• The EPC New Wave Reserva utilizes the same attractive Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper leaf as the original, but is distinguishable by its sharp secondary band. The big difference in New Wave Reserva is its Connecticut Broadleaf binder which adds ample complexity to the Nicaraguan and Dominican long-fillers. Upon lighting you are immediately met with bold notes of cocoa, espresso, and a pleasing natural sweetness.
• 5 x 50
• Robusto
• Dominican

Sitting in a wooden box, wrapped in a simple wrapper with beautiful lettering, bearing the pair of letters ‘EP’ and the world ‘Carrillo’ in simple block letters, these cigars are something that you might be likely to pass by. They don’t really grab the eye, which is a shame, because these cigars are a quality cigar that deserves at very least a try, even if you find out they’re not the right cigar for you in the long run.

E.P. Carrillo is a name that you should recognize if you’re a fan of darker and more full-bodied cigars from the Dominican Republic, in particular La Gloria Cubana cigars. Ernesto Perez-Carrillo is the founder of the El Credito Cigar Company, operating out of Miami, Florida, and they’re the folks who produce the La Gloria Cubana line. He began to produce the E.P. Carrillo New Wave cigars because he wanted to produce an introductory cigar that would be great for those just starting out but who demanded a high-end and delicious product. This is what he came up with, producing them under the auspices of the EPC Company.

So what makes this cigar special? You begin with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, and wrap it lovingly around a blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican long-leaf fillers, combining it with a Nicaraguan binder, creating a cigar that is medium-mellow bodied and that has hints of coffee and other spicy-sweet flavors, resulting in a zesty smoke that produces voluminous billows when lit. It’s a cigar that is well worth a try, especially if you like other work from Carrillo.