami – the creator of these great cigars. I loved those trips – hanging with Pete, Pepin, Janny and Jaime, Smoking Miami Tatuajes and drinking Zacapa in Pepin’s back yard – good times. <br />
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The Clichés<br />
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My band the Atomiks was heavily into reading and writing songs about Conspiracy – you know, Mothman, Aliens, Mind control and just general bourbon-soaked, Punk-Rock debauchery. Before a gig, we used to go to Kinko’s and print a huge poster of a Cult of Personality, some famous, some infamous. Marshal Applewhite, David Koresh and yes, Jim Jones. We were intrigued at how one individual through the power of the word could control so many and ultimately, lead them to their doom. We’d also print 9 smaller UFO posters to cover the image that hung behind me, the drummer. We had this song called THE ULTRA a really Beatles-esque pop tune that was about 2 minutes long it was the last song of the set. When we’d finish the song, I’d reach back and snatch a UFO poster from it and we’d start the song all over – nine times through in all ‘till finally revealing the man under the UFO’s. <br />
At first when coming up with names for my cigars, I wanted to steer as far away as possible from the normal clichés. “Robusto” “Corona,” etc. Since opening my own shop, I didn’t have much time to play anymore and really just faded out of it when more responsibility came from running a business. I focused all of that energy and attention to my line of cigars “illusione.” Growing up in a Gaming state my entire life, I’ve always been surrounded by numbers – the Craps table, Roulette, Keno. I began to see particular numbers that would show up every time I played a Keno 6-spot like 9 and 23. For Craps it was the number 4. One night at the Silver Legacy Casino in downtown Reno, I rolled Hard-4 four times in a row! Yes, I had the bet down on hard four, didn’t press it though! Freakin’ Crazy. The Croupier told me “you got the Call!..” meaning, the call from the man “upstairs”. It stuck with me. Below are the clichés that “shroud” the illusione brand. <br />
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~68~ - Bombone. <br />
This was the year I was born hence, the smallest cigar in my line. It was also an homage to Paul Garmirian – BIG influence in my career as a Tobacconist along with Zino Davidoff. 68 is also a “happy” number. <br />
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~88~ - Robust. <br />
No secret here. It harkens back to 1988 when I made that fateful decision to leave Oklahoma to come to Reno for College. “Robust” was just something different than Robusto. It speaks more for the body of the cigar than the nature of its size. <br />
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~F9~ - Finesse<br />
F stands for “finesse” which I wanted this cigar’s taste profile to be. I told Romai and Arsenio at the Factory that if we can perfect the blend for this vitola, it will rule the world. They laughed. 9 also stands for the 9th planet Pluto, well not really a planet since it was demoted to orbiting rock a few years ago by some brainiac in the Astronomy field. What does he know!?<br />
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~4/2g~ - Church<br />
This was the cigar that got me thinking about brand identity and packaging. “4” stood for 2004, the year I opened my own store, “2g” referred to the style of cigar I wanted it to be. I always liked how RAG’s had “2 gears” in the smoking journey, mild/medium in the first 2/3’s of the cigar then – BAM rich, full and spicy in the last 1/3. Even though it isn’t a Churchill per-se, more a double corona, I decided to put “Church” on the side of the box. It mostly reminded that I am a bad Catholic and that I need to get my ass to Church more often. <br />
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~888~ - Necessary and Sufficient<br />
Here’s where I delve into my faith a bit more. The name Jesus (IhsouV) adds up to 888 in Greek numerology called Isopsephia. Each letter is assigned the corresponding number. “Necessary and Sufficent” both describes the balance and profile of this cigar. It also represents to not go wanting, He is all I need, He is necessary and sufficient. <br />
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~M7~ - Magdala. <br />
Woman from Magdal. This may appeal to you Holy Blood, Holy Grail/Davinci Code Types out there. The M7 is a Salomone – shapely and perfect – woman. She is also Pregnant. <br />
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Cg:4 – The White Horse<br />
I wanted to associate it with the wine country – French wine country. I called Pete when he just happened to be in Miami celebrating Pepins’ birthday. He handed me off to Pepin and I wished him happy birthday. When Pete got back on the phone, I asked him what the cliché should be on the side of my box. I told him it was Cg:4 Corona Gorda….. He said Cheval Blanc “The white Horse” PERFECT I thought – Corona Gorda, the 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse, The White horse which is the Conquer, the false prophet – Revelation 6:2. <br />
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~2~ - And Crowned of Thorns. <br />
No explanation here is really needed. 2 is the son of God doing battle against evil, the enlightened one, the soul-saver, all forgiving.<br />
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~1~ - The Dark Prince<br />
Again, no explanation needed. Administered Original sin. Also took lead from The Cuban “Black Prince” Punch as well. <br />
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~2/3~ - Tre in Uno <br />
My Culebra. Here’s the goof. Originally the cliché was to be 3/1. After a long night in front of the computer hacking out the box design, I put 2/3 instead. It kinda worked out okay with me because 23 is always a number I bet on along with 9. 23 is the The &quot;23 Enigma,&quot; the Discordian belief that all events are connected to the number 23. <br />
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~MK ~ - The Teaching Machine<br />
As with my 88, I sampled a few to you in the forums for review when I was re-working on the blend in ’06. I did the same with the mk. There were two versions, the ~MK~ and the MKULTRA. MKULTRA was much stronger than I wanted it to be. I called Paul Palmer which in turn relayed my information to the factory to correct the issue. They have a gold band along with the ~hl~ because they’re more of an artisan blend better represented in those particular sizes. They’re 20% different than regular illusione black and white bands. As some of you know, I let out my stock of MKULTRAS because I just wasn’t pleased with the blend. You guys ate them up! Thanks. Project MKULTRA was a government experiment in creating “zombie soldiers” if you will, through experimentation with LSD and subconscious suggestion when under the influence. MKULTRA was also referred to as the “teaching machine.” The classic corona size is the teaching machine vitola. It is the perfect vehicle for delivery of flavor, if the blend is right. <br />
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~hl~ - The Holy Lance<br />
My Lancero , the lance. Get it? Constantine was the first Christian Emperor to lead Rome. It was fabled that he had possession of the very spear that punctured the side of Jesus while on the cross. He was said to carry this relic into battle and, it was said that it helped him win his many battles. It is an artisan blend and, the mildest of all my cigars.<br />
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Conlusion<br />
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illusione has been an experiment in Conspiracy from the very beginning and is still, a work in progress. I’ve always found truth in that old saying, How does it go? “People fear what they don’t understand.” Conspiracy soon follows and Conspiracy certainly has worked its way into illusione. My cigars were born here in these forums, CP, CW, CL and CS to name just a few. Thanks for all of your support and your willingness to not buy into all of the crap that’s been thrown at you, some by me in particular and, by my detractors. <br />
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Dion Anthony Franciscus Giolito - Brand owner/ Creator<br />
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illusione cigars

I'm an avid cigar smoker and have been in the Cigar business for about 14 years. I opened my store about 2 years ago called F U M A R E here in Reno, NV. I can promise you that I'm not here to shill or hock any wares. I'm into the community and am always looking to exchange info about our hobby.<br /><br />Dion Giolito<br />F U M A R E <br />907 W. Moana ln. <br />Reno, NV. 89509<br />775-825-1121<br />illusionecigars.com