Cigar Review: E.P. Carrillo Elencos Elites

Last year, E.P. Carrillo introduced a five-pack featuring a sampling of some of the company’s favorites. Included are one each of the following toro-sized smokes: La Historia Doña Elena, Inch 60 Natural, Selección Oscuro Especial No. 6, New Wave Divino, and Elencos Elites. Given that the combined MSRP of these cigars is $46.50 and the five-pack is selling for $37.50, this is a solid way to explore—or reacquaint yourself with—the EPC lineup.

Today I am reviewing one of the cigars from the sampler: the Elencos Elites. The Elencos line was launched in 2011, about two years after Ernesto Perez-Carrillo ended his nine-year tenure with General Cigar to establish his own family-operated boutique. At the outset, this three-vitola line had the same blend as the E.P. Carrillo Edición Limitada 2010, and its production was likewise limited by the availability of the requisite tobaccos.

E.P. Carrillo re-released Elencos in 2017, this time as a regular production line. The blend consists of a Brazilian wrapper, a Dominican binder, and Nicaraguan filler tobaccos. (Of note: You may see the binder listed as Ecuadorian elsewhere; this is an error, as confirmed via the E.P. Carrillo Cigar Co.)

Elencos is Spanish for “cast,” as in the cast of a theatrical production. It is offered in the same three formats as it was in 2011 with prices in the $8.25-9.25 range: Don Rubino (5.25 x 50), Elites (6 x 54), and a figurado called Acto Mayor (6.25 x 52).

I smoked two Elites for this review. Like the Don Rubino I reviewed a couple years ago, this is a dark, oily cigar with an attractive wrapper that’s devoid of any large veins or imperfections. The pre-light notes are rich and reminiscent of molasses and nougat. One major difference: I had written the Don Rubino is firm to the touch, whereas the Elites is pretty soft, almost spongy.

Once lit, a rich, smooth, medium-bodied taste emerges with a well-balanced collection of flavors ranging from sweet cream and cocoa to roasted nuts and espresso. Highly enjoyable. The intro is not intense—certainly nothing like the blast-of-pepper bombs that are so prevalent these days—yet the body still dials back after about an inch. The result is a mellower experience than one might expect given the cigar’s makeup and appearance.

Heading into the midway point, I am starting to think the lack of strength will be permanent. The enjoyable flavors remain—and the cigar is not what I’d call mild, by any means—though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping for a little more concentration of taste. I’d love to try this blend in a lancero and, for my palate, the Don Rubino is the more enjoyable frontmark.

Right until the end, the construction is solid. Expect a very clear draw, good smoke production, a sturdy ash, and a burn that doesn’t require touch-ups to stay even.

At the end of the day, this is a fine cigar with great flavor—I just want more of that flavor. That’s ultimately why I’m settling on a score of three and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys