E.P. Carrillo · Encore
New WorldExperiencedE.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic
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.
Flavor profile
Earthy · Spice · Sweet · Roast
Critic ratings
Cigar Aficionado
2018
96/100
Scores as published by each reviewer. Casa DNC aggregates third-party ratings; we don't score cigars ourselves.
The Encore Majestic earned E.P. Carrillo its second Cigar of the Year crown, topping Cigar Aficionado's list in 2018 with a 96-point score. It is a puro-style, all-Nicaraguan blend in a stout 5 3/8 x 52 vitola that drinks like a refined everyday luxury.
What it tastes like
Encore uses Nicaraguan tobacco for the wrapper, binder, and filler, sourced from the volcanic regions of Condega, Jalapa, and Esteli. The fillers are aged in tercios, where leaves are bundled in palm bark for a slow, two-way humidification. The payoff is a smooth, spicy-sweet profile: leather and red pepper balanced by brown sugar, roasted coffee, and cedar. Strength reads medium, but the body pushes into medium-full territory with a creamy, polished finish.
Who it's for
Great for smokers who want an award-winning Nicaraguan blend without going full-bodied. If you mostly smoke Cuban-style cigars, this is a flavorful introduction to what Nicaraguan tobacco does differently, explained in Cuban vs Nicaraguan cigars.
For a longer smoke in the same line, the Encore Celestial is a 6 1/8 x 50 toro. Add it to your humidor and rate it in the Casa DNC app.
Curious how it stacks up? See Cuban vs Nicaraguan cigars.
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E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic head-to-head
See how E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic stacks up against similar cigars — strength, flavor, and ratings.