I'm going to start this all off by saying that I hate big ring gauge cigars. I think they are the death knell for everything that I love in the cigar industry. Delicacy, craftsmanship, subtle blends and cigars with more wrapper tastes than filler and binder all go by the wayside in the big ring is king movement. I realize that makers only respond to consumer demands, but somewhere along the way makers need to say enough already! We have pushed the size envelope as far as we are willing to push it and we will go no further! I am, of course, dreaming and I realize this will never happen, but a guy can hope can't he? My dream is a cigar utopia of sorts, every one smokes, there are no draconian smoking laws and nothing more than a 50 ring gauge is offered. I would smoke coronas all day and sit idly by whilst I watched every one else smoke cheerfully while walking in the park, or having a drink in a bar, or while eating dinner. I must really be insane...
This cigar is new from the Carrillo family and if there is anyone, that in a snapshot of time, could change my opinion about big ring gauge cigars it would be the Carrillo's, I just love their stuff. This cigar is of course huge, but it does not seem as huge as some other 60's I have seen and I'm not sure why that is. The wrapper is a fine looking, leathery textured beauty that has a nice sheen and very few veins. The band work is large, but it is interesting in that is bears the markings of a ruler on it, obviously playing up to the inch moniker. The construction seems to be well done, but it is always difficult to find issues in a cigar of this thickness. The pre light aroma has some nice coffee, spice and earth tones. The pre light draw shows nice pepper and earth flavors.
The cigar opens with a profile that is full and contains tons of flavor and power. The core profile is all pepper and dark wood with some coffee undertones. This will slap you around a little bit in the early stages and I like that in a cigar sometimes. Don't be afraid to show us who's boss, and this cigar does not show a hint of shyness. It's not giving you an inch, it's giving you the whole foot...(easy pervs, we are talking about cigars here). The back of the palate has a wonderful earthy quality and shows some light chocolate features as well. The through the nose experience also has a high quality earth tone as well. The burn is sharp and moving along nicely. The draw is actually a touch too loose for me, but so far there is no heat coming through so I am not too worried yet.
The first half of the cigar continues to impress me. The core profile becomes something more nuanced in terms of flavors, but the power still remains. The main flavors here are now pepper and anise and I detect some slight hints of raisin here as well. This is an exceptional profile thus far and I am really enjoying it. The back of the palate continues to chug right along delivering earth and chocolate notes that are very solid. The draw is still too loose and there is some heat coming up the flume, but I am still not worried because it will be manageable with the proper smoking technique. The burn is still on the money and a nice solid ash forms.
The final half of the cigar really brings it home for me. The core profile picks up some very nice dried fruit flavors and still shows some raisins, dark wood, anise and slight hints of mint. At the back of the palate very nice earthy flavors are providing a very solid platform for the entire smoke and there are still some nice chocolate flavors here as well. The draw stays too loose and I have to manage the cigar very carefully so I don't get charred flavors, some points will be lost here. The burn is very solid all the way through.
The finish was long and had noted of earth, wood and dried fruit
Appearance- 89 the highest I will go for a large cigar these days
Taste- 94 a wonderful flavor experience
Construction- 87 some looseness in the draw hurts this score
Strength- 97 an excellent cigar in this category, it slaps you around but does not break your nose
Overall- 91.25 a very, very good cigar and another winner from the Carrillo's
Showing posts with label Ernesto Perez Carrillo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ernesto Perez Carrillo. Show all posts
Friday, December 7, 2012
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Ernesto Perez Carrillo Edicion Limitada 2011 Dark Rituals (6.5x56)
With the exception of the New Wave Connecticut, recent cigars from the E.P.C. family have largely been home runs. I have really enjoyed their offerings from recent vintages, so much so, that two of the family cigars appear in the top 10 cigars I have ever reviewed on this blog. When I heard about this particular smoke I was of course jacked up to give one a smoke. It was some time before I came across some, but when I did I grabbed several at first opportunity. A quick warning, these babies are pricey at $15 per smoke, but I was not deterred and took the limit at the shop I was in.
The cigar itself is too large for me, a 56 ring gauge is just out of bounds in my mind, way too big and usually not very complex, not to mention the frequent construction problems I have in large ring vitolas. Setting my distaste for the size aside, I am ready to evaluate the cigar. It is classically Carrillo. The cigar is not flashy, but has an elegant charm. The band work is simple, allowing the cigar to speak for itself. The construction feels pretty solid, I can't detect any soft spots or plugs. The wrapper is beautiful, nearly ebony in color and containing few veins, this is a wrapper that has the palate dripping with anticipation. The pre light aroma is of dried cherry, coffee and earth. The pre light draw is full of earth and wood tones with an underlay of pepper.
The opening of this cigar is an absolute opus. The core profile is full of dark fruit, pepper, wood and coffee flavors and they are deep and full of character and balance. Complexity of this nature is not often found in a cigar, much less this early in a smoke, because makers often shoot their wad late in a smoking experience, rather than in the first moments. It is risky, particularly in a cigar this big, to show so much early because deterioration of the experience becomes a real problem. At the back of the palate complementary flavors are wood and earth with some light clove like spice. The mix is a captivating melange of flavors with the front of the palate and I am looking forward to more of the same and curious to see what will happen at the same time. The draw is too loose, but big ring cigars are often too loose for me as I think the bunch is just stretched too thin. The burn is a touch off, but it is negligible so far in the experience.
The first half of the cigar shows some really nice transitions into a more straightforward cigar experience. Some might like an eclectic smoke with many transititons and flavors, I'm not one of those people. What I do like is a smoke that knows what it is, does not try be something else and delivers solidly throughout. The core profile here has become all pepper and wood, I am finding some fleeting notes of coffee and some light wisps of nuts here as well. At the back of the palate earth and spice have taken over as the real glue that holds the profile together. The draw stays too loose, but I am realizing it won't really matter because the size precludes any real heat from rolling in.
The final half of the cigar picks up the strength game in spades. There is a definitive shift to a core of pepper and spice that coats the palate in intense flavor. As this ramps up there is not a loss of nuance or complexity, in fact it is quite the opposite as I feel additional strength is adding another layer of depth to the experience. At the back of the palate a toasty wood note takes center stage with a nice earthy underlay. The draw is the same to the finish, too loose for me. The burn is solid to the end.
The finish was long and full of dry fruit, wood and pepper flavors.
The many well balanced dimensions of this cigar make for an exceptional smoking experience, I only wish it was blended in some thinner vitolas.
Appearance- 89 I just can't give huge cigars a great appearance score
Taste- 93 well balanced, with multiple dimensions make for a fabulous smoking experience
Construction- 91 aside from a draw that was too loose this was excellent
Strength- 97 one of the more nuanced and balanced full flavored cigars I have ever smoked, magnificent
Overall- 92.25 a very, very good smoking experience and I believe it is worth every penny
The cigar itself is too large for me, a 56 ring gauge is just out of bounds in my mind, way too big and usually not very complex, not to mention the frequent construction problems I have in large ring vitolas. Setting my distaste for the size aside, I am ready to evaluate the cigar. It is classically Carrillo. The cigar is not flashy, but has an elegant charm. The band work is simple, allowing the cigar to speak for itself. The construction feels pretty solid, I can't detect any soft spots or plugs. The wrapper is beautiful, nearly ebony in color and containing few veins, this is a wrapper that has the palate dripping with anticipation. The pre light aroma is of dried cherry, coffee and earth. The pre light draw is full of earth and wood tones with an underlay of pepper.
The opening of this cigar is an absolute opus. The core profile is full of dark fruit, pepper, wood and coffee flavors and they are deep and full of character and balance. Complexity of this nature is not often found in a cigar, much less this early in a smoke, because makers often shoot their wad late in a smoking experience, rather than in the first moments. It is risky, particularly in a cigar this big, to show so much early because deterioration of the experience becomes a real problem. At the back of the palate complementary flavors are wood and earth with some light clove like spice. The mix is a captivating melange of flavors with the front of the palate and I am looking forward to more of the same and curious to see what will happen at the same time. The draw is too loose, but big ring cigars are often too loose for me as I think the bunch is just stretched too thin. The burn is a touch off, but it is negligible so far in the experience.
The first half of the cigar shows some really nice transitions into a more straightforward cigar experience. Some might like an eclectic smoke with many transititons and flavors, I'm not one of those people. What I do like is a smoke that knows what it is, does not try be something else and delivers solidly throughout. The core profile here has become all pepper and wood, I am finding some fleeting notes of coffee and some light wisps of nuts here as well. At the back of the palate earth and spice have taken over as the real glue that holds the profile together. The draw stays too loose, but I am realizing it won't really matter because the size precludes any real heat from rolling in.
The final half of the cigar picks up the strength game in spades. There is a definitive shift to a core of pepper and spice that coats the palate in intense flavor. As this ramps up there is not a loss of nuance or complexity, in fact it is quite the opposite as I feel additional strength is adding another layer of depth to the experience. At the back of the palate a toasty wood note takes center stage with a nice earthy underlay. The draw is the same to the finish, too loose for me. The burn is solid to the end.
The finish was long and full of dry fruit, wood and pepper flavors.
The many well balanced dimensions of this cigar make for an exceptional smoking experience, I only wish it was blended in some thinner vitolas.
Appearance- 89 I just can't give huge cigars a great appearance score
Taste- 93 well balanced, with multiple dimensions make for a fabulous smoking experience
Construction- 91 aside from a draw that was too loose this was excellent
Strength- 97 one of the more nuanced and balanced full flavored cigars I have ever smoked, magnificent
Overall- 92.25 a very, very good smoking experience and I believe it is worth every penny
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Ernesto Perez Carrillo Maduro
I can't find anything out about this cigar, but I will tell you what I know, it will be released at IPCPR next week. I came into possession of one when a close friend of mine gifted it to me after he obtained one from the Carrillo Rep at an event. This is so hush hush that I could not find size or blend information when I ran it through the Googleplex.
The cigar presents with the standard EPC Black, Red and Gold band. The wrapper is toothy and very dark with very little veining. The cigar is large with a 50+ ring gauge to be sure, an inspection realizes no issues anywhere and I am thinking this could be something special in spite of the large ring gauge. The pre light aroma smacks of coffee and dark fruit. The pre light draw shows some cocoa and dark fruit as well.
The cigar opens with a profile that is astounding. There are notes of dark fruit, raisin, chocolate and hazelnut present and they blend together in an excellent array of flavor. At the back of the palate there is an earthiness that I have never experience outside of a Padron product and it shocks me because in my mind Padron has always had the corner on this area of flavor. The draw is fluid and easy whilst delivering serious amounts of smoke. The burn is solid and a nice, crisp white ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar continues to be impressive, all though there has been some mellowing in the flavor area. The profile maintains a beautiful array of dark fruit and chocolate and I could swear I am tasting raspberry in the smoke at this point. At the back of the palate satisfying earthy tones continue coat the palate. The draw continues to be nearly perfect and I am becoming more surprised by this as it progresses, I am used to big cigars causing issues in the draw. The burn is still very solid.
The final half of the cigar ramps back up and shows miles and miles of complexity and depth. The profile moves into a more provocative presentation of cocoa, black pepper and coffee. At the back of the palate the earthy tones have been joined by some dark cherry flavors that are phenomenal. The draw and burn stay solid throughout the smoke.
The finish was long and smooth and full of earthy flavors that smack the palate for several minutes.
This was a fantastic cigar, I can only hope that the release will be as spectacular.
Appearance- 91 a very nice looking cigar
Taste- 98 one of the finest profiles I have ever experienced
Construction- 100 not a single issue in the smoke, and I was outside on a hot day
Strength- 93 a wonderful medium/full that I thought could stand some more punch
Overall- 96.75 an instant classic, I only wish I had more at this time. I anxiously await the release.
The cigar presents with the standard EPC Black, Red and Gold band. The wrapper is toothy and very dark with very little veining. The cigar is large with a 50+ ring gauge to be sure, an inspection realizes no issues anywhere and I am thinking this could be something special in spite of the large ring gauge. The pre light aroma smacks of coffee and dark fruit. The pre light draw shows some cocoa and dark fruit as well.
The cigar opens with a profile that is astounding. There are notes of dark fruit, raisin, chocolate and hazelnut present and they blend together in an excellent array of flavor. At the back of the palate there is an earthiness that I have never experience outside of a Padron product and it shocks me because in my mind Padron has always had the corner on this area of flavor. The draw is fluid and easy whilst delivering serious amounts of smoke. The burn is solid and a nice, crisp white ash is forming.
The first half of the cigar continues to be impressive, all though there has been some mellowing in the flavor area. The profile maintains a beautiful array of dark fruit and chocolate and I could swear I am tasting raspberry in the smoke at this point. At the back of the palate satisfying earthy tones continue coat the palate. The draw continues to be nearly perfect and I am becoming more surprised by this as it progresses, I am used to big cigars causing issues in the draw. The burn is still very solid.
The final half of the cigar ramps back up and shows miles and miles of complexity and depth. The profile moves into a more provocative presentation of cocoa, black pepper and coffee. At the back of the palate the earthy tones have been joined by some dark cherry flavors that are phenomenal. The draw and burn stay solid throughout the smoke.
The finish was long and smooth and full of earthy flavors that smack the palate for several minutes.
This was a fantastic cigar, I can only hope that the release will be as spectacular.
Appearance- 91 a very nice looking cigar
Taste- 98 one of the finest profiles I have ever experienced
Construction- 100 not a single issue in the smoke, and I was outside on a hot day
Strength- 93 a wonderful medium/full that I thought could stand some more punch
Overall- 96.75 an instant classic, I only wish I had more at this time. I anxiously await the release.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Ernesto Perez Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Gran Via (7x49)
This is the latest offering from EPC in his new endeavor. I have loved some of the prior smokes, like the Inaugural 2009 and the Short Run so I was anxious to smoke one of these and see what old Ernesto could do with some Connecticut leaf.
The cigar presents well with a nice wrapper, but it seems a bit dry to me and it has some veins that I am concerned about. I feel some areas of tension in the roll and I am concerned about some potential burn issues as the cigar progresses. The texture is somewhat dusty and I am left a bit confused about what to expect, cigars with these attributes typically perform very poorly in all areas. The pre light aroma is light, with floral hints and some notes of dry wheat and oatmeal. The pre light draw is grassy and shows some light nutmeg essence.
The cigar opens with a profile that is decidedly dry and a touch bitter. There are some interesting flavors here, most notably some sharp lemon and other assorted citrus flavors. There are also some dry wood and light spice notes in the mix here, but they are not helping with complexity or depth. At the back of the palate there is a cardboard that is very poor and threatening to define the experience in a very negative way. The burn is off from the start and a big, lopsided, ash is hanging on for life very early in the process. The draw is fine to this point.
The first half of the cigar shows some transition, but it is really nothing to alert the Cigar Hall of Fame about. The profile shows some hints of wheat and grass, but there is nothing particularly interesting here. The dryness of the smoke continues and I am very disappointed that this persists to this point, in my opinion dryness kills an experience. At the back of the palate there are still some papery and cardboard like notes that are not doing anything for me. The burn continues to run amok and I have touched up several times in the first half. The draw continues to perform well to this point.
The final half of the cigar shows some marked improvement, but it will be too little too late. The profile begins to soften in terms of dryness, and some nice flavors of brown sugar and vanilla impress themselves on the palate in fleeting shows of sweetness. The main core continues to be wheat and grass but the other elements are now complementing this area nicely. At the back of the palate the smoke has transitioned into a nice light wood tone that is more interesting. The burn was a mess right until the end. The draw stayed acceptable throughout.
Alas, this cigar showed far too little to late. I am very disappointed in this effort.
Appearance- 87 a moderately attractive smoke
Taste- 83 some nice notes in the end, but sub par for the first two thirds or better
Construction- 73 constant burn issues and retouches galore
Strength- 85 a very middle of the road mild/medium
Overall- 80.75 just not very good
The cigar presents well with a nice wrapper, but it seems a bit dry to me and it has some veins that I am concerned about. I feel some areas of tension in the roll and I am concerned about some potential burn issues as the cigar progresses. The texture is somewhat dusty and I am left a bit confused about what to expect, cigars with these attributes typically perform very poorly in all areas. The pre light aroma is light, with floral hints and some notes of dry wheat and oatmeal. The pre light draw is grassy and shows some light nutmeg essence.
The cigar opens with a profile that is decidedly dry and a touch bitter. There are some interesting flavors here, most notably some sharp lemon and other assorted citrus flavors. There are also some dry wood and light spice notes in the mix here, but they are not helping with complexity or depth. At the back of the palate there is a cardboard that is very poor and threatening to define the experience in a very negative way. The burn is off from the start and a big, lopsided, ash is hanging on for life very early in the process. The draw is fine to this point.
The first half of the cigar shows some transition, but it is really nothing to alert the Cigar Hall of Fame about. The profile shows some hints of wheat and grass, but there is nothing particularly interesting here. The dryness of the smoke continues and I am very disappointed that this persists to this point, in my opinion dryness kills an experience. At the back of the palate there are still some papery and cardboard like notes that are not doing anything for me. The burn continues to run amok and I have touched up several times in the first half. The draw continues to perform well to this point.
The final half of the cigar shows some marked improvement, but it will be too little too late. The profile begins to soften in terms of dryness, and some nice flavors of brown sugar and vanilla impress themselves on the palate in fleeting shows of sweetness. The main core continues to be wheat and grass but the other elements are now complementing this area nicely. At the back of the palate the smoke has transitioned into a nice light wood tone that is more interesting. The burn was a mess right until the end. The draw stayed acceptable throughout.
Alas, this cigar showed far too little to late. I am very disappointed in this effort.
Appearance- 87 a moderately attractive smoke
Taste- 83 some nice notes in the end, but sub par for the first two thirds or better
Construction- 73 constant burn issues and retouches galore
Strength- 85 a very middle of the road mild/medium
Overall- 80.75 just not very good
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Ernesto Perez Carrillo Short Run Populares (4 7/8x50)
Ever since I smoked the prototype of the Inaugural 2009 after last year's trade show, and made it my number three cigar of the year, I have been anxiously awaiting the next installment from Ernesto. It is now here and I was pleasantly surprised to see an excellent, and unexpected, six to seven dollar price point. The cigar itself is banded very similarly to the Inaugural and it could be mistaken for one if you do not pay attention to the second band that indicates it is a Short Run. The wrapper is leathery and shows very few veins, it is very impressive to look at and the cigar appears to be very well made. An inspection shows me nary an issue and I can feel my taste buds warming up for this experience. The pre light aroma is heady, with notes of spice and nutmeg. The pre light draw shows some interesting dusty qualities and coats the palate with some early intonations of light wood and cinnamon.
The cigar opens with a profile that is deep, but somewhat lacking in complexity, not the same experience as the Inaugural. However, there are nice flavors of spice and the smoke is full, not in body but in character, leaving the palate coated with a satiny feel. At the back of the palate there are some influences of cinnamon and light wood and the cigar shows some more depth. The draw is pure and shows no signs of any issues. The burn is razor sharp and produces a gray ash.
The first half of the cigar shows some nice transitions. The core profile picks up an earthy texture, but maintains some sweet nutty flavors that are interesting. At the back of the palate the cinnamon notes subdue and the flavors of light wood and some spice take center stage. The complexity is somewhat better at this point and I am warming up to this cigar. The draw continues to be excellent and the burn is following along nicely.
The final half of the cigar continues to show improvement. The core profile shows notes of sweet leather and some earthy notes that are a nice offset. At the back of the palate there are still notes of spice and light wood, but there are some flat notes that smack of cardboard in certain spots. I am disappointed by the flat flavors in an otherwise excellent profile. The draw and burn continue to be impressive.
The finish is long and shows cinnamon and floral notes.
Appearance- 92 an excellent looking smoke
Taste- 89 some point reduced for flat notes late in the smoke and lack of complexity early
Construction- 97 an exceptional smoking experience that required no maintenance
Strength- 90 a nice medium/full that could use more kick
Overall- 92.25 a very good smoke and at the price point an early contender for budget cigar of the year
The cigar opens with a profile that is deep, but somewhat lacking in complexity, not the same experience as the Inaugural. However, there are nice flavors of spice and the smoke is full, not in body but in character, leaving the palate coated with a satiny feel. At the back of the palate there are some influences of cinnamon and light wood and the cigar shows some more depth. The draw is pure and shows no signs of any issues. The burn is razor sharp and produces a gray ash.
The first half of the cigar shows some nice transitions. The core profile picks up an earthy texture, but maintains some sweet nutty flavors that are interesting. At the back of the palate the cinnamon notes subdue and the flavors of light wood and some spice take center stage. The complexity is somewhat better at this point and I am warming up to this cigar. The draw continues to be excellent and the burn is following along nicely.
The final half of the cigar continues to show improvement. The core profile shows notes of sweet leather and some earthy notes that are a nice offset. At the back of the palate there are still notes of spice and light wood, but there are some flat notes that smack of cardboard in certain spots. I am disappointed by the flat flavors in an otherwise excellent profile. The draw and burn continue to be impressive.
The finish is long and shows cinnamon and floral notes.
Appearance- 92 an excellent looking smoke
Taste- 89 some point reduced for flat notes late in the smoke and lack of complexity early
Construction- 97 an exceptional smoking experience that required no maintenance
Strength- 90 a nice medium/full that could use more kick
Overall- 92.25 a very good smoke and at the price point an early contender for budget cigar of the year
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