E.P. Carillo EL 2013 Review

Edition Limitada 2013
Made by: E.P. Carillo
Country: Nicaragua, Brazil, Mexico
Vitola: 6 1/8 by 54

If you click on the picture it will take you to the webpage where the discounts are applied. This review is actually something I am really looking forward to. As I was walking through the humidor I saw a box of these, and they looked like they were aging wonderfully. I recall when these came out they needed some time, well lets see what 3 years did for them. They released 1500 boxes back in 2013 so they are getting harder to find. Lets see if this is a hidden gem with a E.P. Carillo EL 2013 Review.

Prelight

This wrapper looks delicious, thick and tons of tooth. The pack is slightly spongy and lumpy, visible seams, and medium sized  veins. This is not a cigar that is trying to be pretty, this looks rough but the construction is perfect. Wonderful cap, and the foot is giving off tons of cocoa and leather. Not the most unique flavor notes, but with heavy cream profiles like this are amazing. Good cut, but definitely some loose tobacco. The prelight draw shows more leather and cocoa holding consistent to the foot. Lets get this started.

1/3

Dry cocoa on the front, as that fades to the center cream comes in and leather and black pepper are mixed on the finish. Medium plus in terms of body and the strength is at a low to medium. Lots of smoke production and medium smoke thickness. As I get into the first third the burn line going well, and the ash is white and slightly flaky. Oily smooth mouth feel, not particularly thick like I was expecting.

2/3

The draw has a nice amount of resistance on it, this cigar tastes matured. The dry cocoa remains on the front the center is a mix of salty nuts and cream, and the finish remains leather and black pepper. Not much in the way of changes, but not bitterness and no sour notes. The cigars probably would have done better release after some more aging because now, 3 years after their release they taste fairly complex with a good strength to body ratio.

3/3

The dry aspect of the cocoa fell, heavy dark chocolate as I reach the start of the last third. The salted nuts note dropped and now the transition into the finish is a quickly fading cream, then leather and red/black pepper take over. The finish is very well balanced. Still no issues with the burn line. No changes to smoke thicknesses or production. The body never reached medium to full and strength has stayed at a low to medium. As I reach the nub the finish is rising, black and red pepper with a lighter leather than was present in the first two thirds. The dark chocolate/cocoa front has fallen but is still present.

Smoke Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Conclusion: 87

This cigar didn’t really burn quickly, I definitely enjoyed it which probably caused the shorter burn time. You could certainly get 1 hour and 35 minutes of you took the cigar slow. This is the kind of cigar I wish I could smoke every day. The score may not show that, but this is just a solid offering from E.P. Carillo. This would be a cigar I would recommend trying before you purchase it. However, if you keep up with the reviews and the cigars that hit a similar leather/cocoa profile are ones you like. This comes in above a lot of those in complexity which is a plus, but they do come in at an average higher price per stick in comparison.

Click on the picture to find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com