Encore Majestic by E.P. Carrillo

Few cigars embody craftsmanship and patience like the Encore Majestic by E.P. Carrillo. After the success of his acclaimed La Historia, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo set out to create something even more ambitious—a cigar made entirely of Nicaraguan tobaccos. Every leaf, from wrapper to binder to filler, is grown in Nicaragua’s rich soils of Estelí, Condega, and Jalapa. Aged in the traditional tercios method, where tobacco is wrapped in royal palm bark to regulate humidity, the Encore achieves remarkable smoothness and complexity. Released only after Ernesto was satisfied that the tobaccos had matured to perfection, the Majestic vitola (5⅜″ x 52) has become the benchmark of the line.

The experience is nothing short of world-class. Lighting up reveals a medium-bodied profile that evolves with every draw—layers of oak, tea, caramel sweetness, and candied citrus peel, supported by hints of cedar, cream, and spice. It’s this rich complexity that earned the Encore Majestic the honor of being named Cigar Aficionado’s #1 Cigar of the Year in 2018, with a stellar 96-point rating. To elevate the moment, pair it with a glass of Glendronach 12 Year Sherry Cask. The whisky’s deep notes of dried fruit, honeyed malt, and warm sherry richness echo the cigar’s caramel and citrus undertones while providing a velvety counterpoint to its woody, spicy depth. Together, they form a pairing of timeless sophistication.

Though tobacco is indigenous to Hispaniola, the tobacco industry in the Dominican Republic existed in the shadow of Cuba’s dominance through the 1960s. When the exodus of Cuban cigar makers began in the wake of the revolution, many decided the Dominican Republic would be ideal for the resumption of their livelihoods. Unrest in Nicaragua in the 1980s fueled the Dominican cigar industry further. The country now makes more than half of the premium cigars imported into the U.S.

The Cibao Valley and the nearby city of Santiago are the center of cigar production in the Dominican Republic. Three main varieties are grown here: the mild and native Olor Dominicano; the intense Piloto Cubano, brought from the Vuelta Abajo of Cuba; and San Vicente, a milder and more acidic Piloto hybrid. Dominican puros were once unheard of as it was widely thought impossible to grow quality wrapper leaf on the island, but new growing techniques are now allowing some exceptional puros to be produced.