Tagged "La Gloria Cubana"


E.P. Carillo is #8 Cigar of the Year by Cigar Aficionado

Posted by freedomcigars on

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="125" caption="EP Carillo My Discount Cigar"]EP Carillo My Discount Cigar[/caption]

EP Carillo Cigars at My Discount Cigar

E.P. Carrillo cigars is the inaugural launch of Ernesto Perez-Carrillo's new venture, EPC Cigar Co. After over thirty years in the cigar business and selling his first venture (the world famous brand La Gloria Cubana) to Swedish Match, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo started E.P. Carillo Cigar Co. with his son, Ernie, and daughter, Lissette, to form a unique boutique cigar brand that is distinguished by its distinctive flavors and aromas, and superb construction.

The E.P. Carrillo Edición Inaugural 2009 blend of cigars consists of rare tobaccos aged 2-5 years including an Ecuadorian wrapper that was grown in extremely limited quantities. E.P. Carillo Cigar Co. has ownership of all of the inventory of this wrapper, and maintains exclusive rights to all future production of this sought after tobacco. Due to the extreme scarcity of this wrapper, E.P. Carrillo Edición Inaugural 2009 will be produced in limited quantities.

 

Cigar Aficionado names the EP Carillo Cigar #8 Cigar of the Year!

Ernesto Perez-Carrillo has been making cigars for a very, very long time. He learned his world renowned cigar craft from his father, working in Little Havana, Miami at their tiny factory called El Credito Cigars, the birthplace of the non-Cuban La Gloria Cubana. That cigar quickly became one of the first genuine hits of the cigar boom, and exploded into something much more popular. Later Ernesto Perez-Carrillo sold his cigar venture to Swedish Match AB, and in March 2009 he left the company to create a new cigar business with his son and daughter: EPC Cigar Co. He has come out with four cigars since 2009: the E.P. Carrillo Short Run, his so-called “core” line, and two limited editions, one each year. The E.P. Carrillo Elencos Limited Edition is his newest, andsome say his best, a mellow and leathery cigar that blends flavors of sweetness  and coffee. The only real problem with this cigar is its rarity—the E.P. Carrillo  is only producing 1,000 boxes, each containing 10 cigars. Perez-Carrillo is back and has already made a bold statement that he is a legend both of the past and of today.

 

E.P. Carillo Cigar Review by our friends at ToastedFoot

The E.P. Carrillo “Core” line was released this year at IPCPR in New Orleans and features a blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos wrapped up in an Ecaudorian wrapper. This line of the E.P. Carrillo is meant to be the regular production cigar for E.P. Carrillo Cigar Company and is priced between six and nine dollars per stick, depending on which of the various sizes you choose: Churchill Especial, Club 52, Encantos, Golosos, Predilectos Torpedos, and Regalias Real are the sizes available in this line of cigars. We have reviewed two other E.P. Carrillo cigars on Toasted Foot. The Short Run, which can be viewed here, and the E.P. Carrillo Edicion Inaugural 2009,  viewed here.

Now, on to the toast...

Pre-light, 1.8:
Picking up the E.P. Carrillo Encantos, the first thing I notice is how well constructed this cigar is. The brown wrapper is in great shape with just a hint of tooth in between the fingers. The cigar is well packed with no soft spots and on top of the head is a cap that is constructed extremely well. The pre-light aroma is of light tobacco but as I move towards the foot, the notes turn to a  more mature tobacco with a hint of light spice.

Burn, 1.9:
Cut, toasted, and lit, the E.P. Carrillo Encantos has a fantastic draw that produces plenty of smoke. The ash layers nicely and holds well past an inch, which is where I usually let them go in the tray as opposed to my shirt. The cigars required no touch up or re-lights and the smoke temperature was excellent throughout.  This is one of the most well constructed cigars I have smoked in a long time.

Flavor, 2.8:
The first puff on the EP Carillo Encantos produces a base of solid tobacco that is somewhat creamy, with just a hint of light spice. Into the second third the notes firm up a bit and the tobacco seems to take on a woody profile, with the spice staying in the background. Into the second third, the spice is more present and there are a variety of notes competing for attention. I cannot identify them all, but it was a nice blend of cedar, dried fruits, and lively tobacco.  The last third finds a bit more spice introduced into the mix, but the cigar is still well balanced and I hate to see this one end.

Overall, 2.8:
This is yet another solid offering from E.P. Carrillo cigars and family. The cigar leans more toward medium body to me, but is full of flavor. The finish is solid throughout and the cigar is consistent from start to finish. I recommend this smoke and you will probably be seeing it in a 2010 Top 10 list here and there.

(Total: 9.3)

Thank you ToastedFoot!

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