This E.P. Carrillo Allegiance Sidekick didn't quite do it for me. While the interplay of spice and roasted nuts gave it's best look within the second third, for the most part, the profile weighed too heavy on spice. For me, a flavor profile needs more than that to layer into the fold. It's a good baseline of flavors, just needs to build on it.
The E.P. Carrillo Short Run Retro 2022 Maduro Short Play started out with medium-full flavor combinations of creamy tobacco, spices, pepper, earth and leather. The second third settled into a pleasant but less complex combination of flavors as much of the spice fell away. The last third was mostly wood driven. All in all, it was an enjoyable cigar to smoke, but the second and last thirds didn't have enough complexity to elevate the overall flavor experience to much more than just above average.
It just seemed that the E.P. Carrillo Selección Oscuro Especial No. 6 ran out of gas in the second third and couldn't maintain the enjoyable profile being produced prior. The price point is very attractive, so the cigar is an easy recommend to try one to see what you think, but I don't really see myself returning to this one on any sort of regular basis.
This was a good cigar, and it was nice to see a blend like this from E.P. Carrillo again. The E.P. Carrillo Short Run Retro 2021 Short Play had nice flavors of spices, earth, wood, and the overall barnyard qualities were fantastic. It started off a little bit stronger than it finished, but I like when a cigar does that. Really was great to smoke an E.P. Carrillo Short Run offering with the original bands.
While I don't see myself returning to the E.P. Carrillo Elencos Elites often, I could see returning to it on occasion as I think this would work well in the evening after a hearty meal and paired with a brown spirit.
The E.P. Carrillo La Historia Doña Elena started nicely with a good combination of flavors and transitioned nicely going into the second third. The enjoyment level dropped a bit in the final third as some char joined in. This is a cigar I would easily come back to and is a bright spot in the brands portfolio. I also think the price point fits the enjoyment level nicely.
The E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel was an overall pleasant experience, with some of the best flavor combinations delivering in the second third. The presentation was fantastic, as was the construction. Overall, the profile failed to grab my attention and hold it, although I would be willing to try it in the Sojourn size to see how the blend compared.
The E.P. Carrillo INCH Natural No. 60 had a flavor profile that was pretty linear with just a few changes. It was definitely a heavy oak and earth influence. I'd prefer a bit more to the flavor profile, but for those that are fans of the flavors I've described, you'll get a full dose of them here and find something you enjoy. The cigar is a very slow smoker, so there is some value there.
From what I recall, this E.P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Divinos is one of the early Connecticut shades that was supposed to change how they were perceived. This is a good look back as the more recent Connecticuts are a drastic change from what this cigar provides. If you like traditional Connecticut shades but like a little more pepper, this is one to try if you haven't. The price point is also quite attractive.
The flavor profile of the E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic consisted of cedar, sweet cream and baking spice later transitioning to charred wood and then a pine note. The cream lost its sweetness as it went along and some mustiness joined in during the second half. I could see myself smoking more of these and would have no problem steering others towards it.