Today, we are reviewing the E.P. Carrillo Essence Series Connecticut Toro from Casa Carrillo. The Essence Series was introduced in 2024 as a new regular production line under Casa Carrillo (formerly E.P. Carrillo). In recent years, Casa Carrillo has achieved significant success with its more premium Perez-Carrillo offerings. As Casa Carrillo’s portfolio continued to grow and diversify, the demand for a new line of cigars emerged, specifically one that would be accessible to enthusiasts at a price point around $10.00. This inspired the creation of the Essence Series, a collection thoughtfully designed to deliver exceptional quality and flavor while appealing to those seeking a more affordable indulgence.
When the Essence Series was unveiled at the 2024 PCA Trade Show, six different blends were debuted. It’s a series designed to showcase the diverse wrappers of various regions and varietals. In this case, an Ecuadorian-grown Connecticut seed shade-grown wrapper is being showcased.
The following are the six installments that were announced last year.
To date, the Sumatra, Maduro, Honduras, and Connecticut installments have been released. No timetable has been announced for Essence Nicaragua. We were told the Cameroon release was shelved for the time being. That is because the intended wrapper for Casa Carrillo is instead being used for the Endure release. Thus, the future of Essence Cameroon is unknown.
Without further ado, let’s turn our attention to the Essence Connecticut Toro and see what this cigar brings to the table.
SPECIFICATIONS
Blend and Origin
In addition to the Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, there is also a Honduran Criollo binder. The fillers are Honduran and Dominican.
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
- Binder: Honduran Criollo ’98
- Filler: Honduran, Dominican
- Country of Origin: Honduras
- Factory: Agroindustrias Diadema S.A.
The blend is also the second in the Essence Series and the third overall to come out of Honduras, joining the Essence Honduras. In this case, the Essence Connecticut originates from Agroindustrias Diadema S.A. (better known as the Camacho factory) in Honduras. This is the first time E.P. Carrillo has released a cigar out of that factory. The other Essence Honduras comes out of Plasencia’s Honduran factory. Finally, the previously released limited edition E.P. Carrillo Short Run 2023 came out of Oscar Valladares’ factory
Vitolas Offered
Essence Connecticut is available in three sizes: Corona, Robusto, and Toro, each presented in 24-count boxes.
- Corona: 5 1/2 x 44
- Robusto: 5 x 50
- Toro: 6 x 52
Appearance (*)
The Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper of the Essence Connecticut Toro has a beautiful golden brown color. There was also a light sheen of oil on the wrapper with a slight amount of oil toward the cap. In addition, there were some visible veins on the surface. Most of the wrapper seams were not very noticeable.
PERFORMANCE
Pre-Light Draw (*)
A straight cut was used to remove the cap of the Essence Connecticut Toro. Once the cap was successfully removed, it was time to commence with the pre-light draw. The cold draw delivered a mix of buttercream and wood. There was a slight sweetness to the buttercream. Overall, I found this to be a pleasant, satisfactory pre-light draw. At this point, it was time to remove the footer band of the Essence Connecticut Toro and see what the smoking experience would deliver.
Tasting Notes
The Essence Connecticut Toro opened up with more notes of cream, cedar, wood, and earth. The initial flavors were soon joined by a natural tobacco note that delivered some sweetness. Early on, the wood and cedar notes moved into the forefront. Meanwhile, the cream, earth, and natural tobacco settled in the background. Toward the end of the first third, some black pepper emerged on the tongue. Meanwhile, the retrohale delivered an additional layer of wood and cedar.
Moving through the second third of the Essence Connecticut Toro, the combination of the wood and cedar in the forefront increased in intensity. The earth, natural tobacco, and pepper remained in the background. The cream notes diminished and were gone by the midway point. At the same time, the pepper notes slowly increased. Meanwhile, the natural tobacco began to develop more bitter qualities, which by the end of the second third eclipsed the sweetness.
The final third saw the wood and cedar notes remain grounded in the forefront. The pepper notes were now the most prominent, with the earth and natural tobacco notes still contributing. Meanwhile, the natural tobacco was now on the bitter side. This bitterness seemed to increase during the final third. This bitterness and increased presence of the pepper led to some harshness. As the Essence Connecticut Toro came to a close, the resulting nub was soft to the touch and cool in temperature.
Burn
The Essence Connecticut Toro maintained a straight burn path and had a relatively straight burn line. This is a cigar that required minimal touchups along the way. The resulting ash had a salt-and-pepper complexion. I didn’t find this to be an overly firm ash, but it wasn’t loose or flaky either. As for the burn rate and burn temperature, both were ideal.
Draw
I smoked two Essence Connecticut Toro cigars for this review, and I found the draw to be open, though not too loose. While I typically prefer a bit more resistance in my draw, I must say that this more open draw didn’t negatively impact my overall smoking experience.
Strength and Body
This is a cigar that started as a traditional dialed-back Connecticut Shade release before progressing to a more contemporary-style, bolder Connecticut Shade release.
The Essence Connecticut started with mild to medium strength and medium-bodied flavors. Both the strength and body increased linearly. By the second half, this cigar was in medium strength and medium to full-bodied territory. In terms of strength versus body, the body had the edge.
BANDING AND PACKAGING NOTES (*)
The banding and packaging are pretty straightforward on the Essence Series – especially when compared to the Perez Carillo series. It features the modified red-and-gold E.P. logo on the band and the cedar boxes. While the series maintains a consistent design across its blends, the Honduran variant distinguishes itself with a unique white color scheme on its bands and boxes.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Final Thoughts
I have now had all three Honduran-made Casa Carrillo cigars. In all three cases, the cigars have been a miss. Casa Carrillo has established itself as a world-renowned factory, and it needs to play to its strength. The Essence Connecticut started with some potential but ultimately fell flat. Toward the end, the bitterness and harshness took over, and that’s what that does a lot of Connecticut Shade cigars in. When you have a legendary Connecticut like the New Wave Connecticut in your portfolio, it’s hard to recommend this cigar. It pains me to say this, but this is a cigar I won’t come back to.
Summary
- Key Flavors: Wood, Cedar, Cream, Earth, Natural Tobacco, Pepper
- Burn: Excellent
- Draw: Very Good
- Complexity: Medium
- Strength: Mild to Medium (1st Half), Medium (2nd Half)
- Body: Medium (1st Half), Medium to Full (2nd Half)
- Finish: Fair
Rating
Value: Not Recommended
Score: 85
REFERENCES
Photo Credits: Cigar Coop
(*) Indicates this is not factored into the score or value rating
