AshMap
Overview
Ernesto Perez-Carrillo has spent a career arguing that ring gauge is not a gimmick but a canvas, and the Inch Natural No. 64 Belicoso is his most persuasive brief. The belicoso taper on a 64-ring body is an unusual piece of engineering — most manufacturers reserve the shape for 50–54 rings, where the taper can actually be felt in the hand. Here it reads as a gentle shoulder rather than a true point, which means the first inch behaves like a parejo and the last third concentrates like a torpedo. That structural decision is the cigar's signature, and it explains why the final third outperforms the first.
Before lighting, the Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrapper is the color of late-August hay with a light caramel cast, silky under the thumb with a faint oil sheen that catches window light. The cold draw is open — almost alarmingly so for a 64 — delivering raw cedar, a whisper of almond skin, and a grassy sweetness that sits somewhere between fresh-cut lawn and honeycomb. Toasting the foot releases a soft, bready aroma; the first true puff arrives creamy and rounded, with cedar at the front, light toasted almond through the middle, and a floral sweetness — orange blossom more than rose — riding above it. White pepper shows up at the back of the palate within the first half inch, mild but unmistakable, and a clean grassy undertone keeps the whole thing bright rather than heavy. Nothing here is diluted, which is the point.
By the second third the cream has thickened and the nuts have darkened from almond to cashew. A light baking spice — cinnamon bark, a hint of clove — threads through, and soft leather begins to weave in at the edges. The sweetness shifts too, moving from floral toward hay and light honey, a drier and more savory register. This is where the belicoso taper starts to earn its keep: as the burn travels up the shoulder, the draw tightens just enough to concentrate the smoke, and the flavors arrive with more definition than they had in the opening inch. The ash is dense but slightly loose, holding to about an inch before it drops cleanly.
The final third is the payoff. A gentle earthiness and a toasted bread quality settle in without displacing the creamy base, and the cedar returns with sharper edges than before. Pepper builds in the retrohale — still medium, never aggressive — and the finish runs clean and medium-length, leaving nut and cream on the palate. Total smoking time lands around 80 to 90 minutes if you let it breathe. This is not a cigar to rush; it is a cigar to sit with while the taper does its slow work.
Cigar Specifications
| Wrapper | Ecuadorian Connecticut (Natural) — Natural |
|---|---|
| Binder | Nicaraguan |
| Filler | Nicaraguan and Dominican long-fillers, aged |
| Country of Origin | Villa González, Dominican Republic (EP Carrillo factory) |
| Vitola / Shape | Belicoso |
| Size | 6.0 x 64 |
| Strength | Medium |
| Price | $14–$18 per cigar |
| Tier | Everyday |
| Aging | Tobaccos are aged prior to rolling; no extended post-production aging publicly documented |
Tasting Notes & Flavor Progression
First Third
The generous ring gauge opens slowly with creamy cedar, light toasted almonds, and a pleasant floral sweetness from the Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. White pepper emerges at the back of the palate — mild but present — with a clean, grassy undertone that keeps the profile bright and inviting.
Second Third
Cream and nut notes deepen into cashew and light baking spice, with soft leather weaving in gradually. A mild sweetness reminiscent of hay and light honey develops, and the draw becomes particularly satisfying as the belicoso taper begins to burn through fully.
Final Third
The final third introduces a gentle earthiness and toasted bread quality without sacrificing the creamy base. Pepper builds slightly in the retrohale while the cedar note returns with more definition. The finish is clean, medium-length, with a lingering nut and cream character.
Construction, Burn & Draw
The large 64-ring format demands a proper cut — a wide-gauge cutter is essential. Once lit, the burn is even and deliberate, producing a dense, slightly loose ash that holds to about an inch. Draw is open and effortless, delivering voluminous smoke production.
Pairing Recommendations
Spirit
Aged rum (Ron Zacapa 23 or Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva) — the sweetness complements the wrapper's creaminess without overwhelming it. A light wheated bourbon like W.L. Weller Special Reserve also works beautifully.
Wine
A light-bodied Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley (Oregon) or a dry Viognier — the wrapper's floral notes align well with aromatic whites or delicate reds.
Non-Alcoholic
A medium-roast single-origin Colombian coffee, black or with a touch of cream — the nut and cedar notes in the cigar mirror the coffee's natural sweetness and brightness.
Who Should Smoke This?
Picture a smoker who has spent two years with Nicaraguan puros — the full-bodied, pepper-forward stuff — and has started to find them fatiguing by the second inch. It's a Saturday afternoon in early autumn, the kind of day where you've got a lawn chair, a book you're not really reading, and ninety minutes with nothing on the calendar. They want flavor without weight, cream without cloy, and a cigar that rewards attention rather than demanding it. The Inch Natural No. 64 Belicoso is exactly that: a medium-bodied, natural-wrapped smoke that delivers cedar, cashew, honey, and a building white pepper without ever turning harsh. It's also a fine introduction to the Inch line for anyone who has been curious about large ring gauges but worried they'd be buying smoke and nothing else.
Bottom Line
A 64-ring belicoso that actually justifies its size — the taper concentrates the final third into something genuinely memorable, and the Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper keeps the whole ride creamy, bright, and unhurried. At $14–$18 it's a fair price for ninety minutes of well-engineered medium-bodied smoking. Buy two: one to smoke now, one to revisit in a year.
Similar Cigars
Explore all Inch by EP Carrillo cigars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Inch by EP Carrillo Natural No. 64 Belicoso a strong cigar?
No — it's rated Medium (3/5) on the strength scale. Physically, that means you'll feel a gentle nicotine presence in the final third but nothing that will put you in the chair. The white pepper builds in the retrohale rather than the throat, and the body stays creamy throughout. It's a cigar you can smoke on an empty stomach without regret, though the 80–90 minute duration means you'll want water nearby.
What does Inch by EP Carrillo Natural No. 64 Belicoso taste like?
The first third opens with creamy cedar, light toasted almonds, and a floral sweetness from the Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, backed by mild white pepper and a clean grassy undertone. The second third deepens into cashew, light baking spice, and soft leather, with hay and light honey sweetness developing as the belicoso taper burns through. The final third adds gentle earthiness and toasted bread while the cedar returns with more definition and pepper builds slightly in the retrohale. The finish is clean and medium-length with lingering nut and cream.
How long does Inch by EP Carrillo Natural No. 64 Belicoso take to smoke?
Expect 80 to 90 minutes. The 6.0 x 64 belicoso format — an ultra-large ring gauge with a tapered head — burns deliberately and produces voluminous smoke, so the time is spent rather than wasted. Smokers who puff aggressively may finish closer to 75 minutes; those who let it rest between draws will push past 90.
What is the best pairing for Inch by EP Carrillo Natural No. 64 Belicoso?
An aged rum such as Ron Zacapa 23 or Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva is the strongest match — the sweetness complements the wrapper's creaminess without overwhelming the cedar and nut notes. A light wheated bourbon like W.L. Weller Special Reserve also works beautifully. For wine, a Willamette Valley Pinot Noir or a dry Viognier aligns with the wrapper's floral character. Non-alcoholic: a medium-roast single-origin Colombian coffee, black or with a touch of cream, mirrors the cigar's nut and cedar notes.
Is Inch by EP Carrillo Natural No. 64 Belicoso good for beginners?
Yes, with one caveat. The Medium strength and creamy, approachable flavor profile make it very beginner-friendly — no harsh pepper bombs, no nicotine wall. The caveat is the 64-ring gauge: it requires a wide-gauge cutter and produces a lot of smoke, which can overwhelm someone who has only smoked 50-ring cigars. At $14–$18 per cigar, it's also a reasonable price point for experimentation. A beginner who can handle the size will find this an excellent entry into medium-bodied naturals.
Where can I buy Inch by EP Carrillo Natural No. 64 Belicoso?
This is a widely distributed premium cigar, so you'll find it at most brick-and-mortar tobacconists that carry EP Carrillo products, as well as major online retailers like Famous Smoke Shop, JR Cigar, and Cigars International. Because the Inch line is a flagship expression for the brand, it's rarely out of stock for long. If your local shop doesn't carry it, ask them to order it — EP Carrillo has strong wholesale distribution.
What is the price of Inch by EP Carrillo Natural No. 64 Belicoso?
Expect to pay $14–$18 per cigar, depending on the retailer and whether you're buying singles or boxes. That places it in the everyday tier — not a bargain stick, but not a special-occasion splurge either. Box purchases typically bring the per-cigar cost toward the lower end of that range.
Is Inch by EP Carrillo Natural No. 64 Belicoso worth aging?
It's worth resting, but not necessarily long-term aging. The tobaccos are aged prior to rolling, and there's no documented post-production aging, so the cigar is designed to be smoked fresh. That said, the Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper and Nicaraguan/Dominican long-fillers will mellow slightly over 6–12 months, softening the white pepper and deepening the cream and honey notes. Beyond two years, the returns diminish — this isn't a cigar built for a decade in the humidor.
What wrapper does Inch by EP Carrillo Natural No. 64 Belicoso use?
It uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut (Natural) wrapper — golden hay to light caramel in color, silky with a subtle sheen. That wrapper is responsible for the cigar's floral sweetness, grassy undertone, and creamy texture. Ecuadorian Connecticut is grown from Connecticut seed in Ecuador's cloud cover, which produces a milder, more elegant leaf than its US-grown counterpart, and it's the reason this cigar stays bright rather than heavy despite the large ring gauge.
Where is Inch by EP Carrillo Natural No. 64 Belicoso made?
It's made at the EP Carrillo factory in Villa González, Dominican Republic. The blend uses Nicaraguan binder and a combination of Nicaraguan and Dominican long-fillers, all aged prior to rolling. The cigar is hand-rolled, and the belicoso taper on the 64-ring format is a deliberate production choice — shaping that much tobacco into a tapered head requires skilled rollers, and the factory's ability to execute it consistently is part of what you're paying for.