To Hell with Flavor Profiles, Just Enjoy That Cigar | Illusione's Dion Giolito | Box Press Ep. 96

Don't get mired in the flavors you're tasting in a cigar—or not tasting, for that matter. Just smoke a cigar to enjoy it, said Dion Giolito, founder of Illusione Cigars. This from the guy with an exacting palate and a rep for creative tobacco blending in cigars like the Singularé, Fume d'Amour, Ultra and Garagiste. Before making cigars, Giolito launched Fumare, a Nevada smoke shop specializing in rare and hard to find cigars. He still owns it, so when in Reno, check out Fumare for souvenir cigars.

Interview by Rob Gagner.

What is Boveda? Cigar makers protect the flavor and character of their hand-rolled cigars with Boveda, that brown 2-way humidity pack that you find in a cigar box. At home, continue to use Boveda in your humidor to keep cigars well-humidified or they can be hard to light, burn to too fast or get moldy. With Boveda in your humidor, you'll enjoy full flavor from every cigar. Boveda has been keeping cigars tasting great for more than 25 years. Boveda Protects Your Premium Cigars. Guaranteed.

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00:00 Cold open

01:12 What's a cigar smoker's palate?

04:54 What are Criollo cigars?

06:37 How a cigar is like a PB&J sandwich

08:06 Does the Cigar Aficionado Top 25 of the Year matter?

13:30 From selling cigars in Reno to blending cigars

14:06 Tobacco has a language and you have to listen to it

16:26 How golf is good for your brain

25:51 As a kid, your bike is your first taste of freedom

28:58 Learned business and finance from his mom

30:14 What cigar are Rob and Dion smoking?

36:45 What's the hardest part about blending a cigar?

40:25 Cigar flavors mimic other flavors

44:32 What cigar should you try next? Check out the Epernay Illusione cigar