This week I smoked my way through the Casa Carrillo Social Media Three Blend Collectors Box, which was generously provided to me by the company. This is an interesting project. These are only going to be available from the company. They will be having 
sweepstakes and social media engagements where people will have an opportunity to get this collectors box. I remember when Ernesto first launched the website for what was then E.P. Carrillo, it was basically just a map that popped up tweets that tagged the company. It was pretty cutting edge for a traditional cigar guy. I have been a fan of Ernesto for many years, going back to La Gloria Cubana when one had to fax their order to the factory in Little Havana, and when people would request Miami made Wavells over one’s made in the new Dominican factory. I have also enjoyed the recent stuff. After smoking the three cigars in the Collectors Box, I have some comments.
I started with either number 1 or number 3, I honestly am not sure which. Perhaps it would have been better to differentiate these better. Both are 6″ x 52 toros. To the eye the wrappers are nearly the exact same color. Based on flavor, I’m going to say I smoked the No. 3, which has an Ecuador Habano wrapper, Mexican binder and Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers. it starts out with a sweet spice, with the spice picking up quite a bit in the second half. I didn’t get a Ecuador Connecticut vibe at all, which leads me to my conclusion. I quite enjoyed this one.
I went into the second toro, which we’ll assume was No.1, thinking I’d definitely know it was the Ecuador Connecticut wrapped one, but when I lit it, I still had doubts. Maybe the Connecticut broadleaf binder threw it off, I can see the broadleaf overpowering the shade. This also has Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. Like I said, side by side the wrappers were virtually the same color, and vein structure. Before I read the literature, which I almost always smoke things like this before learning about them, I thought maybe they had the same wrapper with different fillers. Naturally, I was wrong. This did have some acidity, which moved more to a distinct citrus. It wasn’t the sort of cigar I gravitate towards, which makes me think even more that this was the no. 1 cigar.
I figured I was saving the best for last, cigar number 2, the dark torpedo, or piramides, In my mind, it might have been a better idea to make the Habano a figurado, and the Mexican and Shade toros, so that yutzes like me can make a clear distinction. I’m neither a cigar maker, nor a marketer, what do I know. I found this guy to be earthy, no doubt about the Mexican wrapper. I would have thought the Habano binder might add some sweetness, but it didn’t really come through. The filler is Nicaraguan and Dominican, one must assume it’s different varietals in the three as there wasn’t much I found similar between them. I had to cut the pointed head a few times to get the draw close to right. I liked the first toro I smoked the best. These are three distinctly different cigars, and it’s a neat idea from a company that’s had a big social media presence since the beginning. Considering Social Media isn’t exactly cigar friendly, this seems to be a reasonably safe promotion, meaning that it isn’t going to cost them a lot and stands to give more positives than anything else. It’s pretty cool. Maybe with some age the cigars would suit my palate more, but I’m never going to know, am I? I will certainly continute to support Ernesto and smoke his cigars whenever I can.
That’s all for today. I’m happy that March is here, I’m looking forward to being able to get out and about a little more after my winter hibernation. I have a brand new scooter that I want to put some miles on! Anyway, until the next time,
CigarCraig
