#NowSmoking: E.P. Carrillo Encore Toro (Exclusive Size)

#NowSmoking: E.P. Carrillo Encore Toro Cigar Review (Video)

Encore by E.P. Carrillo Toro – Cigar Details:

Factory: Tabacalera La Alianza S.A., Dominican Republic
Size: (6” x 56) Box-Pressed Toro
Strength: Full-Bodied
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua

Presented in bundles of 10 cigars

Encore Toro Backstory:

In 2018…just two years after its release…Encore Majestic was crowned Cigar of the Year. Another two years after that, Pledge Prequel took the crown for E.P. Carrillo again. Talk about a hot streak! You can imagine, then, that our ears perked up when we got a call from Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, offering Famous an exclusive Toro size.

Yes, please. We’ll take them all.

With a 56-ring, Encore Toro (not to be confused with the 6 1/8” x 50 Encore Celestial Toro) is the widest cigar of the series. And if there’s one person you want making your fat smoke, it’s Ernesto. His La Gloria Cubana Serie R No. 6 was the first premium cigar to normalize the 6” x 60 size way back in 1997. He’s been the godfather of big rings ever since.

The tobaccos and blend are the same award-winning, all-Nicaraguan recipe that earned Encore its well-deserved street cred. Additionally, Encore Toro are presented in bundles of 10. That means even though it’s the biggest stick on the block, it’s got the lowest price. Who needs a box anyway? It’s not like you can smoke it. Let’s light up and see how Encore Toro burns!

The Basics:

Construction: Beautifully rolled with a triple cap and a reddish-brown hue to its wrapper.
Cold Draw: Dried fruit, spices, and brown sugar.
Base flavors: Semi-sweet chocolate, earth, coffee, and a heart array of pepper and spice.
Aroma: Has a baked cookie quality to it.
Burn & Ash: Superb. Ernesto doesn’t cut corners and the burn proves it.

My smoke starts off with a cocktail of dry fruit and brown sugar off the cold draw, followed by a huge gust of sweet tobacco, pepper, and the kind of semi-sweet cocoa you’d find in chocolate chips. It’s noticeably smoother than Encore Majestic, and it burns cooler thanks to the beefed-up ring gauge. There are some hints of nuts and leather here and there, too. Nothing significant enough to list as a base flavor—but nonetheless, complex.

There’s a dominating coffee flavor—almost like coffee ice cream—just before I reach the second third. The sweet tobacco and cocoa notes are still there, too. They’re just not flying left seat anymore.

Encore Toro’s midpoint is even smoother than its start. The gusts of pepper I talked about are now more of a breeze. And even though I know it’s a full-bodied cigar, I can’t help but feel like it’s medium-bodied at times.

Inching toward the nub, Encore Toro becomes decidedly earthier. I’m surprised it didn’t pop up sooner. Every single leaf in this thing is Nicaraguan, after all. But the best part—all that coffee, cocoa, and sweet tobacco is still hanging out in the background. For a cigar with only three primary flavors, it certainly feels much more complex than that.

What beverage pairs well with E.P. Carrillo Encore Toro cigars?

Don’t overthink it. Flor de Caña 12 Year. Nicaraguan tobaccos + Nicaraguan rum = Nicaraguan yum. Caña’s notes of honey, vanilla, fruit, and nuts are a proper companion to Encore’s flavors.

For additional pairing combinations, check out our Cigar & Spirit pairing guide.

Are E.P. Carrillo Encore Toro cigars worth smoking?

I don’t like big-ring cigars. But I like Encore Toro. Even more than the Majestic (there, I said it). Maybe I should stop judging books by their covers, eh? Bottom line: fans of the series have a lot to be excited about. It’s more affordable. It smokes smoother and cooler. It tastes better. What’s not to love about that? Try it and let me know what you think in the comments below!