Cigar News: Dion Giolito Teams Up with General for Illusione of Excalibur

General Cigar Company has announced it is teaming up with Illusione Cigars’ Dion Giolito to roll out a collaboration under the Excalibur brand known as Illusione of Excalibur. It’s a cigar that Giolito blended with Justin Andrews, and it will also mark the first time an Excalibur is being produced in Nicaragua.

In a press release, Justin Andrews said, “Dion Giolito and Illusione’s success in the premium cigar category has been driven by his rigorous standards for tobacco and his ability to create cigars that wow the market. So when it came to developing a blend for Excalibur, Dion was our hands-down first choice. I’m very proud of how this project came together. My only regret is that we couldn’t make this a full-time launch.”

Dion Giolito added, ““When GCC asked me to do a collaboration and offered up Excalibur, I immediately jumped at the opportunity. In college, the Excalibur #1 Maduro was my go-to when I could afford them on a college budget. My buddy George and I would enjoy them after class or band practice. They were a real treat back then, and they still are to this day. For my part, I wanted to make a cigar in the spirit of Excalibur with a bold character and packaging that pays homage to the brand’s origins. I believe this blend really hits the mark.”

Handcrafted in the TABSA factory in Nicaragua, the Illusione of Excalibur is a Nicaragua puro featuring a Nicaraguan Corojo ’99 wrapper from Jalapa, a 2012 Nicaraguan Corojo binder from Jalapa and a blend of Criollo and Corojo tobaccos from 1998, 1999 and 2006 grown in Estelí. The cigar is being produced in one size – a 7 1/4 x 54 known as “No. 1.” According to General Cigar, the size was chosen that best represented the aged tobaccos in the blend.

Illusione of Excalibur will be pressed in ten-count boxes. A total of 4,960 boxes are being released. The cigars are expected to ship on July 4. Pricing is set at $19.99 per cigar. It will be distributed by General Cigar Company.

At a glance, here is a look at Illusione of Excalibur.

Blend and Origin

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo 1999
Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo 2012
Filler: Nicaraguan Criollo and Corojo from 1998, 1996, and 2006 grown in Estelí
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa