If you haven’t already been lucky enough to enjoy this cigar by the time you read this review, your local retailer may already be out of this fine smoke. I suggest you run down to your local shop and grab yourself one of these dark colored buddies if they’re still available, because after the limited 2000 stogies are gone, you won’t be able to enjoy this masterpiece. It’s at a time like this one that I am lucky to be a Tobacconist, because I probably would not be able to get my hands on this smoke any other way. This one is really moving fast. Hot! Hot! Hot!
Statistics –
Name: E.P. Carrillo Edicion Limitada 2011 Dark Ritual
Country: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera La Alianza S.A
Filler: Nicaraguan
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Wrapper: Brazilian Maduro
Size: Toro Grand
Ring Gauge: 56
Length: 6 ½” Inches
Appearance –
Even though this Habano has a 56 ring gauge, you would think it must be bigger. When I held it between my fingers, I could feel the weight of the well-aged tobacco. This cigar is really big. I began salivating at the rich aroma that enveloped my palate. The wrapper is an absolutely beautiful dark and deep chocolate with an oily sheen, similar to another cigar I reviewed recently, the La Flor Dominicana – Ligero Cabinet Oscuro L300.
Construction –
Ernesto Perez-Carrillo has outdone himself with such a well-crafted cigar. After close inspection I could find zero flaws with the double Brazilian Maduro rapper. To his credit, just like any of his other cigars, this one begs to be smoked and enjoyed completely.
Burn –
The only disappointment with this smoke that I could find in the hour and a half that it took for me to enjoy it was that it burned a little unevenly from time to time. Several times I had to stop and torch a little bit of the wrapper. It burned unevenly from side to side, and I had to keep it burning even until the middle of the smoke. There was plenty of smoke to add to my enjoyment, but it took a small effort to get to the parts that were really enjoyable. By the middle of the cigar the smoking was phenomenal, and it burned much better than the first half. The ash was white and flaky.
Flavor -
This medium to full-bodied cigar is very complex and remains that way all the way down to the very end – dark espresso chocolate with just a hint of spice that rolls very cleanly on the pallet. As I worked into the middle of the cigar the strength picked up and had a full leathery complexion that was still sweet and spicy. I smoked and smoked and smoked for over an hour and was very satisfied.
Finish –
This cigar is positively not for a novice smoker. It is very well-balanced in its consistency of flavor, and I highly recommend you enjoy it as much as you can. However, by the time you get to the end you will definitely need to be sitting down. This smoke without question needs to be paired with wine or port, or enjoyed after a heavy meal. I was lucky that I came to this cigar on a full stomach. In combination with the port that I was drinking at the time, it left me very subdued and mellow. Again, being a limited cigar you probably won’t find this in your local retailer’s shop for very much longer. But, if you do, make sure you grab yourself an extra one or two so that you can have them to enjoy later.
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