CA Report: Top New Cigars (Mar 1 2021)

Do you see that ribbon of light on the horizon? The promise of a warm sun, green grass between our toes, and a fine cigar enjoyed beyond our four walls. Winter’s death rattle is sounding and that means many of us are buzzing with anticipation. In this edition of Top New Cigars, we’ve found a trifecta of blends – including 2020’s Cigar of the Year: E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel. We’re hoping this list will add some fresh variety of flavor for your first re-stock of the year! Go and ready that dusty humidor of yours! 
 
Is there a new cigar that you’ve been enjoying that isn’t on our list? Tell us about it in the comments below! 

E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel 

Wrapper: Connecticut-seed Habano 
Binder: Ecuador 
Filler: Nicaragua  

Merely getting a Cigar of the Year once is the stuff of legends. Doing it twice in three years is something else entirely. Still, we’d expect nothing less from Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, the veritable cigar legends’ legend. If you’re looking to dive headfirst into smoking season, E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel’s creamy medley of salty-sweet peppers and spice has nuances of caramel and toffee – and a long finish to boot. We won’t wax poetic too long, but this is surely a cigar that should be on your ‘must-smoke’ list. 

Perla del Mar Corojo by J.C. Newman 

Wrapper: Ecuador Corojo 
Binder: Nicaragua 
Filler: Nicaragua 

Corojo seed sweetness + Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos = a taste bud experience to behold. With a kick of spice, wood, earth, and vanilla, Perla de Mar Corojo hails from J.C. Newman’s ‘PENSA’ factory in Nicaragua with a ‘Tampa style’ light pressing. This feature gives the cigar a soft boxed feel in the hand – which is more comfortable to some – but still enough roundness to appease traditionalists. If you’re a fan of their previous ‘Perla del Mar’ blends, this fits right into the mix with a full body that never goes overboard and a price to write home about! 

Project 40 Maduro by Alec Bradley 

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro 
Binder: Brazilian Habano 
Filler: Nicaragua 

Project 40 Maduro by Alec Bradley is take two (see Gary’s review of the original) on their ‘Experimental Series’ of cigars designed to pay homage to (and deliver) relaxation, calm, and happiness. We smoked the blend recently for a Cigar Advisor Panel Review and came to a consensus on its subtle complexity, noting flavors of fig, citrus, caramel, cocoa, and more. Whether or not you’re into the new-age feel good-ery of the Project 40 initiative that birthed its name, we think it achieves Alec Bradley’s desired effect. And ultimately, that’s what smoking is all about.