Illusione Singulare 2014 Annunaki

mjolnir01

El Cañón de Latón
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Jun 1, 2008
Messages
2,709
The Illusione Singulare 2014 Annunaki is a great looking cigar.  True to Dion’s naming convention, the Annunaki were ancient Mesopotamian deities that apparently have some connection to the modern conspiracy/UFO culture that runs through the core of Illusione’s branding.  I don’t understand it, but I do understand tasty AGANORSA cigars, so I’m okay with it.  On a side note, I’m hoping the Singulare 2015 is a Petite Edmundo named the “Cartman Gets an Anal Probe” but that’s probably a long shot. 
 
Levity aside, the Annunaki is a large robusto.  In the hand it almost feels like a Cohiba Siglo VI or a Johnny-O Canonazo.  Normally I prefer narrower ring gauges, but there’s something boss-like about the Canonazo vitola that I dig.  I pair the cigar with a big cup of Café Au Lait in my Boeing totem-logo mug.  Channeling my inner Kingantz, I punch the cigar with my Swiss Army punch.  The wrapper smells of sweet honey, while I get a barnyard aroma from the foot.  There isn’t much flavor in the cold draw.  I toast and light with a single large match.  The Annunaki lights easily producing clouds of blue smoke.  I detect some mineral flavors on the first draw, along with woodiness and white pepper in the back of the throat.  The draw is spot-on.
 
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Once the cigar settles down a bit, I am rewarded with continued hardwood (Oak?  Nordic cherry?  Alder?  Brazilian Mahogany?  Let’s just call it oak…) flavors with a definite red-pepper flake finish like you would get with good Thai food.  Not too shabby, but it slowly morphs into a more creamy, milk chocolate flavor with a pronounced bit of green bell pepper on the finish.  There are fleeting notes of bakers’ spices throughout.
 
On into the second third, the Singulare changes things up a bit.  I get a distinct honey and nut flavor reminiscent of the Epernay, but with a little spice on the end.  There’s also a bit of orange-peel zing there that has me intrigued.  Oak is still sits at the core of the profile of this solidly medium-bodied cigar.
 
I recharge my coffee and purge the Annunaki as it burns into the final third.  Oak flavors persist, but I’m also getting a bit of a bread/toast note along with some buttery creaminess.  There’s also a bit of black pepper spice here as well.  I take it down to about half an inch and then let it go out.
 
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The Singulare 2014 Annunaki is a very good cigar.  I’m a little miffed that the pairing wasn’t as good as I would have liked; a Belgian ale would have gone with the cigar much better than the coffee.  As for the cigar’s flavors, some time will do it well, but for now I think it holds up respectably against the 2013 Rose Croix.  Had I not gone deep on those, I’d probably be getting a box of Annunakis—the flavor profiles and smoking experiences are very similar.  If you didn’t get in on the Rose Croix when they were still around, I think this is a no-brainer box-purchase. 
 
 
 
Great review!  I had one this last weekend and while the tasting notes were pretty close to this review, it just didn't work for me and I was left wanting something else.  Full disclosure: I do not smoke many Illusione so an unfamiliarity with the profile may have contributed to my reaction.
 
Good review, I'll have to track a few of these down.
 
Dang, excellent review, Barry. I love Illusione and Dion's exacting palate. I've always thought Aganorsa tobaccos are fantastic. I guess I'll seek out a fiver.
 
Nice review, thanks!
 
I'm, a farily decent Illusione fan, I'll be looking for some in the loacl B&M
 
Thanks, guys.  I've missed the reviews around here lately, so I guess it's up to all of us to put some stuff up from time to time.
 
Gern Blansten said:
Great review, Barry!

Did you find any similarities to the 2010 Singulare Phantom?
 
I can see the similarities between the Annunaki and the Phantom.  Many cigar-media types are touting that similarity. 
 
I wasn't as wowed by the Phantom as most--it was good, but the Rose Croix holds my attention more.  My tastes and I are certainly in the minority there.  I think the Rose Croix is a little more nuanced and complex at this stage.  Maybe I should review it sometime for posterity's sake.
 
Well done, I will look for some to try.
 
Thank you for the great review. Scooped up a few thanks to Eric at Jack Schwartz. Your review makes me look forward to enjoying one myself.
 
Working on one of these right now. While it is a good cigar, it doesn't do enough for me to buy a box with humi space at a premium. I plan on putting my other stick on ice for a year or four and see what happens.
 
I seem to be a bit more over the moon about these than most. More for me!
 
Gavin, I'm going to reattack on them again in March with a  better pairing... it wasn't that I didn't like the Annunaki by any means. I just found Rose Croix a better all around smoke, and I went relatively deep on that one.
 
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