Encore by E.P. Carrillo Lonsdale Review

Overview

The Encore Lonsdale is a quiet subversion of everything the cigar world assumes about value. In an era where budget blends chase power with raw, unintegrated leaf, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. has built a cigar that whispers—and in its whispering, it reveals the architecture of a master blender. This is not a cigar for those who demand fireworks; it is for those who appreciate the slow burn of a well-told story, where each third is a chapter that builds on the last without ever raising its voice. The Lonsdale vitola, with its 6.5 x 44 proportions, is the perfect vehicle for this Connecticut Shade wrapper—a format that elongates the experience, allowing the subtle interplay of cream and wood to unfold at a contemplative pace. From the first cold draw, there is a promise of restraint: a faint sweetness of hay and a whisper of almond, nothing more. But as the foot takes flame, the narrative begins. The opening third is a study in balance—clean, creamy smoke that coats the palate with toasted bread and sweet hay, while a gentle white pepper tingle on the retrohale keeps the senses alert. A delicate floral note, like honeysuckle on a morning breeze, weaves through the profile, accompanied by mild cashew and a soft sweet cream that feels more like a texture than a flavor. This is a cigar that rewards attention; it does not demand it, but those who lean in will find layers of nuance in the way the creaminess shifts against the pepper, the way the floral note lingers just a moment longer than expected. As the second third arrives, the complexity builds with a quiet confidence. Cedar and light oak step forward, grounding the profile in woody depth, while the creaminess transitions into toasted almond and a honeyed sweetness that feels natural, not cloying. The draw opens up the mid-palate, revealing subtle dried apricot—a fruit note that is more memory than presence—and a soft herbal undertone that hints at thyme or sage, adding an unexpected savory dimension. This is where the Encore reveals its true character: it is not a simple Connecticut, but a blend that uses the wrapper as a canvas, allowing the Dominican long-leaf fillers—Piloto Cubano and Olor—to paint in shades of earth and spice that never overwhelm. The final third is a masterclass in composure. Where many mild cigars fade into bitterness or ash, the Encore remains composed, its dry cedar and roasted nut flavors holding steady, while a lingering vanilla and light caramel sweetness on the retrohale provides a gentle, satisfying close. The pepper returns, but softly, like a familiar friend saying goodbye, ensuring the experience ends as it began—cohesive, clean, and utterly in control. Throughout, the construction is flawless: a draw with ideal resistance, a burn line that stays laser-straight, and ash that holds in thick, light grey columns past the inch mark. This is a cigar that respects the smoker's time, never rushing, never faltering. The Encore Lonsdale is not a cigar that will change your life; it is a cigar that will make you appreciate the quiet moments in it. It is a benchmark for what a value cigar can be—not a compromise, but a choice. For those who have grown weary of the arms race of strength, this is a reminder that subtlety is its own kind of power.