Match M30 closed Group E with two premium cigars seeking their first victory. Illusione Epernay L'Excellence entered at 0-2 after losses to E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic and Plasencia El Año del Caballo. HVC Selección No. 1 Maduro also entered at 0-2 after facing those same group leaders.
Illusione brought a medium-strength 6 3/4 x 48 Churchill made in Honduras with a Nicaraguan shade-grown Corojo '99 wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler. HVC countered with a medium-full 6 x 54 Poderosos rolled in Estelí, using Mexican San Andrés Maduro over Nicaraguan Jalapa binder and Estelí-Jalapa filler.
Every scored category ended 4.5 to 4.5, producing identical 27.0 Premium scores. The official result therefore came from the complete head-to-head evaluation, which favored Illusione's graceful integration, floral sweetness and refined medium-strength presentation.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | Illusione Epernay L'Excellence | HVC Selección No. 1 Maduro |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Illusione | HVC Cigars |
| Origin | Honduras | Nicaragua |
| Wrapper | Nicaraguan shade-grown Corojo '99 | Mexican San Andrés Maduro |
| Binder | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan Jalapa |
| Filler | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan Estelí and Jalapa |
| Factory | Fábrica de Tabacos Raíces Cubanas | Fábrica de Tabacos HVC S.A. |
| Vitola | Churchill, 6 3/4 x 48 | Poderosos, 6 x 54 |
| Strength | Medium | Medium-Full |
| Ashology score | 27.0/30 - Premium | 27.0/30 - Premium |
| M30 result | Winner | Loss |
Epernay opened with hay, floral notes, cedar and mild sweetness. Cream, cedar, white pepper, flowers and black tea formed a delicate first third. Almond, honey and toasted bread added richness through the middle before cedar and pepper became more noticeable while the floral sweetness remained.
HVC began with cedar, grass, pepper and toasted grain. Fresh cedar, white pepper and bread created a bright Cuban-inspired opening. Coffee, roasted peanuts and earth added body as light citrus continued, then pepper and oak increased over a firmer coffee foundation.
Both cigars shared cedar, white pepper, bread and a bright traditional character, but their personalities separated around those common notes. Illusione emphasized cream, flowers, tea, honey and almond. HVC stayed drier and more energetic through grain, earth, citrus, peanuts and coffee.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
Every scored category tied at 4.5. Both cigars earned Outstanding marks for construction, draw, burn, flavor complexity, balance and finish. The category count was six ties, and the arithmetic score was 27.0 to 27.0.
All six categories tied; the official winner came from the complete head-to-head evaluation.
The published CigarOfTheYear.com standards use the scorecard to document performance while the complete evaluation process determines the official head-to-head result when the numbers cannot separate the cigars. M30 therefore required an overall judgment rather than a point-margin decision.
Illusione's decisive impression came from how its creamy texture, floral sweetness, tea, honey and almond remained graceful across the Churchill format. Its refined draw, clean burn and elegant smoke production supported a subtle, sophisticated profile with a clean floral close.
HVC matched Illusione numerically and delivered appealing energy through cedar, pepper, bread, coffee, earth and citrus. Illusione received the official decision for its greater refinement and integration without claiming a score advantage that did not exist.
Official Result: Illusione Epernay L'Excellence Wins Match M30
Illusione Epernay L'Excellence defeated HVC Selección No. 1 Maduro by official head-to-head decision after a 27.0 to 27.0 scorecard tie. The victory completed Illusione's Group E record at 1-2 and secured third place in the Elite Luxury Group.
HVC finished group play at 0-3 and placed fourth. Its record did not diminish six Outstanding category scores, a Premium 27.0 evaluation or its standing as a worthy Official Tournament Selection.
Neither cigar advanced. E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic won Group E at 3-0, and Plasencia El Año del Caballo claimed second at 2-1. M30 finalized those standings and completed the group's round-robin schedule.
Final Ashology Verdict
HVC Selección No. 1 Maduro delivered the fuller and more energetic profile. Its Mexican San Andrés wrapper, cedar, pepper, bread, coffee, roasted peanuts, earth and citrus created a distinctive traditional smoke supported by dependable mechanics.
Illusione Epernay L'Excellence matched HVC at 27.0 while offering a softer and more aromatic experience. Cream, floral sweetness, black tea, honey, almond and toasted bread remained composed, giving the medium-strength Churchill the stronger complete-evaluation impression.
M30 ended Group E with a genuine scorecard tie. Six shared Outstanding scores documented equal category performance; the full head-to-head evaluation identified Illusione as the cigar that delivered the more cohesive overall experience.
Tasting notes reflect the cigars and vitolas evaluated during the 2026 competition. Flavor, strength and burn performance may vary based on storage, age, vitola and individual palate. Tobacco products are intended only for adults of legal smoking age.