Cigar Review: E.P. Carrillo Edición Inaugural 2009 "Encore"

Country: Dominican Republic
Binder: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic
Filler: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Length: 5 3/8 x 52
Body: Medium
Price: $13
Rating: A

Released in 2009 the EPC Edición Inaugural 2009 is just that, the first cigar released by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo under his new family-owned brand. Like many I was first attracted to Mr. Carrillo's blends created for General Cigars, especially the La Gloria Cubana Artesanos de Miami released in 2008, and looked forward to sampling his new creation.

This is not only an inaugural edition cigar for the EPC family, but also a limited edition. I understand that the Ecuadorian wrapper for this cigar was limited in quantity, and perhaps not available again until 2012, and total production was limited to 150,000 cigars. I have smoked 14 EPC Edición Inaugural 2009's and found the overall quality consistently high from appearance to construction to flavor and aroma.

Presentation and Packaging


The presentation quality of the EPC Edición Inaugural 2009 is first-rate. There is a genuine wow factor when you open the box for the first time! It makes you wonder whether the cigars themselves will live up to the marketing package. The decision to limit the cigars to 10 per box makes a box purchase much more affordable for cigar smokers on a budget. The EPC Edición Inaugural 2009 is dressed in two attractive bands which are easily removed.



Prelight Observations
The EPC Edición Inaugural 2009 has an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper medium brown in color with a nice oily sheen and minimal veins. The feel of the cigar is solid, no soft spots, and appropriate weight. The cap is applied with precision and easily removed. The cold draw has the right amount of resistance and the foot smells of barnyard, not quite as strong as the organic fertilizer I use on the yard, but in that direction.

Smoking Characteristics
Using a soft flame lighter my experience with the Edición Inaugural 2009 is that it takes approximately 90 seconds to light. Lit properly this cigar will burn evenly to the nub. I also noticed on the first few samples that the wrapper leaf is slightly fragile and will develop cracks if you use a torch lighter. The cigar burns evenly with a burn line that is minimally jagged. The draw indeed has the right amount of resistance evidencing a well-packed filler resulting in a cool burn right down to the nub. The ash is light gray and solid holding up to an inch and a half.



In terms of flavor, the Edición Inaugural 2009 has some complexity though not as much as some other cigars in the price range. Upon lighting I noticed some spice and a flavor that reminded me of oats. It has a creamy texture on the tongue and throat. Just prior to the halfway point the one major shift in taste is the addition of citrus notes on the finish, which really seals the deal for me. It is the aroma, however, which really fulfills this cigar's promise of a super-premium smoking experience: it is toasty, nutty, and luxurious. This cigar needs to be experienced indoors to fully appreciate its character.

The Edición Inaugural 2009 is billed a medium body smoke. I would classify it as just to the left of medium. It is an excellent smoke for early in the day especially considering the fact that you typically sacrifice flavor and aroma when smoking medium to mild cigars. Definitely not in this case!

Smoking Hints
I did come across two minor issues which the smoker will want to keep in mind. First, although the label can be removed cleanly, be sure to remove it carefully. On the first two or three that I sampled removing the label included removing a small patch of the wrapper. This can be avoided though by removing the label with care. Second, smoking this cigar too quickly or lighting it with a torch lighter may make it burn too hot resulting in wrapper splitting. Again, use a soft flame lighter or matches and go at a slow, leisurely pace.

Overall Impression
The Edición Inaugural 2009 is a first-class, top shelf cigar. It is absolutely worthy of its beautiful packaging and its price. I have been smoking one of these a month for several months now and always look forward to spending an afternoon with it.

Review: Arganese Nicaraguan Torpedo (Presidente)

Manufacturer: Arganese Dominicana S.A.
Country: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Repulic
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo
Size: 6 7/8 x 52
Overall Impression: B

You have to love entrepeneurs like Gene Arganese. Here's a man with a passion for cigars who transitions from having his own private blend to starting his own cigar company. A man committed to quality and affordability, Arganese has based his operations in one of the best regions for cigar growing in the Dominican Republic, hired the best torcedors, and personally oversees every aspect of production. He also has a natural gift for developing a compelling product line.

In the flagship Arganese line all cigars use Dominican tobacco for the filler and binder while providing smokers a choice of wrappers: Nicaraguan corojo, Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade, or Brazilian Matafina Maduro. The filler tobacco is 100% 1st generation Cuban seed. The Nicaraguan version is billed as a full-bodied cigar, however at most it is medium-bodied, which is not a criticism at all.

Appearance: The appearance is light brown with rough looking veins and a soft delicate-feeling wrapper.

Construction: The construction is the only real draw-back to the Arganese Nicaraguan Torpedo. I smoked 5 of these over a 2 month period with much the same result. Upon clipping the head, I found the prelight draw not so much tight or blocked, but limited. Once lit the draw produced little smoke. In each case the wrapper began cracking 1" in. I keep my cigars around 66% rh, so maybe these need a bit more humidity? The last two I tried, I cut the head a little further with no improvement. Despite the perception of a draw problem the burn line progressed evenly leaving a sturdy gray ash a bit over an inch in length. The cigar never required correction or relighting. Once nursed past the halfway point, the wrapper stopped cracking and proceeded normally.

Flavor: The flavor is the highlight of the experience and the reason I will continue buying Arganese cigars. It has complexity delivering a distinct nuttiness along with cedar notes and a creamy finish during the first half. Halfway through the nuttiness dissipated and some faint notes of chocolate were detected along with citrus. The aroma was cedary and nutty. Over the last third, it developed a nice salty finish.

Overall Impression: I rated the Arganese Nicaraguan Torpedo a solid B with points subtracted for appearance and construction. The flavor, though, is very enjoyable and I wish the draw would open up so I could enjoy more of that rich flavor and aroma. The price which is around $5 is a bargain. All in all Arganese is a very exciting newcomer to the premium cigar market. I'm anxious to sample his new lineup for 2008 especially the ML3 and CL3.

Review: La Aurora Barrel Aged Belicoso

Manufacturer: La Aurora S.A.
Country: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Repulic, Nicaragua
Wrapper: Corojo Oscuro (Dominican Republic)
Size: 6.25 x 52
Overall Impression: B

I first heard about the new Barrel Aged line from La Aurora last year when reading reports from the 2007 IPCPR. Being a big fan of the Preferidos line I was very anxious for these to become available. Patience is a virtue as the Barrel Aged did not start shipping until March 2008. Barrel Aged takes it name from the fact that all the tobacco used is aged four years in barrels previously used for aging rum.

I have sampled 6 or so of these and decided this medium-bodied cigar would be the perfect choice after my 30 mile bike ride along the Trinity Trail in Fort Worth. I had one left that has been resting in the humidor for a couple of months at 66% rh. I paired it with fresh ground Columbian coffee and the Eagles-Steelers football game. Fortunately (or not) the cigar proved to be more interesting than the game.

Appearance: La Aurora has done a great job with presentation on the Barrel Aged. The cigars are very appealing to the eye with a milk chocolate wrapper that is very smooth to the eye and touch with very faint veins. The band has the look of a barrel with shades of orange and red lettering.

Construction: I have found the Barrel Aged cigars to have solid construction with no soft spots or visible flaws. After clipping the head I found the prelight draw to have the right resistance. After lighting I found the draw to be just right resulting in lots of white billowing smoke. The burn line, though not razor sharp, was even from start to finish. No corrections or relights were needed. The ash was light gray and held to a tightly wound 1-1.25 inches.

Flavor: I found the flavor to be pleasant but not overly complex. Initially I detected wood and spice. About an inch in the flavor of dark-roasted coffee kicked in along with the wood. The finish was creamy with a touch of spice. The aroma was also pleasant and seemed to have a hint of sweetness in the nose. This flavor profile continued througout the remainder of the smoke with some mild spice appearing briefly at points along the way.

Overall Impression: I have rated the La Aurora Barrel Aged Belicoso a solid B. I have to admit to being a little bit disappointed, mostly because I have been spoiled with the high quality of the La Aurora Preferidos. Still, the Barrel Aged is a quality product and delivers a pleasant smoking experience. I will continue to purchase these individually.

Review: Gran Habano Corojo No. 5 Gran Robusto

Manufacturer: G.R. Tabacaleras Unidas S.A.
Country: Honduras
Filler: Costa Rica, Nicaragua,
Wrapper: Corojo (Nicaragua)
Size: 6 x 54
Overall Impression: B+

The Gran Habano Corojo No. 5 is a darn good cigar; at a price under $5 per stick, it is in fact a very good cigar. I must say early on, however, it is a full-flavored, medium to full-bodied smoke. In every way it is typical of what you expect from a corojo wrapper with a flavor profile and heat factor that reminds me of LFD Double Ligeros. It is a stick for the experienced smoker.

Occasion: My wife and I just returned from an afternoon at Grapefest, a celebration of the arts, food, music, and fine Texas wines that occurs annually at this time in downtown Grapevine, Texas. After picking up a bucket of KFC and sides we returned home to enjoy our desserts, which for me is this lovely Corojo No. 5 Gran Robusto paired with a bottle of 2006 Barbera from Jacuzzi Family Vineyards and Sunday Night Football (Steelers vs. Browns).

Presentation/Appearance: These cigars jump out at you when browsing the offerings at the local B&M. They have a dark, oily appearance with a classically-designed label consisting of red and gold borders, red lettering in the center against a white backfrop, and white lettering on the sides against an aqua backdrop.It also sports a 2nd red band with gold border and gold lettering with the words "Corojo No. 5." The product presentation is first rate. On close inspection, the cigar itself has imperfections in appearance. There are visible veins and seams on the dark wrapper along with a blemish or two. No matter, this is a cigar calling on the courageous to take it home for a ride.

Construction: I found no soft spots and the cap was easily removed. It feels sturdy and packed. The draw has just the right resistance and fills the mouth and air with rich smoke. The cigar burns evenly and produces a gray ash that holds up to an inch. Even though the ash holds well it is delicate and a bit crumbly. At the halfway point, the burn line did become a bit erratic but required no corrections.

Flavor: I love the flavor profile of corojos and the Gran Habano is no exception. The flavor of cedar dominated up front with notes of pepper on the long finish. After the first ash drop, about an inch in, I detected salt on the finish. The aroma is rich and seems to have the smell of burnt wood similar to what you would smell if you were burning wood chips on your grill. Hickory, perhaps? I especially enjoyed the aroma of spice which opens up the nose. Over the final 3rd the flavors, which had been so bold up front, became muted with the overall flavor effect changing to tobacco and red pepper, which applies some heat to the roof of the mouth. This last 1/3 is somewhat average compared to what had preceded.

Overall I find the Gran Habano No. 5 to be an enjoyable, medium to full-bodied cigar with the flavors out front, nothing subtle. If the flavors had been as bold over the final 3rd as the first 2/3s, I would rate this experience a solid "A." At $5 per stick the Corojo No. 5 is a great value for the right occasion or mood. It may be too bold for an everyday smoke.

Review: Liga Privada No. 9

Manufacturer: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate S.A.
Country: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua/Honduras
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Size: 6 x 52
Overall Impression: B-

I saw the Liga Privada No. 9 at the B&M a few months ago for the first time. Being unfamiliar with this special blend from Drew Estates, I picked up several based on the look and feel of the cigar. I know alot of folks find the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper to be unattractive, however I find the dark rustic appearance appealing. Combine that with the heft this cigar carries and the classy presentation on the band I was hooked.

According to Drew Estates this cigar was created for the smoking pleasure of the company's president, handcrafted by their factory's best torcedors, and not infused. All in all I think the first half of the cigar hits the mark. After that it is an average smoke at best.

I have smoked 5 of these over the past two months and can report a consistent experience. I have kept them stored at 66% rh. As mentioned above, the Liga Privada No. 9 sports the typical look and feel of a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper: very dark brown in color with a slightly rough texture, and some small, but noticeable veins. There is a nice oily sheen to it and again the overall look works for me because I know the wonderful flavor and aroma the wrapper leaf offers. Ultimately I don't care about the presentation as long as it puts out.

Construction: Nice heft, felt solid head to foot, no soft spots. Good cap. Prelight draw had about the right resistance. Prelight flavor to me was good ole barnyard. In my previous experiences with this cigar, the star of the show has been the construction with the flavor coming in good but not great. Using my Lotus triple flame table lighter the cigar lit easily. For the first half the burn was mostly even, slight variation, producing a solid gray ash up to an inch in length. After the first ash, I noticed a small hole in the filler. It did not negatively affect the draw, burn, or flavor however. The draw and burn remained consistent to the end. No relights or corrections needed.

Flavor: With the first few draws I detected espresso notes and a hint of sweetness on the finish. The draw produced plenty of smoke. Some leather and mild spice was detected in the nose. After about the first inch the smoke started delivering an aroma of roasted nuts. At this point the dominant flavor changed to leather with a citrus finish. So far a top shelf smoke. After the halfway point, the flavors detected in the first half dissipated giving way to earth with a peppery finish. Normally I nub my cigars but not in this case since the flavor was rather bland.

Overall impression: I like this cigar, however at $10 per stick it is pricey for what it delivers. Still I'll keep one or two around for when I'm in the mood. Not recommended for aging.