Cigar Info
E.P. Carrillo released the Selección Oscuro at the 2015 IPCPR Trade Show. The Selección Oscuro was the most recent production offerings that E.P. Carrillo had released over the past year and a half. In 2014, the company launched its highly rated box-pressed maduro, La Historia. Late in 2014, the company rolled out a new Ecuadorian Connecticut cigar (E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva) and a new Habano offering (E.P. Carrillo Cabinet). The E.P. Carrillo Selección Oscuro uses a Mexican San Andres Oscuro wrapper. This is the third E.P. Carrillo cigar to use this wrapper. In 2013, the company released the E.P. Carrillo Edición Limitada 2013 using a Mexican wrapper. This was followed up with the regular production La Historia line which also incorporates Mexican wrapper. The E.P. Carrillo Selección Oscuro is available in six sizes packaged in 24 count boxes: Robusto: 5 X 54, Nacionales: 5 1/2 X 44, Small Churchill: 5 1/2 X 50, Especial No. 6: 6 X 52, Piramides Royal: 6 X 52, Dinamicos: 6 7/8 X 49.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Corona Gorda
Length: 5.5″
Ring Gauge: 44
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Oscuro
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera La Alianza S.A.
Blender: E.P. Carrillo
Number of reviewers: 4 —– Kent (Throck) Steve (ThaGreatWazoo) Gregg (McGreggor57) Alan (Eulogy)
Price: $6.50
Age: 4 Months
Release Date: July 2015
Contributed by: CigarPlace.biz
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 90
“There is a nice uniform dark brown color color to the wrapper. Small veins run the length of the cigar and there is a slight toothiness to the touch. The cap is well applied and has four layers to it. The only real issue that I have with the cigar is that there is a small hole in the wrapper.” -Alan (Eulogy)
Aroma: 90
“Leather comes off the wrapper with a bit of chocolate mixed with barnyard at the foot. The cold draw delivers mostly grasses.” -Gregg (McGreggor57)
First Third
Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“The beginning of this cigar was very strong. There was a high heat to the smoke and draw. The flavor profile was very black pepper heavy and finished with a chard nut. The retrohale was very harsh and abandoned quite early. Definitely a middle-of-the-road beginning for the cigar.” -Steve (ThaGreatWazoo)
“I’m enjoying a burnt-nuts and dark chocolate flavor on the draw. The retrohale has a nice heavy cream with a peppery finish that complements the overall flavor profile. The smoke output is excellent and the burn is very sharp.” -Alan (Eulogy)
Second Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium
“The second third was similar to the first, but the flavors deepened in their intensity and the power-packed leather flavors shined through. There was almost a sweeter undertone during this section which manifested as an almond flavor which was a pleasant, subtle change.” -Kent (Throck)
“The slightly bitter nut flavor has become a little more bitter and the nuttiness has dissipated. It is almost like a bitter coffee flavor now with a leather and pepper finish. The heavy cream finish is still there in the retrohale, but it now has a slightly bitter finish too.” -Alan (Eulogy)
Final Third
Flavor: 83
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium
“The last third was a bit of a departure from the other two… in not a good way. The draw tightened up significantly which made me feel like I was puffing through a straw. The flavors mellowed out a bit and became a bit monotonous.” -Kent (Throck)
“During the final third, the overall heat became too much to bear. A deep char was all I could pick up towards the end. The cigar burned well throughout, but did not offer any complexity that kept me wanting more.” -Steve (ThaGreatWazoo)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 86
“The draw seemed a little tight throughout. This caused a minimum amount of smoke to produce. Towards the final third, the cigar loosened and overheated quickly.” -Steve (ThaGreatWazoo)
Burn: 92
“The burn on this cigar was a nice feature. There was a crisp line that kept tracking down the wrapper. There was no need for too many touch-ups as the cigar slowly kept itself going. Overall, one of the better attributes of this cigar.” -Steve (ThaGreatWazoo)
Construction: 88
“Aside from the torn wrapper at the onset, the cigar held up very well during my smoke. If there was no wrapper issue, which may have occurred during transportation, this would have been a great aspect of the stick.” -Kent (Throck)
Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Overall Experience: 85
“I quite enjoyed this smoke and had it not been for a torn wrapper which cause a bit of a leak, I think that this would have been even higher on my list. I think I will be giving this one a second chance as the construction issues may have been from transportation and not an organic flaw.” -Kent (Throck)
“This is definitely a middle of the road you will either like or dislike kind of cigar. The overall flavor profile lacked depth and fullness. There are a few that would enjoy the strength and char to this cigar, but buyer beware.if you are interested in a challenging to pinpoint smoke give this a shot and see what you think.” -Steve (ThaGreatWazoo)
“I found the first third to be average in spite of a nice start of simple tobacco and oak. While the middle was very good, the finish quickly turned south. My mouth tasted like an ashtray before it was all over. With two thirds of this cigar not making the cut, I won’t be looking to try another.” -Gregg (McGreggor57)
“It started out with such promise, the flavors were excellent throughout the first third but progressively got worse as I continued. The burn was perfect as well as the smoke output. I probably wouldn’t smoke this again unless given one.” -Alan (Eulogy)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 51
|
Reviewer
|
Appearance
|
Aroma
|
1/3
|
2/3
|
3/3
|
Draw
|
Burn
|
Constr.
|
Overall
Experience |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | Throck) | 90 | 92 | 92 | 92 | 87 | 85 | 92 | 87 | 90 |
| Steve | ThaGreatWazoo) | 90 | 88 | 88 | 85 | 83 | 85 | 90 | 87 | 85 |
| Gregg | McGreggor57) | 90 | 90 | 88 | 90 | 83 | 87 | 88 | 87 | 85 |
| Alan | Eulogy) | 90 | 90 | 92 | 88 | 85 | 92 | 92 | 87 | 85 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.