Carrillo Cigars E.P. Carrillo Encore

Valiente: 6 1/8×52 Torpedo El Primero: 6 7/8×54 Majestic: 5 3/8×52 Vitola: Varies by size (Torpedo, Toro, Robusto) Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Binder: Nicaraguan Fillers: Nicaraguan Flavor Notes: Red rich tobacco, oak, bread, florals, vanilla, honey, minerals, citrus zest, butter, black pepper, cinnamon, cocoa powder, herbs, moss Pairing Notes: Red wines, aged cheddar, cognac, rye bourbon, lowlands scotch, pilsner beers, red velvet cake, butterscotch, Snickers, café latte with cinnamon, crumb cake Manufacturer: E.P. Carrillo (Dominican Republic) Privada Storytelling Few cigars carry a story as monumental as the E.P. Carrillo Encore . Ernesto Perez-Carrillo is one of the true legends of the cigar industry—responsible for the original La Gloria Cubana and the famed Calle Ocho factory. In 2018, his Encore took the #1 spot on Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 list. But here’s what makes this Privada release so extraordinary: these are the original 2017 batch , the very cigars from which the #1 accolade was born. While most “Cigar of the Year” winners lose their magic once demand skyrockets and tobaccos get swapped, these have not. They were crafted with care, aged in EPC’s famed cedar aging rooms, and held back from the market. Privada secured them years later, now aged 3+ years , and offered them in their most authentic form. These Encores are not just cigars—they’re pieces of cigar history. When you smoke one, you’re smoking the actual blend that captured the world’s attention. Smooth, balanced, herbaceous, buttery, with that signature zingy retrohale—it’s Ernesto at his peak. A mic-drop moment for both EPC and Privada. Flavor Journey First Third: Opens with honey, oak, bread, florals, and pepper , delivered in buttery-rich smoke. Retrohale is zingy yet elegant, balancing clean minerality with red rich tobacco and a floral lift. Vanilla notes emerge, fusing beautifully with the florals. Second Third: Flavor shifts toward oak, salt, herbs, minerals, citrus zest, and moss . Butteriness remains but becomes drier, with flashes of citrus sparkle on the finish. Retrohale stays clean, adding cinnamon powder and earthy florals. Final Third: Builds to rich tobacco, cinnamon, vanilla, oak, and earth . Toasted bread and herbs intensify, with black pepper softening into warm cinnamon spice. The retrohale closes with heavy oak, red tobacco, and a cooling sensation on the palate. Why It Belongs in Privada The E.P. Carrillo Encore belongs in Privada not just for its flavor, but for its historical weight . To hold the original batch of a #1 cigar in the world is a rare privilege, and to smoke it years later, perfectly aged, is even rarer. This is what Privada represents—access to cigars no one else in the world can offer, connecting members directly to moments of tobacco history.