Celebrating Legacy: A Review of the E.P. Carrillo 15th Anniversary Cigar #2
A Milestone in Smoke: E.P. Carrillo 15th Anniversary (Cigar #2)
When a storied cigar house reaches a milestone, anticipation runs high. In 2024, Ernesto Pérez-Carrillo and Casa Carrillo marked 15 years since launching his namesake brand with a limited edition smoke. The E.P. Carrillo 15th Anniversary was announced as a one-size Gran Toro (6½″ × 54), built with aged tobaccos. The wrapper showed a lustrous cocoa-bark tone with faint mottling. No major seams or faults, though the veins were moderately raised. In hand, the cigar felt firm and evenly packed, with a subtle taper toward the head that hinted at a more elegant silhouette than your average straight 54.
Pre-light & Cold Draw
Before lighting, the wrapper and foot emitted aromas of coffee bean, blackberry, leather, earth, and mellow wood. The cold draw delivered oak, hay, mocha, and a mild pepper bite — pleasant and indicative of good aging. I noted a slightly tighter draw than the prior sample, which surprised me. It was still acceptable and didn’t impede the eventual smoke, but hinted that this particular stick might have marginally more resistance.
Smoking Experience
Below is a breakdown by thirds and key observations.
| Segment | Flavors / Notes | Strength / Body | Burn & Draw Behavior | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Third | Oak, toasted coffee, baking spice, light earth, hints of sweetness (brown sugar, maybe raisin) | Medium | Burn was clean and even; smoke output generous | The cigar came alive early, and the complexity was engaging. |
| Second Third | Coffee becomes dominant, earth and spice linger, black pepper emerges on retrohale, touches of nuts or hay | Medium to Medium-Full | The burn began to waver slightly; a minor touch-up was needed to correct the line | Flavor transitions were decent, though balance wobbled a bit. |
| Final Third | Coffee, earth, pepper dominate; subtle wood, light sweetness in background | Medium-Full to Full | The burn needed multiple touch-ups; ash remained a light gray but not firm | The flavors stayed consistent, but the loss of nuance made the finish less compelling than the first third. |
Strength, Body & Balance
This cigar begins as a medium-strength, medium-bodied smoke. As it progresses, the intensity leans upward: by the second third you’re often in medium-plus territory, and the final third can approach full depending on draw and pace.
The body (richness / texture) tends to stay just ahead of strength, giving a pleasantly robust sensation without overwhelming the palate — at least for most of the smoke. On #2, though, as the strength pushed higher in the last third, body threatened to overpower more delicate notes.
Overall balance is quite good initially; the cigar manages to juggle oak, coffee, earth, and spice without chaos. The later stages, however, lean more toward a narrower profile centered on the stronger notes, losing some of the early artistry.So if you’re a fan of aged wrappers, medium-to-full profiles, and enjoy smoke where the first third “wows,” then the 15th Anniversary is a compelling pick. But go in with realistic expectations: not every stick will be flawless, and the finish may not sustain the brilliance of the start.