Encore Gets An Encore: New Takes On The Brand From E.P. Carrillo

Limited editions made with an emphasis on international markets

The E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic was Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s first Cigar of the Year. He’s expanded the brand before, and now he’s added two new versions intended for international markets.

Encore Noir is made with an Ecuadoran wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and a mix of fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The one-size brand comes in a shape called Majestic No. 2, measuring 5 3/8 inches by 52 ring gauge. It’s rounded rather than pressed, and production is being capped at 3,000 boxes this year, each of them packed with 10 cigars. The first 2,500 are shipping internationally right now, with 500 that will be sold at events in the United States featuring Jorge Fernandez Maique of E.P. Carrillo, who was instrumental in developing the new cigars. 

Encore Noir has a darker wrapper than the original Encore, but not quite as dark as Encore Black, which debuted earlier this year. It’s stronger than the original Encore, but not as powerful as Black.

“Noir is a variation of the original blend with an even more aged wrapper of a higher priming,” says Lissette Perez-Carrillo of E.P. Carrillo. Encore Black is the strongest of the trio, the original Encore is medium in body and Noir is blended to be medium to full. “Noir is tailored more for the international market,” she says.

Encore Edición Unica is a new line of smokes made with a binder and filler that the company says has been aged for at least 10 years, and a wrapper that has been aged for at least five. It’s predominantly Nicaraguan, except for some filler from the Dominican Republic.

The first cigar in that line is called Solidarios (6 by 56). It comes in numbered boxes of 10 exclusively for sale outside the United States. Shipments this year will be limited to 1,500 boxes.

“We enjoyed working with aged tobacco wrappers and different cigar shapes on these projects,” says Maique. “With Encore Noir, by using higher priming of the wrapper, we achieved a darker wrapper that creates a significant change from the original Encore blend. With Unica, I wondered how changing the box press to a round format would influence the blend. We are very happy with the results.”

Shipments have already begun, and if you miss out this year, the shipments will be repeated on an annual basis. All of the cigars are made in the Dominican Republic at Casa Carrillo.

E.P. Carrillo Adds Maduro Blend To Essence Series

May 8, 2024 | By David Savona

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E.P. Carrillo is expanding its Essence series with a dark smoke called E.P. Carrillo Maduro. The new blend is going to ship at the end of this month or the beginning of June.

E.P. Carrillo Maduro has a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, a binder from Honduras and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua. “I’m very excited about this particular blend,” says Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, who makes the cigars in the Dominican Republic at Casa Carrillo. “It’s different from anything I’ve done before in a maduro.”

It comes in three sizes. The Robusto measures five inches long by 50 ring gauge, Toro is 6 by 52, and the 6-by-60 Gordo.

The cigars are packed in wooden boxes, each with 24 cigars. While this is technically part of the company’s Essence line, the word doesn’t appear on the box or the band. The boxes have large red-and-black bands along the left side that emphasize the word “maduro.”

The company intends to further expand the Essence line, ultimately creating a six-blend series within the next three years, each of them distinguished by their wrappers. The first was Sumatra, which debuted at the PCA tradeshow and will ship at the same time as Maduro.

The Sumatra and Maduro cigars have some similarities: each is round, intended to be medium in body, and contains Honduran tobacco, something E.P. Carrillo doesn’t often use in a cigar blend.

Later this year, E.P. Carrillo will release the Honduras version of Essence, followed by Connecticut, Nicaragua, and Cameroon blends in subsequent years.

Encore Black

Introducing Encore Black by E.P. Carrillo – A Masterful Blend of Heritage and Taste

A Rich Tapestry of Flavors

The Encore Black features a bold Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper, paired with a binder from Mexico’s San Andrés Valley. The filler, a blend from Condega, Estelí, and Jalapa, offers a rich, full-bodied experience with a medium-full strength profile. This blend is a journey through taste, delivering complex, layered flavors that define the Encore Black.

The Encore Black: Unveiling a Legacy

E.P. Carrillo Cigars proudly presents the Encore Black, an exquisite successor to the 2018 Cigar of the Year. This masterful creation embodies over a century of the Perez-Carrillo family’s devotion to the art of cigar making. The Encore Black, a testament to tradition and innovation, is a must-try for cigar aficionados.

The Art of Cigar Making – A Family Legacy

Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s vision for the Encore Black was to highlight the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. After 18 months of fermentation and three years of aging, this blend showcases the unique richness and complexity of the Broadleaf. Combined with a San Andres Mexican binder and fillers from Nicaragua, the Encore Black is a true labor of love from the Perez-Carrillo family to yours.

Limited Production

A Late February Release

Mark your calendars for the late February launch of the Encore Black. This initial release is highly anticipated, with only 2,000 boxes available, making it an exclusive addition to any cigar collection. A further 3,000 boxes are planned for 2024 for a total of 5,000, offering a rare opportunity for connoisseurs to experience this unique blend.

Experience the Encore Black

The Encore Black is not just a cigar; it’s a journey through the rich history and passion of the Perez-Carrillo family’s cigar making art. Embrace this opportunity to experience a unique blend that continues the legacy of the Encore series.