Released this past April, the Mil Días Marranitos E648 is the second Marranitos cigar from Crowned Heads, and for those familiar with the debut release, there are a few things about this follow-up worth noting. As the “LE” implies, the E648 LE 2023 is made in limited edition and rolled to 61/8” x 48 dimensions making it a little longer and thinner than the EL 2022. However, both Marranitos (Spanish for “little pigs”), were rolled with Ecuador Sumatra wrappers, while the regular production Mil Días use an Ecuador Habano wrapper.
Crowned Heads co-founder, John Huber, also attributes the E648’s dimensions to Eradio Pichardo who, when asked what his favorite cigar size was, said “61/8″ × 48.” Additionally, the Marranitos E648 production is limited to 2,500 boxes.
Factory: TacaNicsa – Estelí, Nicaragua (formerly Tabacalera Pichardo)
Size: 61/8″ × 48
Body & Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Peru
Presented in boxes of 12
The Sumatra wrapper was perfectly rolled, firm in feel, even in color with a few noticeable veins, and finished with a triple seam cap. The Marranitos E648 wears two bands to identify its release and a footband. The cold draw was just right with a slightly nutty and woody flavor.
Once lit, the opening puffs were mellow with muted nut and wood flavors. At about an inch the burn was off to a good start offering lots of enveloping smoke. Further along, body & strength were medium, the flavors mostly nutty, earthy, and woodier, which was pretty much the course up to the midpoint.
At that juncture the cigar woke up in this sense: the smoke was more chewy, the body now squarely medium-plus, and the flavors more vivid. Along with a trace of nutmeg, some leather squeezed through and all combined, the flavors were well balanced. Retrohales were pretty smooth with a light cedar flavor and not too spicy.
In the final inches, the body was full but strength remained medium while the flavors continued to be pretty vivid. Taking it to the nub, roasted nut and cedar flavors survived amid a combination of earth and baking spices.
When my Marranitos E648 began I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it turned out to be very impressive. Besides the textbook construction, flavors, and balance, I liked how it shifted from a fairly mellow-medium smoke early on to a full-flavored jamboree by the midpoint. I’m also glad that Crowned Heads reprised the Ecuador Sumatra wrapper since other cigars I’ve had over the past couple of years with Ecuador Sumatra have been really good. I would add that the Costa Rican and Peruvian tobaccos, plus the 61/8 by 48 dimensions have a lot to do with the cigar’s excellent performance. However, due to its complexity and robust body, I think the E648 LE would be a better fit for cigar smokers who have a fair degree of experience. As to the per-cigar price, I think it’s reasonable, but a box will save you some decent coin.
If you’ve already had an experience with this cigar please share your thoughts with a comment.
Executive Editor
Gary Korb has been writing and editing content for CigarAdvisor.com since its debut in 2008. An avid cigar smoker for over 30 years, he has worked on the marketing side of the premium cigar business as a Sr. Copywriter, blogger, and Executive Editor of Cigar Advisor. A graduate of the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, prior to his career in the cigar business, Gary worked in the music and video industry as a marketer and a publicist.
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