The Illusione Epernay is a line of cigars crafted to be paired perfectly with champagne. Named for the northern region of France famous for its champagne, the Illusione Epernay is actually based off Dion's highly sought after Illusione ~eccj~, released to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of European Cigar Cult Journal. Like the rest of the Illusione line, Epernay is a Nicaraguan puro with a Corojo 99 wrapper made at the Raíces Cubanas factory in Danlí, Honduras. Originally offered in five sizes, Dion recently added an additional three vitolas meaning the line is now constructed of: Le Petite (4 1/2 x 44), Le Ferme (5 1/4 x 48), Le Grande (6 x 46), Le Elegance (5 3/4 x 40), Le Monde (6 1/4 x 52), Le Taureau (5 1/2 x 56), L'Alpiniste (6 3/4 x 56) and La Vie (6 3/4 x 56). The three 56 RG options are all offered in box-press presentation and are the newest additions to the Epernay line.

Even if you smoke Epernay without champagne you can expect quite a flavor profile. Herbal notes, cocoa, coffee, black pepper and gingerbread are easily recognizable in the medium-full cigar. But when champagne gets added to the mix the flavor profile opens up immensely. Epernay is medium-full in flavor, medium-full in body and medium in strength, but complex as any cigar out there. After the Le Matin scored seventh on Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 of 2010, Epernay has been hard to keep in stock, get them while you can.