1 review for E.P. Carrillo Elencos Don Robino
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E.P. Carrillo Elencos Don Robino
Overall Score
Cigar Region Dominican Republic
Filler Nicaragua
Wrapper Brazil
Binder Dominican Republic
Length 5 1/4
Ring Gauge 50
Vitola Robusto
Construction Hand Made
Kaleehb
Origin : Dominican Republic
Format : Robusto
Size : 5 1/4 x 50
Wrapper : Brazil
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Dominican Republic
Hand-Made
Price : $10 each
Until March of 2009, Ernesto Perez Carrillo worked under General Cigar’s eye, helping to oversee all aspects of the La Gloria Cubana brand. After heavy influence from his son, Ernesto III and daughter Lissette, he left General Cigar to pursue a family-run boutique brand.
The EPC Cigar Company has been nothing short of fantastic since its debut and is quickly becoming one of the better known cigar brands in the USA. Until the release of the E.P. Carrillo Elencos Series (which is actually the Edicion Limitada 2010, same cigars) I had only had the beginning Inaugural line cigars.
The E.P. Carrillo Elencos Series at the moment consists of three sizes. They are as follows: Acto Mayor (Torpedo) 6 ¼ x 52; Elites (Toro) 6 x 54; Don Rubino (Robusto) 5 ¼ x 50.
Each vitola is available in attractive black lacquer display boxes of 20 cigars (not 10 like they used to be).
The ore-light on my E.P. Carrillo Elencos Don Robino was nothing short of fantastic. The very silky smooth chocolate wrapper showed minimal veins with a perfectly round triple seam cap. The band was a charcoal gray and black with white lettering. A heavy aroma of barnyard and Earth were evident on the smell with no soft spots found during inspection. The cold draw was tight and no clear tastes could be pinpointed on the smokeless draw.
Pre-light score: 8 pts.
The first third of my E.P. Carrillo Elencos Don Robino opened with extreme dark coffee notes and an Earthy, leathery taste that coated the palate. The draw was tight and cigar immediately started med./full bodied. At no point did the cigar back down either, in fact I sum the opening up as… harsh! I was also displeased with a lead/metallic taste that came through during the first third. The burn was uneven however it did give way to a wonderful white ash.
Into the second third of the Don Robino the cigar did back down in body however the lead/metallic tastes remained the same. The aroma was pleasing but the burn still remained uneven. I was becoming very disappointed by this cigar and almost put it down for good but heading into the final third the cigar mellowed out and for the first time became enjoyable.
This third was by far the most enjoyable part of the cigar (in all three of the samples I smoked). A silky, creamy taste with hints of cocoa and malt covered my palate with a tiny bit of spice tingling the finish. The ending on this cigar was very smooth and finally the burn started to correct itself.
Smoking score: 5 pts.
My final thought of the E.P. Carrillo Elencos Don Robino is disappointing. All of the E.P. Carrillo lines that I’ve smoked have been top notch examples of what a premium hand-rolled cigar should be. However, this cigar just did not cut it. By the time it actually mellowed out and turned enjoyable the smoking experience was over. I much prefer the E.P. Carrillo Inaugural line and will certainly stick with those when reaching for this brand.
Overall Experience score: 5 pts.
E.P. Carrillo Elencos Don Rubino Rating
Pre-Light: 8 pts.
Smoking: 5 pts.
Overall Experience: 5 pts.
TOTAL: 18 pts.
Wizz15
It is a year and a half later, and my Don Rubinos have been resting since for a bit, but I have to disagree with your assessment. Tonight, after 18-ish months resting in the humidors, I had a wonderful smoke.
The initial dry pull was weak and I thought I was in for a “lost” cigar. However, after an incredible 70+ min smoke, I was delighted that the Don Rubino vitola had settle red and toned down on the acidic tones considerably. Paired with a Balvenie Doublewood, it really showed chocolate and some leathery tones in the second third and on. Still a potent aftertaste, but much more of a leathery linger than when it was younger.
Overall, I wish I had more aging in my humidor!
jmj_203
Hmm interesting review. I haven’t had any yet but I see these get high praise oftentimes in reviews, with several calling then the best of epc brand. Wondering if you’re maybe a med to mildpreference and this was just to full, as I see a lot of guys who favor Cubans talk about the metallic taste, which I have never personally identified. I’ll still give one of these a try soon, have a give pack a few years old.