E.P. Carrillo unveiled the Selección Oscuro at the 2015 IPCPR Trade Show. We reviewed the Nacionales size when it first came out here and gave it an 87. The look of the line was revamped in 2016 when the company gave their entire brand an overhaul and now look more like the other brands in the portfolio.
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.
The E.P. CarrilloSelección Oscuro uses a Mexican San Andres Oscuro wrapper, Ecuadorian binder, and Nicaraguan fillers. It comes in six sizes: 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. All come in boxes of 24 and is rolled like all Carrillo cigars is rolled at Tabacalera La Alianza S.A.
“Aesthetically speaking, this cigar definitely stands out. With its rustic, near black wrapper to the several prominent veins and bumps from the broadleaf, it really draws your attention. Slight sheen from the oils in the tobacco. Definitely an attractive looking maduro. ” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)
Aroma: 91
“Notes of sweet tea on the cold draw. Oak notes upon lighting.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)
“I completely toasted the foot to get a good burn. The first several puffs were a blast of black pepper and dark coffee beans. It reminded me of a well aged Tatuaje broadleaf. Thankfully the black pepper subsided and I was left with pleasing flavors of coffee and dark chocolate, like a Hershey’s dark chocolate bar. Truly splendid start. The retro is full of pepper notes, but also chocolate. Ash holds on for over an inch before I knock it loose. ” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)
“The cigar starts off with notes of natural tobacco, damp earth, black cherries, and charred wood, with quite a bid of fresh ground black pepper and anise on the retrohale. Draw is just about perfect, easily allowing a mouthful of smoke. Burn is wobbly but even all the way around, and smoke output is relatively heavy. The ash is almost bright white with just a few grey splotches throughout. At about the 1″ mark, a sweetness emerged that reminds me of the nougat in a candy bar, along with a slight creaminess that helps create a medium to long finish. This cigar is getting more enjoyable as it burns. That is a very good thing! ” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)
“That oak woodsy note has now completely overshadowed the white pepper on the nose. It’s also nearly outmuscling the earth on the draw as well. That’s one hell of a retrohale. Construction has been solid with a smooth draw and stack-of-nickles ash (the ash finally drops around the 50 yard line). Things overall begin to downshift gears around that halfway mark, with both the overall strength and body downsizing a notch to solid medium. ” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)
“Cinnamon notes are still present with a nice hint of licorice following up.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)
the party leather, make up the profile for the final third. The draw and burn continue to be outstanding. The cigar is starting to get a little on the bitter side getting down to the final inch, and the strength has crept well into the medium full range. There is almost a menthol finish on the tongue, which combined with the anise and pepper, give the cigar quite a solid zing to the palate. ” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)
“Heading into the final stages, the cigar continues to impress. Definitely has those textbook maduro flavors of earth, coffee and chocolate but I also get slight hints of raisins and fruit, all combining to create a very enjoyable experience. It was a cigar that begged to be burned right down to the nub. ” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 97
“Draw, while feeling tight during the prelight, was superb the entire way through” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)
Burn: 97
“The burn line was straight throughout the smoking experience and the impressive ash held on forever.” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)
Construction: 94
“Other than the wrapper being slightly bumpy, which is to be expected from broadleaf, this was very close to perfect construction-wise. ” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)
“Spicy cigar from beginning to end. Nice blending of cinnamon, licorice, and jalapeno pepper. Oak notes briefly on the front end. A cigar I’d want in my humidor. ” –Sean F. (fullermaine)
“Maduros can be hit and miss, especially if they don’t use aged tobacco. This was an example of one that was done the right way. The flavors worked so well together. The earth, dark chocolate, coffee and raisin notes each did their part to create a great smoking experience. As far as scores go, I’d rate this a 96. I would definitely hunt more of these down. ” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)
“This was an enjoyable cigar that you really must retrohale to get the full experience or else you’re going to experience EARTH and little else. The party here is 100% through the nose folks, Scarface style! ” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)
“If you are in to earthy, spicy cigars, that perform well and don’t disappoint, then this is a cigar for you. It developed from medium to the high end of medium full throughout that smoking experience on an almost linear level. No abrupt changes in strength or body, and no re-lights or touchups needed. While it did end up a little bitter and spicy at the end, novice smokers should feel no fear with this cigar, as long as it is paired with something to offset the strength at the end, like a nice aged rum. Stout beer would overrun it, as would cask strength scotch or barrel proof bourbon. All in all a great experience that I look forward to trying again!” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)
“Sometimes a cigar hits all the right notes and you’re like ‘Damn, I can’t wait to smoke one of these again!’ This wasn’t one of those. It was quite literally the opposite. I’ll be curious to see how others felt about it though, as metallic notes are pretty uncommon and maybe, just maybe, I got a dud. Sadly, I can only go with what I smoked for this and it wasn’t one I’d want to repeat. ” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
"If you are in to earthy, spicy cigars, that perform well and don't disappoint, then this is a cigar for you. It developed from medium to the high end of medium full throughout that smoking experience on an almost linear level. No abrupt changes in strength or body, and no re-lights or touchups needed. While it did end up a little bitter and spicy at the end, novice smokers should feel no fear with this cigar, as long as it is paired with something to offset the strength at the end, like a nice aged rum. Stout beer would overrun it, as would cask strength scotch or barrel proof bourbon. All in all a great experience that I look forward to trying again!" -Kevin A. (Kevin A.)
