EP Carrillo Encore Majestic

EP Carrillo Encore Majestic robusto features a Nicaraguan binder and filler covered in a smooth, slightly toothy dry bronze-brown Nicaraguan wrapper with barely visible seams and veins. EP Carrillo always does well with the design and artwork on its bands. The Encore Majestic is no exception. There is speculation that the artwork includes some Perez/Carrillo family members in a field near Miami. The cigar even sports a white footer – for good luck, I guess.

Oak and cedar, mixed nuts, earthy leather, pepper to spare - just a bit strong for my taste, along with toast/doughy bread/pretzel notes During the second third, an indefinable sweetness and creaminess enters and contrasts and balances the initial flavors. The pepper is still running hot. Less pepper! More cowbell! Wood, pepper, earth and leather dominate the flavor array. A puff or two leans to a mineral taste – slate, chalk – a hint of floral and a dose of citrus – faint and fleeting. The flavor of dried oak turns charred oak during the final third. Mild spice is hit and miss on the palate, but it’s there with the pepper and wood on the retrohale. Somehow the retrohale is not abrasive despite the pepper – guess the spice mellowed it out.

Construction: the draw is a little loose, but acceptable, the burn line is inconsistent/wavy requiring a couple of touchups – but more often it self-corrected, the smoke output is outstanding, and the ash held on firmly.

This cigar is somewhat balanced, although it could use a bit more complexity, especially for the lofty position it received as a #1 Cigar of the Year some years back. But it is tasty and is keeping my attention. It’s medium-full bodied and strength. Despite some peccadillos, I like this cigar. This stick was aged in the humidor for 6 months and it shows. I smoked an Encore Majestic last fall. It was good. This is a notch better.

Join The Lounge