For a number of years my favorite E.P. Carrillo cigar has been the La Historia that was released in 2014.In the review I stated “It’s not every day that I smoke a cigar and can honestly say the manufacturer’s description, if it is posted, lives up to what I sense upon my palate.”
Now, almost 6 years later, I had the pleasure to smoke a few of the latest E.P. Carrillo Elencos cigars and I must say, it is now my go to E.P. Carrillo.
Released at the 2017 IPCPR, the E.P. Carrillo Elencos has a blend described as:
- Wrapper -Brazilian
- Binder – Ecuadorian
- Filler – Nicaraguan
The interesting story behind this cigar is that carries the same name as a cigar the company released in 2011 and according to a number of online cigar sites, the E.P. Carrillo Elencos is the same blend as the highly rated E.P. Carrillo Limitada 2010. So, as we know in the business these days, whats old is new, and that’s ok.
The E.P. Carrillo Elencos is expressed in three vitolas and come packaged in beautiful 20-count white lacquer boxes:
- Acto Mayor (Torpedo) (6.2 x 52) – MSRP $9.25
- Don Rubino (Robusto) (5.2 x 50) – MSRP $8.25
- Elites (Toro) (6 x 54) – MSRP $9.00
For this review I sampled three E.P. Carrillo Elencos.
Pre-Light Examination
The E.P. Carrillo Elencos is cloaked in a dark brown toothy and veiny wrapper that had a fine marbling and bit of a dark red clay hue. The cigar is packed solid and firm to the touch from head to foot and is finished with a triple cap. Looking at the foot, you can notice the bold dark filler leaf.
Two bands adorn this cigar. The primary uses a silver and black motif with a red accents. The company logo is proudly displayed in the center with the word “Elencos” underneath. Along the bottom there are silhouettes of palm trees and the isle of Cuba. The secondary band is a footer band that uses the same motif.
Running the Elencos across the nose I was greeted with enticing sweet floral notes off the barrel and the foot. Once I sliced the cap straight along the shoulder, the cold draw added to the pleasure with a perfectly restricted draw and even more scrumptious notes of sweet tobacco and fruit.
A triple flame torch lighter did the trick to warm the foot and bring this one to bright orange glow to start the journey, a journey that kicked off with a delicious cream and coffee notes. Follow along a I turn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Cream and coffee notes
- A touch of sweet fruit joins the mix
- Mild spice rounds the early profile
- Salt and pepper ash forms on a decent medium char line
- Sweetness increases along with a light citrus note
- Ash fell revealing a flat and centered cone
- Red pepper notes enter in the second third
- Nice volume of smoke – great draw
- Cocoa notes join the pepper as the sweetness fades
- Strength moves up to full near end of the second third
- Earth and pepper takes you into the final
- Full strength
- Total Smoking time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Overall, the E.P. Carrillo Elencos Elites was a spectacular cigar, that offered a full body and balanced array of notes with a smooth sweet undertone through the first two thirds. Earth and pepper became the predominate notes in the final. The burn performed well and demonstrated just a mild wave here and there with a slightly flaky ash. This is one I would buy a box of. I rate this a 93.
Point Deductions: (-1) Salt and Pepper Ash; (-1) Flat Burn Cone; (-1) Slightly Flaky ash in second half
Bonus Points: (+1) Buy a Box; (+1) Positive experience through multiple samples
