Encore Gets An Encore: New Takes On The Brand From E.P. Carrillo
Limited editions made with an emphasis on international markets
Apr 22, 2024 | By David Savona
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Encore Gets An Encore: New Takes On The Brand From E.P. CarrilloPhotos/E.P. Carrillo
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
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.
Encore Gets An Encore: New Takes On The Brand From E.P. Carrillo
Limited editions made with an emphasis on international markets
Apr 22, 2024 | By David Savona
Share
Encore Gets An Encore: New Takes On The Brand From E.P. CarrilloPhotos/E.P. Carrillo
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
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.
