E.P. Carrillo Essence Sumatra | Toro | Box of 24

Carrillo to the core. Ernesto Perez-Carrillo has been up to big things over the last decade. Just take a peek at Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 list and you'll see dozens of EPC winners on the board, including a couple of #1 Cigar of the Year honors (the 96-rated Encore Majestic and the 98-rated Pledge Prequel). That said, it's certainly no secret that Ernesto and his Dominican factory make one heckova cigar. Enter E.P. Carrillo's Essence, a new core line focused on showcasing different wrappers at a pretty affordable price point. Essence Sumatra presents a silky, reddish-hued Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper (just like the original La Gloria Cubana that put him on the map many moons ago) paired with double binders (Nicaragua and Honduras) along with long-fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Complex  but medium bodied, this 4-country blend is loaded with notes of almond, coffee, white pepper, and a touch of sweetness on the finish.