When you’re a master blender, doing things the same way you’ve been doing them can be a really good thing. In fact, the more you deepen your perfection of a particular type of cigar, the higher your reputation will climb. Of course, there comes a time when even a passionate cigar guru like Ernesto Perez-Carrillo will want to branch out a bit, and when he does, we’re ready to take that smoke walk with him.
So, what’s new about the E.P. Carrillo New Wave cigar? The wrapper! This is Ernesto’s first release using a Connecticut Shade wrapper. Of course, he went to Ecuador to get it, but still, it’s a Connecticut seed and it’s shade-grown. Other cigars under his house brand have had Connecticut wrappers, but all were grown in the sun or cloudy partial sun. This is a true return to CT shade the way you’ve always known it.
The New Wave Connecticut earned a 90 rating, so it’s confirmed to be a fine cigar. The smoke has a gorgeous creamy flavor, along with notes of almond milk, nutmeg, and gingersnap. It’s a mild-medium cigar that burns well and delivers everything you want from a blondie cigar. This is thanks to the signature Nicaraguan tobacco inside, but also the Dominican leaf from E.P. Carrillo’s own farms. These are located in the Cibao Valley, which is every bit as fertile as Cuba’s Vuelta Abajo region. There are mountains nearby, along with rich soil and cool afternoon breezes. It’s a heaven for tobacco growing.
All things considered, this is a great morning smoke.
Then there’s the New Wave Reserva, with a wrapper leaf from a higher priming and a Connecticut Broadleaf binder instead of Nicaraguan tobacco. The flavor is a bit more colorful for that reason, offering notes of pepper, citrus, nuts, earth, and cocoa. With a 92 rating from Cigar Aficionado, the New Wave Reserva is an interesting and satisfying blend from one of the industry’s most knowledgeable masters.
