AshMap
Overview
There is a quiet confidence to the Encore Churchill that announces itself before the first draw. The Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper is a study in understatement — silky, golden-tan, with just enough oil to catch the light — and it sets the tone for a cigar that never needs to raise its voice. This is Ernesto Perez-Carrillo working in a minor key, a deliberate counterpoint to the bold, muscular blends that dominate his legacy. Where other Churchills demand your attention with pepper and heft, the Encore invites you to lean in, rewarding the patient observer with a narrative that unfolds in gentle, deliberate chapters.
The pre-light aroma is all fresh cream and faint cedar, like opening a cedar-lined drawer in an old furniture maker's shop. The cold draw is open and sweet, hinting at the toasted almond and jasmine-like floral notes that will define the opening act. Once lit, the first third is a study in balance: toasted almonds arrive first, followed by a wave of fresh cream that coats the palate with a soft, almost buttery texture. The cedar note is present but restrained, more like the scent of a newly sharpened pencil than the aggressive oak of a younger blend. A subtle floral sweetness — jasmine, perhaps, or honeysuckle — rises from the wrapper, and on the retrohale, a gentle white pepper and soft hay note add just enough friction to keep the experience from becoming too placid.
As the ash holds its pale grey column, the second third begins its natural evolution. The creaminess persists as a throughline, but the flavor profile shifts toward baking spice — cinnamon and nutmeg, warm and inviting, like the inside of a pastry kitchen. Roasted cashew joins the almonds, adding a savory depth that grounds the sweetness, while a mild leather note emerges to give the smoke a subtle, tactile grip. The complexity builds modestly, never aggressive, always cohesive. This is the cigar's true genius: it layers flavors with the patience of a master blender, each note arriving in its proper place, never crowding the others.
The final third rewards your patience with a light espresso note and a touch of dark wood — perhaps mahogany or aged oak — that brings just enough depth to satisfy. The white pepper on the retrohale becomes more pronounced, a final exclamation point that lingers on the finish. The smoke ends clean, medium-long, leaving pleasant cedar and cream on the palate, a reminder of where the journey began. Throughout, the construction is exemplary: the draw is effortless and open, the burn line is near-laser straight, and the ash holds firm in dense, pale grey columns to 1.5 inches or more. This is a cigar that respects your time and your palate, a refined everyday smoke that punches well above its price tier in both construction and blending intelligence.
Cigar Specifications
| Wrapper | Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade — Colorado Claro |
|---|---|
| Binder | Nicaraguan Jalapa |
| Filler | Dominican and Nicaraguan long-filler blend, aged tobaccos |
| Country of Origin | Villa González, Dominican Republic |
| Vitola / Shape | Churchill |
| Size | 7 x 49 |
| Strength | Mild-Medium |
| Price | $9–$13 per cigar |
| Tier | Everyday |
| Aging | Tobaccos aged prior to rolling; specific duration not publicly disclosed |
Tasting Notes & Flavor Progression
First Third
The opening presents toasted almonds, fresh cream, and a gentle cedar note that is immediately approachable. A subtle floral sweetness — almost jasmine-like — emerges from the Ecuadorian wrapper. Retrohale delivers white pepper and a soft hay note.
Second Third
The midpoint sees a natural evolution toward baking spice — cinnamon and nutmeg — alongside roasted cashew and mild leather. Creaminess persists as a throughline, giving the smoke a well-rounded, cohesive texture. Complexity builds modestly without ever becoming aggressive.
Final Third
The final third introduces a light espresso note and a touch of dark wood, bringing just enough depth to reward your patience. White pepper on the retrohale becomes more pronounced. The finish is clean and medium-long, leaving pleasant cedar and cream on the palate.
Construction, Burn & Draw
Construction is exemplary for the price point — characteristic of E.P. Carrillo production standards. The draw is effortless and open, the burn line is near-laser straight, and the ash holds firm in dense, pale grey columns to 1.5 inches or more.
Pairing Recommendations
Spirit
A light-to-medium aged rum such as Ron Barceló Añejo or a gentle single malt like Glenlivet 12 — avoid peated whisky which will overwhelm the delicate wrapper notes
Wine
A Viognier or lightly oaked Chardonnay from Burgundy or the Rhône; alternatively a Spanish Albariño for its complementary floral and citrus notes
Non-Alcoholic
A medium-roast Colombian pour-over coffee or a lightly sweetened jasmine green tea
Who Should Smoke This?
Picture a seasoned enthusiast — someone who has chased pepper bombs and full-bodied monsters for years, who now finds themselves craving a different kind of satisfaction. It's a Sunday morning, late spring, and they're sitting on a screened-in porch with a cup of medium-roast Colombian pour-over. They've just finished a long week of work and want something that doesn't demand their full attention but rewards it when given. They already enjoy cigars like the Ashton Classic or the Perdomo Champagne, appreciating the elegance of a well-executed Connecticut Shade. This cigar will give them a 90-minute meditation — a smoke that evolves quietly, never shouts, and leaves them feeling refreshed rather than overwhelmed. It's also the perfect introduction for a developing palate they want to treat with respect, a cigar that demonstrates complexity without requiring a tolerance for strength.
Bottom Line
The Encore Churchill is a masterclass in restraint, proving that mild-medium doesn't mean mild-mannered. It's a cigar of quiet complexity and flawless construction, an everyday smoke that deserves a place in every serious humidor. Buy a box — you'll reach for it more often than you expect.
Similar Cigars
Explore all Encore cigars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Encore by E.P. Carrillo Churchill a strong cigar?
No, it is rated Mild-Medium (2/5) on the strength scale. This means it delivers a gentle, approachable nicotine presence that is noticeable but never overwhelming — you can smoke it on an empty stomach without feeling lightheaded, and it won't overpower your palate or your morning coffee.
What does Encore by E.P. Carrillo Churchill taste like?
The flavor progression moves from toasted almonds, fresh cream, cedar, and jasmine-like floral sweetness in the first third, to baking spices (cinnamon and nutmeg), roasted cashew, and mild leather in the second third. The final third introduces light espresso and dark wood, with white pepper becoming more pronounced on the retrohale.
How long does Encore by E.P. Carrillo Churchill take to smoke?
Given its Churchill vitola and 7 x 49 dimensions, you should plan for approximately 90 minutes of smoking time. The open draw and even burn mean you won't be fighting the cigar, but the generous ring gauge and length naturally extend the session.
What is the best pairing for Encore by E.P. Carrillo Churchill?
A medium-roast Colombian pour-over coffee is an ideal companion — its bright acidity and chocolatey undertones complement the cigar's toasted almond and cream notes without overwhelming them. For something alcoholic, a light-to-medium aged rum like Ron Barceló Añejo works beautifully, as its vanilla and oak notes echo the cigar's cedar and baking spice profile.
Is Encore by E.P. Carrillo Churchill good for beginners?
Yes, it is an excellent choice for a developing palate. Its Mild-Medium strength means it won't overwhelm a new smoker with nicotine, and its flavor profile is approachable and recognizable — cream, nuts, cedar — rather than challenging or confrontational. At $9–$13 per cigar, it's also a reasonable investment for someone learning to identify different tasting notes.
Where can I buy Encore by E.P. Carrillo Churchill?
This is a widely distributed premium cigar, so you can find it at most well-stocked brick-and-mortar tobacconists, as well as major online retailers like Famous Smoke Shop, Cigars International, and Atlantic Cigar. Given its Everyday tier and box of 20 format, it's also a common fixture at cigar lounges and specialty shops that carry the E.P. Carrillo brand.
What is the price of Encore by E.P. Carrillo Churchill?
The Encore Churchill typically retails between $9 and $13 per cigar, depending on your local tax rate and the retailer. This places it firmly in the Everyday tier — accessible enough for regular smoking, yet priced with enough headroom to reflect the quality of construction and aged tobaccos.
Is Encore by E.P. Carrillo Churchill worth aging?
While the tobaccos are already aged prior to rolling (specific duration not publicly disclosed), the Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper is delicate and can lose its subtle floral and cream notes if aged too aggressively. We recommend smoking within 1–2 years of purchase to enjoy the blend as intended — this is a cigar meant for the present, not the long-term humidor.
What wrapper does Encore by E.P. Carrillo Churchill use?
It uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper, which is a silky golden-tan leaf known for its delicate, creamy character. This wrapper contributes the cigar's signature notes of fresh cream, subtle floral sweetness, and gentle cedar, and it is seamlessly integrated with the Dominican-Nicaraguan filler blend rather than overpowering it.
Where is Encore by E.P. Carrillo Churchill made?
It is hand-rolled at the E.P. Carrillo factory in Villa González, Dominican Republic. The production features a triple cap and is executed to the brand's exacting standards, which is evident in the near-laser straight burn line and the ash that holds firm in dense columns to 1.5 inches or more.