EPC New Wave Reserva Robusto

The EPC New Wave Reserva Robusto is a rich, rewarding Connecticut cigar. The cigar is complex, with hints of spice and sweetness. It's a smooth-looking cigar with light veins and a light sheen. If it doesn't sound like a typical Connecticut cigar, it is because it isn't. It's an EPC New Wave Reserva Robust now in stock.

Vitola Robusto

Ring Gauge 50

Length: 5 inches / 127 mm

Wrapper Color Connecticut

Binder Dominican Republic

Filler Dominican Republic, Nicaragua

Wrapper Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade

Blender: E.P. Carrillo

E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva

The New Wave Connecticut blend, Reserva, was first available to the European market.

Tabacalera La Alianza factory in the Dominican Republic manufactures the E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva.

The cigar has an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. A Connecticut Broadleaf binder and Nicaraguan and Dominican filler tobaccos. The wrapper leaf comes from higher priming than the original version. The cigar exchanges the Nicaraguan binder for Connecticut Broadleaf.

A look into the start of Ernesto Perez-Carrillo cigars.

The Early Years

The roots of the Perez-Carrillo family are in Cuba. Ernesto Sr. was born in 1904. He began learning about tobacco and cigars from his father, who rolled and sold penny cigars in the streets of Havana.

The Perez-Carrillo family became well-respected in Cuba. After working as a tobacco buyer for many years, Ernesto Sr. launched the family cigar business in 1948. He purchased El Credito, a small cigar factory in Havana. Ernesto Sr. served in the Cuban Senate in 1954 and 1958.

Havoc during the Cuban Revolution

But, as the Cuban Revolution started and Castro took control of Cuba, the Perez-Carrillo family's life changed forever. The Cuban authorities arrested Ernesto Sr. several times for his political beliefs. The government confiscated the family's properties, including the El Credito factory.

Fearing for their safety, the family fled to Miami. But Cuba did leave a lasting impression on Ernesto Perez-Carrillo.

"I remember when Castro came into Havana. I looked up in the sky and saw warplanes. Tanks were in the streets. It was a wild scene. I was only six at the time. I didn't think it was the end of the world, but there was a sense of insecurity." Ernesto Perez-Carrillo

The Master Blender and cigar maker wanted to move his family back to Cuba. It became clear that returning to Cuba was not going to happen. Ernesto Sr. focused on making Miami his home. He concentrated on his Cuban cigar talents to earn money.

He made cigars in Miami.

Nine years passed. Ernesto Sr. finally purchased a cigar factory in Little Havana, naming it El Credito.

Ernesto Perez-Carrillo had a passion for jazz, not cigars. Hustling from gig to gig. Ernesto showed determination to make it as a drummer. He dreamed of being a jazz drummer. At 25, he moved to New York City to try his luck. After failing to catch the attention of Stan Getz, he decided to return to Miami. It was the start of his journey as a cigar producer.

Ernesto and his father made cigars for the locals in Little Havana. In 1976 young Ernesto convinced his father not to sell El Credito. He shadowed his father learning to create cigars.

Ernesto Perez-Carrillo taking over the Business

His father passed away in 1980. At 29, Ernesto took over the reins of El Credito. Many financial difficulties followed. Bills piled up.

Demand for cigars at the time slumped. Ernesto's friends in the Miami cigar trade carried him through the tough times. They had confidence that his craft would succeed. And it did.

Today, Ernesto credits his father for teaching him all about cigars. He grew up in Cuba's prime growing region, the Vuelta Abajo. In Cuba, Ernesto began to appreciate the art of growing tobacco.

The most valuable lessons Ernesto learned:

• Dedication to work,

• Humility,

• Patience and respect.

These principles are behind each cigar created by Master Blender Ernesto Perez-Carrillo.

The Birth of E.P. Carrillo

After years of slow sales, Ernesto created a cigar that excited everyone. He created La Gloria Cubana. This overnight success was years in the making.

La Gloria Cubana achieved star status among Miami cigar smokers.

It all changed in 1992. The Miami-made cigar outperformed established brands and its Cuban competitors. Four of the brand's nine cigars scored 90 or higher in the new Cigar Aficionado publication.

The La Gloria Cubana brand achieved fame in cigar circles during the early 1990s. The demand for the cigar far outstripped supply. The boutique brand went from selling a few thousand cigars to millions.

The sale of El Credito

Then in 1999, Swedish Match purchased El Credito from the Perez-Carrillo family.

Ernesto's returned to the tobacco fields after working for Swedish Match /General Cigar until March 2009. It was time to create the next great cigar.

The Start of E.P. Carrillo

Ernesto dedicated himself to perfecting a family-run boutique brand. His son, Ernesto III and daughter, Lissette, joined him. Since the brand launch, the family has released several new blends.

Each combination offers a different complexity and strength. A cigar profile true to the family's ideals.

• Consistency,

• Tradition,

• Passion for perfection.

Today, E.P. Carrillo is a worldwide celebrated cigar brand.

"I smoke because I want to feel not just the senses around the palate but the whole body. When I tasted a Cuban Davidoff cigar in 1982, that's what I felt. And that experience is what I try to replicate in my cigars – a total sensuous smoke." Ernesto Perez-Carrillo

E.P. CARRILLO Worldwide

Dominican Republic | Nicaragua | Ecuador | Cuba

Dominican Republic

The primary tobacco-growing region in the Dominican Republic is the lush Cibao Valley. Many experts feel it has only one rival, Cuba's Vuelta Abajo region.

The Cibao mountain ranges surround the valley and Cibao river. It is an ideal setting for growing premium tobacco.

The soil is rich and deep. Afternoon breezes cool the air. Throughout the Dominican Republic, master blenders work with various premium tobaccos.

Ernesto Perez-Carrillo has deep roots in the Dominican Republic. La Gloria Cubana skyrocketed in the 1990s. Ernesto needed more tobacco.

At one point, La Gloria Cubana's Torpedo was on backorder for 12 months. He selected a site in Santiago, Dominican Republic, as his second factory.

Ernesto chose the Dominican for the E.P. Carrillo factory. In April 2009, he signed a lease on a 40,000-square-foot building in Santiago's Zona Franca. Work started to create a dream factory named Tabacalera La Alianza.

At the Dominican factory:

• Tobacco ferments,

• Tobacco Ages

• Rollers make handmade cigars under the supervision of Ernesto.

All rollers roll the Cuban way. The rollers roll the cigars in a triple-cap method.

The desire to understand the intricacies of tobaccos worldwide drives Ernesto Perez-Carrillo's achievements.

"Each tobacco has its character. You have to treat each tobacco differently and understand how they work together," Ernesto Perez-Carrillo.

Nicaragua

Nicaragua's tobacco reputation results from the remarkable climate and soil.

There are three main tobacco-growing areas.

Esteli,

Condega,

And Jalapa.

Esteli and Condega are home to the majority of cigar production in Nicaragua. The towns are close to the Honduran border.

The towns boast lush fields of Cuban-seed tobacco. Esteli's black soil produces a full-flavoured dark leaf. It is a rich leaf with full aromas, body and flavour.

Condega's tobacco is sun-grown and used for filler and binders. Each plays an integral role in the formation of Ernesto's unique blends.

Northeast of Esteli and Condega lies the Jalapa Valley. It is a remote valley in Nicaragua with exceptional tobacco.

The naturally-occurring minerals in the soil give the tobacco an earthy-sweet flavour.

Ecuador

The cigar industry scrambled to find wrapper alternatives to Cuban tobacco during the 1960s. All due to the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba in the 1960s. Ernesto Perez-Carrillo found the alternative in Ecuador.

Due to more than 30 active volcanoes, Ecuador's ashy eruptions benefit tobacco. The volcanic ash helps create fertile soil, ripe for growing a premium tobacco leaf.

Many call Ecuador's tobacco "cloud grown" instead of "shade grown." due to the constant cloud cover. The natural protection from the sun creates a thin but firm tobacco leaf. It is a flavourful and natural coloured leaf.

Ernesto's Cuban roots and knowledge allowed him to find the leaves and tobacco to create his master blends. And, of course, premium cigars.

Pairing a premium cigar with wine

From cigars to wine. Pairing wine with a premium cigar.

One wine farm has history and character to pair with one of Ernesto's premium cigars.

The wine farm is Hazendal.

Hazendal Wines

Hazendal's history began when German settler Christoffel Hazenwinkel made his way to South Africa.

Christoffel Hazenwinkel worked as messenger for Governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel. In 1699 he granted Christoffel Hazenwinkel sixty hectares of land in the Bottelary Hills of Stellenbosch. The name Hazendal originates from the population of Cape hares that inhabited the area and Christoffel's name. It translates from Dutch to "the valley of the hares."

It still baffles the history writers what Christoffel did to receive the land. Private ownership first became law in 1704.

In tribute to history, Hazendal has created an award-winning wine range Christoffel Hazenwinkel.

Christoffel Hazenwinkel Range

The Christoffel Hazenwinkel range is an ideal introduction to Hazendal, paying tribute to the founder. The award-winning Christoffel trio range is a perfect introduction to Hazendal wines.

Christoffel Hazenwinkel The White Blend 2019

R140.00

Colour: Pale Lemon

Aroma and Palate:

A friendly and accessible wine.

Wine notes:

lemon,

green melon,

citrus blossom,

white pear,

guava,

fresh cut grass

and ruby grapefruit.

The delicate and creamy texture ensures an enduring finish. A medium-bodied wine with refreshing acidity.

Alc: 12.5%

Varieties: 49% Sauvignon blanc; 28% Sémillon; 23% Chenin blanc

Ageing potential:

This wine is a fresh and easy drinking style. Enjoy now or up to 5 years from vintage.

Pair With:

All-day, every day accessible white. A refreshing wine on its own or paired with Seafood, summer salads and soft white cheeses, such as brie.

Terroir:

The blocks of vines grow in the Bottelary Ward, where the terroir is diverse. The region has a wide variety of different slopes. The influence of the False Bay to the south and the cold Atlantic to the west create a unique micro-climate.

The Bottelary area forms part of granitic hills. The reddish- and yellowish-brown soils suit producing quality wine grapes. The grounds are acidic, have excellent water retention and are well drained.

The team plants vineyards at heights from 150m to 400m above sea level in the Bottelary Hills. All these factors contribute to crafting uniqueness.

Vinification:

The winemaking team hand harvests in small crates in the early morning to keep the grapes cool and preserve fresh flavours. The grapes roll off the stems, preventing the extraction of unwanted harsh phenolics. The Grapes then cool further overnight in the on-site cold room (3°C) and processed the following day.

From there, the grapes go through bunch and berry sorting. The sorting ensures only the best grapes make it into the wine.

The Grapes then move to the inert Nitrogen press, where it cold soaks overnight. After the cold soak, the grapes move into the press. Settling takes place over two days. The clear liquid then moves to stainless-steel tanks for primary fermentation.

Cold Fermentation follows in a steel tank, and the wine remains on the lees for nine months till bottling. During vinification and ageing, the team keeps each block separated.

Final blending happens before bottling.

Christoffel Hazenwinkel The White Blend 2019 Scents

The wine has the following scents, but you could pick up different scents and aromas.

Melon

Peaches

Apricot

Jelly sweets

Ripe pineapple

Loads of sweet fruit flavours

An abundance of fruit scents

Christoffel Hazenwinkel The White Blend 2019 Taste and Flavours

The wine has tastes of melon, apricot and peaches. There is a blended tropical fruit taste that fades as the wine farms.

The wine's acidity is light.

The Semillon and Chenin overpower the Sauvignon Blanc acidity to create a balanced, smooth white blend.

As the wine warms, it develops into a smooth sipping white blend with a full textured mouthfeel. There are hints of waxy character due to the fuller Chenin blanc qualities in the blend.

Moving onto the premium E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva

E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva Dry Aroma

Spice

smoked meat

Smokey barnyard

caramel and vanilla scents

The E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva has a medium brown Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. The cigar is firm. The wrapper leaf is smooth with perfect construction.

The tobacco has hints of smokey barnyard and honey. The cigar has notes of chilli powder and cocoa on the foot. A V-cut opens up a firm draw that allows cold draw flavours of chilli powder, cocoa and coffee.

E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva Dry Draw

It is a firm draw with resistance.

The dry draw produces hints of spice, caramel, cocoa and creamy coffee tastes.

E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva First Puff

Spice

Coffee

Cocoa

Sweetness

The opening draw has a decent amount of smoke with spice and burned caramel. There are flavours of pepper and hints of sweetness. The E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva burns slow, forming firm light grey ash.

E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva Evolution

There are loads of spices smoking the New Wave Reserva. Once the cigar evolves past the first third, more caramel and nutty flavours develop. The cigar flavours evolve into more earthy and hot caramel tastes. The Connecticut has fuller flavours compared to other Connecticut cigars.

E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva Conclusion

The cigars smokes slow with wonderful burned caramel and earthy sweet tastes. The spice fades into toned-down cocoa and coffee flavours.

Strength Medium

Body and Complexity Medium

The core of the flavours has become dried nuts, and hot caramel as the cigar evolves. There are hints of nice overall spice and sweetness during the entire smoke.

E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva Wrap-up

The New Wave Reserva smokes like a fuller cigar than other lighter Connecticut cigars. The profile is fuller with a thick and creamy texture.

The cigar has a perfect draw throughout. The resistance is frim but easy, and the smoke output is phenomenal.

It is a well-made cigar with a perfect burn and construction.

It is a complex Connecticut cigar to experience. I experienced the cigar as bold and full at the start evolving into nuttier and creamier flavours halfway. Each cigar palate is different, so the experience will differ for each person.

The final third.

The cigar has consistent flavours of hot caramel tastes and subtle sweetness. Toasted bread flavours round out the roasted coffee flavours. The retrohale continues to have a sweet floral profile.

E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva Reviews

New Wave Reserva

"It is the best Connecticut I've smoked. I love the cigar spice. I'm not sure how they do it, but I'm glad they do. My favourite Connecticut so far."

Sunset, patio, EP Carrillo

"What a nice cigar. Great burn. Excellent smooth, medium-body. Slow burn. Perfect with a sunset on the patio.

On my second order

"I've ordered my second box. Great cigars for the price. The secret is to try and not smoke them all. Let it rest for a month to get the creamier flavours."

Ernest and wholesome

"It is an excellent old-fashioned cigar. Mild yet flavourful. It's a keeper."

A taste experience with the E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva, from Coffee to Ginger Beer to wine

Coffee

It is a coffee with light acidity. A mild cappuccino with a creamy profile compliments the hints of coffee in the cigar. A slight bitterness with caramel smoothness compliments the cigar.

Ginger Beer

Ginger beer has a crisp and sweet taste profile with a light caramel finish. Ginger beer is very bubbly with a strong ginger flavour and a spicy finish.

Ginger beer is a blend of ginger, water and sugar that ferments with yeast. The mixture is then carbonated and bottled. Depending on the brand, it has a robust, spicy and aromatic flavour.

Ginger beer is a good pairing with a cigar. The ginger beer spice and sweetness can pair well with most cigars.

E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva and Christoffel Hazenwinkel The White Blend 2019 Pairing

The wine is interesting. The first tastes are fruity, but it mellows into a smooth, sipping white blend. The wine's sweetness lingers to pair well with the cigar's hot caramel and spice flavours.

Add a bite of Rum and raisin chocolate to add more sweetness and a rounded creamy taste experience.

Looking back at the previous EPC cigars, the E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva is super smooth smoke. Everything you will expect from the award-winning Ernesto Perez-Carrillo cigars.

To buy your E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva today,

Click the link below.

E.P. Carrillo New Wave Reserva