E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial vs Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Solara Double Robusto
How do E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial and Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Solara Double Robustostack up? Here's the head-to-head — strength, wrapper, flavor, size, and critic ratings — plus which one to reach for.
The short answer
The E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial and Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Solara Double Robusto sit at a similar medium-full strength, so it comes down to flavor and origin.
E.P. Carrillo
E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial
Gurkha
Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Solara Double Robusto
- Strength
- Body
- Medium-Full
- Medium-Full
- Origin
- Dominican Republic
- Dominican Republic
- Wrapper
- Nicaraguan
- Dominican Criollo '98 (Colorado Maduro)
- Binder
- Nicaraguan
- Dominican Olor
- Filler
- Nicaraguan
- Dominican (15-year aged)
- Vitola
- Toro
- Double Robusto
- Size
- 6.125 in × 50
- 5 in × 58
- Rating
- 96/100 · 2024
- —
- Flavor
- LeatherCoffeeCedarBrown sugarPepper
- Dark cherryEspressoDark chocolateToasted oakLeather
The verdict
- Strength
- Both land at Medium-Full — a similar body either way.
- Critic scores
- E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial carries the published pedigree (96 points from the critics).
- Flavor
- E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial leans earthy; Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Solara Double Robusto leans fruity. Pick the profile that calls to you.
Both are worth knowing — the "better" cigar is the one that fits your taste and the moment.
Choose E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial if
earthy notes appeal to you.
See E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial →Choose Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Solara Double Robusto if
fruity notes appeal to you.
See Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Solara Double Robusto →E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial vs Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Solara Double Robusto — FAQ
- Is the E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial or the Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Solara Double Robusto better for beginners?
- They're a similar medium-full strength, so neither is clearly easier — choose by flavor. The E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial brings leather and coffee, the Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Solara Double Robusto dark cherry and espresso.
- What's the difference between the E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial and the Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Solara Double Robusto?
- The E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial is a medium-full Dominican Republic cigar with a Nicaraguan wrapper; the Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Solara Double Robusto is a medium-full Dominican Republic cigar with a Dominican Criollo '98 (Colorado Maduro) wrapper.
- Which is rated higher, the E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial or the Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Solara Double Robusto?
- E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial: Cigar Aficionado 96/100. Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Solara Double Robusto: no published critic score yet.