E.P. Carrillo recently launched their latest blend in the company’s Essence Series, the E.P. Carrillo Honduras. This company in a press release noted that the new release promises to enchant cigar aficionados with a rich and complex flavor profile that redefines the boundaries of taste. The E.P. Carrillo Honduras is the third blend in the series, following the Sumatra and Maduro. The latest blend marks a significant milestone by being the first Essence Series creation crafted outside Casa Carrillo, exclusively at the renowned Plasencia Honduran factory.
E.P. Carrillo Essence Series Honduras Toro
Ernesto Perez-Carrillo III, who led this ambitious project says:
“Two years ago, our journey took us beyond the Casa Carrillo factory, leading to the creation of the acclaimed INCH Nicaragua in collaboration with Plasencia’s Nicaragua facility. Today, we’re thrilled to unveil the next chapter of our partnership, diving into the heart of Central America with the E.P. Carrillo Honduras. This blend embodies the rich heritage and unparalleled expertise of both our families.”
The company describes the blend as:
Wrapper – Honduran Olancho San Agustín (OSA)
Binder – Honduras
Filler – Honduras & Nicaragua
The E.P. Carrillo Honduras is expressed in three vitolas, each packaged in 24-count boxes:
Robusto (5×50) – MSRP $9.25
Toro (6×52) – MSRP $10.00
Gordo (6×60) – MSRP $10.75
For this review, I sampled three of the E.P. Carrillo Essence Series Honduras Toros which I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The E.P. Carrillo Essence Series Honduras is cloaked in a dark brown slightly veiny and marbled wrapper that exhibits a nice oily sheen. The cigar is smooth to the touch and firmly packed with no discernable soft spots. A double cap finishes the construction.
E.P. Carrillo Essence Series Honduras Toro
Two bands adorn the cigar. The primary band pops on the cigar with its red, gold, black, white and aqua blue colors. The latter really makes it attractive. The company logo is presented on the top-center along with the bold white word CARRILLO underneath. The golden word HONDURAS is printed on the bottom. A secondary black and gold footer band finishes the adornment with the golden company logo presented in the center. It also include a QR code on the right that takes you to the company’s website page for the cigar.
E.P. Carrillo Essence Series Honduras Toro
Running the barrel of the cigar along the nose, I was greet with rich barnyard notes while the foot exude notes of sweet butter cracker notes.
Using a straight cut just above the shoulder of the cigar, I opened it up to give it some cold draw puffs. I found the draw to be spot on wit restriction while offering notes of black pepper and earth – the more you puff the more the pepper tantalizes the palate the and some fruity cracker notes start to evolve. I have to say, This is one cigar I enjoyed cold puffing more than usual as it was very inviting to the palate.
Using my fan flame Xikar torch, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of pepper and earthy smoke. Follow along as I burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
E.P. Carrillo Essence Series Honduras Toro
E.P. Carrillo Essence Series Honduras Toro
E.P. Carrillo Essence Series Honduras Toro
E.P. Carrillo Essence Series Honduras Toro
E.P. Carrillo Essence Series Honduras Toro
E.P. Carrillo Essence Series Honduras Toro
Initial notes of pepper and earth start the journey
A white ash forms on top of a thin char line
Quickly into the burn, a touch of caramel sweetness enters the profile
A mild wave in the burn develops but no touch ups were required
Dark chocolate notes join the mix moving into the second third
Espresso notes fill in the background
The ash drops in a nice chunk revealing a decent burn cone
Earthy notes begin to evolve
There is a touch of citrus peel deep in the second third
An amazing shift to a sweet malty note occurs in the final with a rich cinnamon spice forward on the palate
Medium in Strength
Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 35 minutes
Final Analysis
The E.P. Carrillo Essence Series Honduras Toro opens with bold initial notes of pepper and earth, setting the stage for a rich and moderately complex experience. Not long into the smoking, a hint of caramel sweetness emerges, subtly softening the profile. While a slight waviness develops in the burn, it remains steady without the need for any touch-ups. As the cigar transitions into the second third, dark chocolate flavors weave into the mix, adding depth, while espresso notes linger in the background, enhancing the richness. The earthy notes deepen, evolving with each puff, and a surprising hint of citrus peel surfaces, adding a refreshing complexity. In the final third, the flavor profile takes an unexpected yet delightful turn, shifting toward a sweet maltiness, with a bold cinnamon spice tantalizing the palate, leaving a lasting and satisfying finish. This is a box buy in my book. I rate this a solid 95.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wave in Burn
Bonus Points: (+1) Pleasurable and consistent across multiple samples; (+1) Box Buy
