E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial vs Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Toro
How do E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial and Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Torostack 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 Toro sit at a similar medium-full strength, so it comes down to flavor and origin.
- Strength
- Body
- Medium-Full
- Medium-Full
- Origin
- Dominican Republic
- Dominican Republic
- Wrapper
- Nicaraguan
- Dominican Criollo '98
- Binder
- Nicaraguan
- Dominican Olor
- Filler
- Nicaraguan
- Dominican (15-year aged)
- Vitola
- Toro
- Toro
- Size
- 6.125 in × 50
- 6 in × 54
- Rating
- 96/100 · 2024
- —
- Flavor
- LeatherCoffeeCedarBrown sugarPepper
- Dried fruitCedarCocoaLeatherMild pepper
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 Toro 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 Toro if
fruity notes appeal to you.
See Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Toro →E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial vs Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Toro — FAQ
- Is the E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial or the Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Toro 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 Toro dried fruit and cedar.
- What's the difference between the E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial and the Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Toro?
- The E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial is a medium-full Dominican Republic cigar with a Nicaraguan wrapper; the Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Toro is a medium-full Dominican Republic cigar with a Dominican Criollo '98 wrapper.
- Which is rated higher, the E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial or the Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Toro?
- E.P. Carrillo Encore Celestial: Cigar Aficionado 96/100. Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year Toro: no published critic score yet.