Top New World Robustos

Description

1 x E P Carrillo ‘Encore Majestic’ Robusto (5 3/8″ x 52 ring gauge)
1 x A J Fernandaez ‘Bellas Artes’ Robusto Maduro (5″ x 52 ring gauge)
1 x E P Carrillo Pledge ‘Prequel’ (5″ x 50 ring gauge)

Top rated New World Robusto cigars from 2018, 2019, 2020 by Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Journal.

The word “robust” in English calls to mind words like “vigorous,” “healthy,” and “strong.” That’s what these cigars are meant to be like. A simply exquisite cigars that must be smoked to truly appreciate.

 E P Carrillo Encore Majestic (Dominican) Medium to Full strength (Cigar Aficionado’s 2018 “Cigar of the Year” )

For four generations, Carrillo Cigars have been created to deliver the unforgettable experience that comes with unwavering attention to detail.

Carrillo Cigars have always been about innovative and ground breaking ideas. Today, their cigar lines each have a unique and distinct set of characteristics that define each Series – and the type of experience the cigars embody. The Series themselves are each based on a greater concept which reflect an aspect of the family’s cigar-making heritage and the authentic pride with which each cigar is made.

The second in the Carrillo Family Series, the EP Carrillo Encore Majestic is a premium Dominican robusto with flavour to spare. Featuring a gorgeous reddish-brown Nicaraguan wrapper that covers top-shelf Nicaraguan binder and filler. Experience the next entry into the already historic Family Series by EP Carrillo.

Tasting notes:

The medium-bodied Encore Majestic will dazzle your palate with notes of rich earth and a crisp spice, all while balancing out the experience nicely with a sweet undertone.
“Elegant impressions of English breakfast tea, orange peel and sweet caramel are balanced by a hearty, woody backbone of oak.”

A J Fernandez Bellas Artes Maduro Robusto (Nicaraguan) Medium strength (Cigar Journal’s 2019 “Cigar of the Year” )

In 2016, A.J. Fernandez introduced the Bellas Artes series in the United States. The Maduro line followed two years later, and for roughly one year has also been available in Europe and Asia. The combination of a Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper and a Mexican San Andrés binder is rather unusual, but is clearly highly appreciated and gives the cigar a unique selling point. It is said that Abdel Fernandez’s inspiration for this series came from visits to the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Havana. The Bellas Artes Maduro series encompasses four vitolas: alongside the Robusto, the Toro, Gordo and Short Churchill formats are available. In addition, a special edition was recently released in the Lancero format.

Tasting notes:

Right from the start, this perfect cigar (not only visually) is expressive. It offers the scent of bread, spices, cacao sweetness; nutty, woody and leathery aromas. The intense aromas are carried by a gentle saltiness, pepper and acidity. Strength, harmony, excitement …

 E P Carrillo Prequel Pledge (Nicaragua) Medium to Full strength (Cigar Aficionado’s 2020 “Cigar of the Year” )

The EPC Pledge was named Cigar Aficionado’s 2020 “Cigar of the Year” with a chart smashing 98 rating! The EPC Pledge is the third release in the Perez-Carrillo Series, following Encore (2018 #1 Cigar of the Year) and La Historia (2014 #2 Cigar of the Year) After spending over six months testing blends, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo finally found the blend he was looking for. The Pledge describes an evolution of his skills in blending throughout his life and how these skills translate to his promise to cigar lovers, reaching different milestones. In the first release of two sizes, one size focuses on his roots in Cuba, which contributes to tobacco being in his blood, and then the second size moves towards his core years of developing skills that led to his reaching Cigar Hall of Fame status. The evolution of his pledge will continue to be told through future size releases. The EPC Pledge is a box-pressed cigar comprised of a Connecticut Havana seed wrapper, Ecuadorian binder and Nicaraguan fillers.

Tasting notes:

The resulting experience lives up to high expectations of Perez-Carrillo cigars, offering a medium-full intensity and long-lasting complexities of red pepper spice, hickory, candy-covered chocolate, aromatic botanicals, nougat and dark underbelly of ripe stone fruit.