Illusione ~ULTRA~ MKULTRA (2026)

When it comes to the foundational size for a company’s blending, there are few that stand out like 2006’s Illusione’s ~mk~, the corona that the company says served as its key size for blending, dubbing it the “teaching machine.”

The story of the original Illusione MKULTRA is an interesting one, as it was a limited release of cigars deemed not to have met the standards that Dion Giolito had set for his brand. It was a stronger version of the Illusione ~mk~, the corona that is part of the company’s Original Documents collection. Essentially, there was a version of the ~mk~ that was stronger than intended, but instead of letting the cigars go to waste, they were dubbed MKULTRA and offered for sale via New Havana Cigars.

The cigars got their name not just for their strength, but from a government experiment in creating “zombie soldiers” through experimentation with LSD and subconscious suggestion when under the influence. Giolito said that MKULTRA was also referred to as the “teaching machine,” noting that “the classic corona size is the teaching machine vitola. It is the perfect vehicle for delivery of flavor, if the blend is right.”

Jump ahead to 2011, and the MKULTRA would return, now known as the Illusione ~ULTRA~ MKULTRA, and now part of a full production line that would include four sizes, with an all-Nicaraguan blend highlighted by a corojo wrapper.

Jump ahead once again, now to 2026, and the Illusione ~ULTRA~ MKULTRA gets another version, this time made at the Aganorsa factory in Estelí, and once again with an all-Nicaraguan blend, but with no details about specifics. Production numbers aren’t being disclosed, and while it might be a one-and-done release, Giolito said he would be open to doing another run if the tobaccos allow for it.

We have previously reviewed two versions of the Illusione ~ULTRA~ MKULTRA, the original release in 2006 and the second release that came out in 2011. Both had different packaging and were made at Raíces Cubana; the more recent of the two was released 15 years ago, hence why we’re treating this 2026 version as a new release.

• Cigar Reviewed: Illusione ULTRA MKULTRA (2026)
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Aganorsa
• Wrapper: Nicaragua
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua
• Length: 5 1/8 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 42
• Shape: Round
• MSRP: $11.95 (Box of 25, $298.75)
• Release Date: April 27, 2026
• Number of Cigars Released: Undisclosed
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

As the first Illusione ~ULTRA~ MKULTRA (2026) comes out of its cellophane, I notice its very oily wrapper; that first cigar is so oily that I check my fingers as it feels like I might have some oil on them from somewhere. The other two didn’t feel quite as oily, though maybe I was expecting it and thus it didn’t register as much of a surprise as the first cigar did. I love the short, slender vitola, and the two bands do a good job of not taking up too much space while also making the identity of the cigar clear. The wrapper leaves each have a couple of small veins, nothing I would call distracting or pervasive. All three are fairly firm but far from hard, though the third cigar has a density that is a few ticks softer than the others. The foot has a cool aroma with a light chocolate sweetness and a mild pepper on the finish. The cold draw is smooth and easy, with a really mellow flavor that I find hard to place. At some points, it’s like cotton, in others, it’s like a damp wheat bread. There’s also some tingle from the wrapper on my lips.

The first puffs of the Illusione ~ULTRA~ MKULTRA (2026) have an interesting duality; the flavor has a smooth profile, a little oily with a touch of pepper on the finish. But then, there’s a lot of pepper on the retrohale, and it does a thorough but not overbearing amount of tingling in my nostrils. I get a little creaminess as well as some oiliness in the texture of the smoke, the latter of which plays into the oiliness of the wrapper. A bit more pepper comes in at the end of this section to give the flavor a bit more kick. The real downside is that despite a thorough and proper lighting, combustion is not great in the first third, as all three cigars go out after the first couple of puffs, limiting how much flavor I’m able to pick up, as I find myself constantly distracted by relights. It’s a shame, because the draw, burn line and smoke production are all quite good. Flavor is medium-plus, body is medium and strength is medium-minus.

As the second third begins, the second cigar is particularly aggressive, as the profile turns rougher and elicits a cough or two. It’s hard to put a flavor on it, but there are notes of earth, pepper, and black coffee. The other two cigars aren’t quite as intense, but they show similar leanings. Unfortunately, all three cigars show combustion issues that start affecting the flavor; in the first cigar, I’m willing to chalk it up as a possible anomaly, but when the other two cigars show the same issues, I can’t help but think there’s something fundamentally wrong with these cigars. The combustion issues are consistent, as are the flavor notes: earthy, slightly peppery, and with some juicy coffee sensations. At some point in the second third of the second cigar, I can feel that the cigar has become much softer and squishier; while it’s not uncommon to experience this in cigars, this is more pronounced than what I’d describe as normal. I feel like I could squish this between my fingers without much issue. All three cigars continue to have combustion issues, which impede making a judgment on the flavor. What I do get is an enjoyable medium-plus profile with a body that is medium and a fairly mild strength.

By the start of the final third, it is abundantly clear that combustion is not just an issue, but it’s a pervasive one. When I can get the cigar to burn, the final third starts a bit drier than the previous section as a bit of wood comes in, but there’s still a juiciness to the flavor, and I can feel my mouth salivating at times as a reaction to the smoke. There is a tendency for the flavor to get a bit sharp at the start of this section, a change that is manageable but not necessarily enjoyable. That said, the core flavors are still quite good, with earthiness, a bit of black coffee, and some pepper, but I can’t help the reality that combustion really struggles in this section, with all three cigars needing multiple relights. At a certain point, I give up on getting a flavor profile, settling to call this medium-full with a body that is medium and a medium-minus strength. The draw, burn line, and smoke production are great, but combustion is abysmal, rendering these cigars almost unsmokable.

Final Notes

• We talk about anniversaries a lot on this website, and this happens to be the 20th anniversary of the original Illusione ~mk~.
• In the interest of full disclosure, I gave the third cigar a bit of dryboxing in hopes of getting a better experience out of it. While I gave that cigar enough time to dry out, it proved to be ineffective and the combustion was as bad as the first two cigars.
• Strength-wise, the Illusione ~ULTRA~ MKULTRA (2026) didn’t hit me with any.
• The cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.

• The company lists these as a 5 1/8 x 42 corona. The numbers above are the measurements we found for the three cigars used for this review.
• Final smoking time was two hours and 30 minutes on average, a time that was inflated by the pervasive combustion issues.
• Site sponsors Atlantic Cigar Co., and Small Batch Cigar carry the Illusione ~ULTRA~ MKULTRA (2026).

Aganorsa (Factory)
Corona
Illusione
Illusione ~ULTRA~ MKULTRA
Illusione ~ULTRA~ MKULTRA (2026)
Nicaragua