IPCPR 2011 Pre-Release Review - E.P Carillo Core Maduro "Encantos" Robusto

E.P Carillo Core Maduro "Encantos" Robusto - 4 7/8 X 50. Wrapper - Connecticut Broadleaf, Binder - Ecuadorian Sumatra, Filler - Nicaragua & Dominican Republic. Medium - full bodied.

Initial taste - Spicy dry woodiness.

First third - Peppery spice with a sweet, earthiness accompanied by leather and some woody notes.

Second third - Pepper spice, but now there is a fruity sweet earthiness with smooth leather and nuts.

Last third - Pepper spice continues, earthy fruitiness, leather and nuts. Long tasty finish of spice and earthy leather.

Construction - Dark brown wrapper with a slight oily sheen. No major veins were visible. Burn - the cigar needed one touch-up in the first third but otherwise was good. Light gray ash that was solid and held on for an inch and a half at a time. Draw was perfect and produced a good amount of smoke.

A fantastic smoke with excellent complexity and perfect balance. After the peppery spice hits your palate, there is this wonderfully smooth array of flavors that linger in your mouth. MSRP for this size is $6.45. This is the first cigar that I have tried that will be released next week at the IPCPR in Las Vegas and E. P. Carillo Cigars has just set the bar very high for new releases. Highly recommended.