Casa Carrillo Cigars has added a new size to its Encore Black line with the Bulwarks. The Bulwoaks introduces a 6 x 58 perfecto size into the line. The Bulwarks will make its debut at the Great Lakes Cigar Festival in Pontiac, Michigan, on July 26th.

The blend for Encore Black features a U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro over a San Andrés Mexican binder and all Nicaraguan fillers from the Condega, Estelí, and Jalapa regions. Casa Carrillo states that each leaf in the blend undergoes 18 months of fermentation, followed by three years of aging. After rolling, the cigar rests for an additional six months.

“Following the success of the first Encore Black vitola, we knew we wanted to expand the line with something that delivered a fuller, more immersive expression of the blend,” said Ernesto Perez-Carrillo in a press release. “The Bulwarks does exactly that. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper takes center stage, given the time it needs to develop its rich, complex character. We paired it with a San Andrés viso binder and select fillers from Estelí, Jalapa, and Condega to highlight and complement the Broadleaf’s bold profile. It’s a sincere effort from our family to yours—continuing what we love doing most: creating cigars with heart, heritage, and craftsmanship.”

He added, “Adding this vitola after the success of the first Encore Black release was a natural next step. We saw how much smokers appreciated the complexity and boldness of the blend, and we wanted to explore how it could evolve in a larger format. The Bulwarks offers a slower burn and more pronounced transitions that really show what this blend can do.”

The Bulwarks is the second size in the Encore Black line, which debuted last year in the Majestic size. Bulwarks comes in ten-count boxes and has a price point of $26.00. Following the Great Lakes Cigar Festival, it will be made available for a broader release.

At a glance, here is a look at the Encore Black line:

Blend and Origin

  • Wrapper:  Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
  • Binder: San Andrés Viso (Mexico)
  • Filler: Nicaraguan (Condega, Estelí, and Jalapa)
  • Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
  • Factory: Casa Carrillo

Vitolas Offered

  • Bulwarks: 6 x 58
  • Majestic: 5 3/4 x 52

Photo Credit: Casa Carrillo