2023 Cigar of the Year Countdown (Coop’s List) #15: E.P. Carrillo INCH Nicaragua No. 60

#15 2023 Cigar of the Year E.P. Carrillo INCH Nicaragua No. 60

SPECIFICATIONS

Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Plasencia S.A.
No. 60: 5 7/8 x 60
Price: $11.50

Sponsor: No
Samples Provided for Initial Review: No
Review: E.P. Carrillo INCH Nicaragua No. 60 (6/21/23)
Appearances on Countdown (By Year/Company): 9 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023)

The Details

The #15 2023 Cigar of the Year is the E.P. Carrillo INCH Nicaragua No. 60. In 2012, E.P. Carrillo launched a line focused on large ring gauge cigars known as the INCH Series. Large ring gauge cigars are nothing new to Ernesto Perez-Carrillo as he was considered a pioneer in this area while he was with La Gloria Cubana. Released in a Maduro and a Natural (Sumatra), it quickly became one of E.P. Carrillo’s most successful lines. In 2022, a new regular production addition to the INCH line, the INCH Nicaragua, was added.

As the name indicates, INCH Nicaragua is not only a 100% Nicaraguan cigar, but it’s a cigar that’s made in Nicaragua – and it’s made at the Plasencia factory in Nicaragua. This marked the first time E.P. Carrillo worked in a factory outside its Tabacalera La Alianza facility. Since then, E.P. Carrillo has done the Allegiance at the Oliva factory (which landed on the Countdown at #22) and Short Run 2023 out of Oscar Valladares’ factory

As we mentioned, the INCH Nicaragua is a Nicaraguan puro. It’s not the first Nicaraguan puro in the INCH line, as the limited edition Ringmaster was one. However, the Ringmaster still came out of Ernesto’s factory in the Dominican Republic. The No. 60 isn’t quite a 6 x 60 as it measures 5 7/8 x 60. It’s the thinnest size in the INCH Nicaragua line, but it’s No. 60 that earned a spot on this year’s list.

The INCH Nicaragua No. 60 delivered notes of natural tobacco, wood, cedar, earth, and pepper. The cigar starts out with medium strength and medium-bodied flavors before both attributes progress to medium to full in the second half.

E.P. Carillo has become the second company to place two cigars on the 2023 Countdown. As for E.P. Carrillo, they have been on a Cigar Coop Countdown nine times. Perhaps most interesting is that both E.P. Carrillo Cigars come from other factories outside the Dominican Republic. If you are keeping score at home, this is the eighth cigar from Nicaragua to land on the Countdown.