While I know we just reviewed an EPC cigar on Friday, I am opting to review another one today. The EPC La Historia was released in 2014 by Ernesto Perez Carrillo. If you don’t know the name, you should as he created La Gloria Cubana from a small factory in Miami, Florida back in 1990. In 1999, he would sell his business to General cigar before leaving them in 2009 and starting up EPC Cigar Co. with his son and daughter.
Today we fire up the cigar that is hands down my favorite from a true gentlemen in the business, La Historia.
Cigar Review: Perez-Carrillo La Historia
Wrapper: San Andres (Mexico)
Binder: Sumatra (Ecuador)
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5 7/8″
Ring Gauge: 58
Size: Regalias d’ Celia (Piramide)
The Look: Packaged in 10 count boxes, the box pressed cigars are laid out in separated rows. The cigar features a dark San Andres wrapper grown in Mexico. Under the fingers the cigar feels gritty and toothy. The presentation of the Perez-Carrillo La Historia is beautiful. The band is intricate and the bright colors against the dark wrapper pop. The well pack foot is covered by a blue ribbon and the stick has no voids of tobacco.
The Notes: The cold draw of the cigar is chewy, with notes of chocolate and nougat with the slightest bit of cedar. The aroma off the foot of the cigar is warm and inviting with a touches of chocolate and fig. Once the cigar is lit the first note is cedar.
As we move into the first third of La Historia the cedar notes slide back as the cigar becomes rich with notes of chocolate, nougat and the slightest hint of coffee. The retrohale of the cigar is slightly spicy, but there is also a cherry like sweetness that emerges on top of cedar notes.
In the second third, the cherry like sweetness moves to the palate but it is more of an afterthought as the primary notes remain rich chocolate with hints of cedar and a developing nuttiness. As the second third comes to a close it remains me of jelly ring with dark chocolate. The retrohale becomes spicier as the cigar moves into the last third.
As we smoke the cigar to its conclusion notes of chocolate remain constant, with a subtle raisin and cherry like sweetness. The pepper remains through the nose, and its the strongest as the cigar comes to a close, but there is also some nuttiness as well on the moderate to long finish of this outstanding stick.
The Finish: San Andres has been around as a wrapper for a long time, but it seems over the last 4-5 years more and more companies have chosen to use it and I am hard pressed to think of someone who uses it better then Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. The cigar is smooth and balanced and while the flavors stay consistant throughout the duration of La Historia. This is a cigar worthy of a box or two, it’s that good.
Score: 95
Price: $11.19 / $98.99
E.P. Carrilo La Historia Regalias d’ Celia Piramides
E.P. Carrilo La Historia Regalias d’ Celia Piramides Foot
E.P. Carrilo La Historia Regalias d’ Celia Piramides Burn
