E.P. Carrillo · Encore
New WorldExperiencedE.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial
The toro of E.P. Carrillo's award-winning all-Nicaraguan Encore line — a 6 1/8 x 50 with leather, coffee, and brown-sugar sweetness over a longer smoke.
Flavor profile
Earthy · Roast · Sweet · Spice
Critic ratings
Cigar Aficionado
2024
96/100
Scores as published by each reviewer. Casa DNC aggregates third-party ratings; we don't score cigars ourselves.
The Celestial is the 6 1/8 x 50 toro in E.P. Carrillo's Encore line, the same blend that won Cigar Aficionado's #1 Cigar of 2018 in its Majestic size. The toro gives the Nicaraguan tobacco more room to stretch out.
What it tastes like
Encore is a Nicaraguan puro: wrapper, binder, and filler all grown in Nicaragua's Condega, Jalapa, and Esteli regions, with fillers aged in palm-bark tercios for slow humidification. Expect leather, roasted coffee, and cedar laced with brown-sugar sweetness and a measured pepper spice. The longer toro format keeps the body in the medium-full range while smoothing out the transitions, finishing creamy and balanced.
Who it's for
A strong pick for experienced smokers who want an award-pedigree Nicaraguan blend in a relaxed, hour-plus smoke. Its sweet-and-spicy balance also makes it a good gateway into fuller cigars; our cigar strength guide puts medium-full in context.
Short on time? The Encore Majestic robusto is the original award winner, and the Encore Valientes is a thicker 6 1/8 x 52. Log and rate it in the Casa DNC app.
Curious how it stacks up? See Cuban vs Nicaraguan cigars.
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Cigar Aficionado's #1 Cigar of 2018 — an all-Nicaraguan Encore in a 5 3/8 x 52 format, balancing leather, red pepper, and brown-sugar sweetness.
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Medium-FullE.P. Carrillo Encore Valientes
A thick 6 1/8 x 52 toro in E.P. Carrillo's award-winning all-Nicaraguan Encore line, with leather, coffee, and brown sugar in a slower, fuller smoke.
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Medium-FullE.P. Carrillo INCH Maduro No. 64
The maduro version of E.P. Carrillo's namesake 6 1/8 x 64 INCH — a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper bringing cocoa, coffee, and sweet spice to the big-ring blend.
E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial head-to-head
See how E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial stacks up against similar cigars — strength, flavor, and ratings.