Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 5 x 50 Box Pressed Robusto
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $12.00
My sticks have gotten 2 months of naked humidor time.
BACKGROUND:
From E.P. Carrillo Cigars:
“We’ve partnered with Oliva Cigar Co. to bring you the newest member of the E.P. Carrillo line of cigars, Allegiance. Allegiance is rolled with an 8th priming Sumatra wrapper from the area of Quevedo, Ecuador paired with Nicaraguan binders and fillers.
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
This is merely a review of a cigar that has already received high praise. I won’t be divulging anything you may not have already read or viewed.
The cigar has a bit of heft and yet the draw is like the Holland Tunnel. My PerfecDraw can remain at parade rest.
Beautiful start with a sock load of flavors: Spiced rum, espresso, creaminess, root beer, baking spices, black pepper, almond marzipan, and dark chocolate.
“Them Changes” by Buddy Miles. In the late 90’s, my blues trio played that song in clubs but always started it out by playing “Peter Gunn.” That was fun. Great set of tunes for getting people out of their seats.
Strength is medium.
The cigar fattens up like John Belushi and John Candy combined. (I know). The draw tightens up like Archie Bell & The Drells.
I made the blunder of visiting a cigar forum recently. I have no idea why I punish myself. They make fun of all the things I write about. They bring up shit that happened over 10 years ago. The same shit that stunted minds fall back on. What do they think a man in his 70’s is going to write about? My bright future? I write about the interesting things that have happened in my life. You don’t like me? I could give a shit. End of editorial.
The char line is like a machete chopping through dense forest with ease.
The burn is quicker than I expected. 1” in 12 minutes. Will this be merely an hour-long smoke?
Mucho quantifiable richness in play. Complexity is warming up. Transitions are slow to boil. The finish is spicy, but creamy.
Nutty, creamy, various spiciness notes, espresso, marshmallows, malt, and dark chocolate.
The burn gets seriously wonky.
This cigar begins to burn like a cigar-ette. 1-1/2”. 18 minutes.
Some say this is the best Carrillo blend yet. I disagree. It’s pretty good. I believe it will grow in complexity with many more months of humidor time than I allowed. The Pledge is the best that the man released. It oozes richness.
There is a heavy cinnamon graham cracker insertion. Once again, folks my age hear that word and our brains go immediately to the dreaded colonoscopy. Laugh now but when you get over 50, that camera loaded firehose will be aiming for your rectum. I don’t know what’s worse…drinking that stuff the night before and experiencing an ass faucet all night long…or waking up in the middle of the procedure and hearing rock n roll music while the docs laugh about the new boats they just purchased. “Yeah, I got the scope in about 3’-0, you want more Dr Torquemada?”
2” burned and the blend makes a run for the border. The complexity jumps the barbwire and hits me in the puss like a wet flounder. Everything falls into place. The halfway point is where the sweet spot lands. 30 minutes.
Flavors minimize and a land to air missile seeks out my brain via my palate. This is good.
Transitions flow like slow lava. The finish is drool worthy. The word, ‘richness’, is hard to define. I know it when it is there, and I know it when it is missing. But defining it is hard. It is similar to saying something is lavish. Or opulent. Maybe identifying the blend as having abundant sway is right. Or more confusing. Maybe merely saying that that richness is a perfect grouping of taste, aroma, and other sensory experiences that morph to create a unique sensation in our mouths is accurate, but still vague.
Strength is medium/full.
Creamy baking spices are dominant. Nuttiness follows suit. An intense espresso flavor is excellent. There is a lovely uniqueness to this blend that I find hard to describe…or did you already catch that?
I wish the cigar would slow down. My next purchase of these cigars will be either the Toro (6 x 52) or the unnamed size of 6-7/8 x 54. I’d prefer more time with this blend than the 65 minutes that this Robusto provides.
Absolutely delicious. I will let future sticks rest at least 4-5 months for maximum outcome. I believe that doing so will see the cigar burst from its seams at the start of the cigar instead of beginning in the second half.
Exuberant spiciness is really the key here. Never overwhelming. Just saucy. Gives the blend its needed oomph while representing a Cajun meal approach.
My vision returns despite the strength elevating to full tilt.
As a young man, I remember an eventful night in the sack with a girl singer. As we lay there stewing in our own juices, she whispered that I could do anything I wanted. I panicked. I couldn’t think of anything else. I never asked. I was afraid it would see me wearing a thong around my head while singing nursery rhymes and performing obscene rituals with a rabid ferret.
Great cigar. I will buy more. The price is right. If you haven’t tried this blend yet, what’s stopping you?
Two of my sponsors sell this cigar: Small Batch Cigar (10% off with promo code ‘katman’) and Cigar Page (no promo code).
RATING: 94
And now for something…
Boy, if you are a person who enjoys the comradeship of other people, do not become a cigar reviewer. It doesn’t matter what level of reviewer you are…from the guy that writes 3 short sentences on a cigar forum to website Cigar Obsession. Why anyone would choose to do this voluntarily must be nuts. Every reviewer has a faction of people that have similar palates. But as the palate sweeps across so many variations on a theme there will always be a group that may hate you with a white-hot passion. Imagine being a public personality that must learn to ignore the mean barbs in order to survive psychologically and emotionally. In today’s world of shaming and hate, there are folks who will always hang on to their bias and never be swayed in your direction. Every cigar reviewer who puts themselves out there deserves a medal. A reviewer dispenses an opinion. And people line up to tell them they are dead wrong. I must remind myself of why I do this. I do that often as haters never go away. I’ve always loved to write. I’ve always loved cigars. Writing about them came at a point in my life at the right time during the second great depression in 2008-2009. I found joy in this task. Sticking with it, while a small group of naysayers dump shit on you, is hard. But like being an artist, it is something that you must do to fill that need deep inside. The ego that hungers to be heard is necessary, but not a bad thing. Every musician, actor, and artist that plays to audiences does so to be received positively. Every human seeks positive reinforcement. You don’t advance in life without an ego. A big thank you to the curious cigar smoker that seeks advice from cigar reviewers. You are the lox to our cream cheese.
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
Cigar Reviews by the Katman 
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