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Unlit Impressions

Mottled, lumpy, leather-like, and undeniably oily, it's obvious that this softly box-pressed blend didn't win any awards for appearances. It also feels like my review cigar is slightly underfilled, which is a bit of a surprise. Tacky to the touch, the sticky wrapper smells strongly of espresso and semi-sweet dark chocolate, with a dab of leather and nutmeg mucking about behind the scenes. 

Recently watered potting soil and an intense cocoa nib aromatic reach the nostrils as the foot is sniffed. A sticky mixture of raisins and figs, followed by raw brownie batter and a crunchy walnut note, team up to add some additional flourishes the deeper you snort. The faded aroma of nutmeg and perhaps a shake or two of allspice linger on the nose long after each sniff, teasing you with notes of what has yet to come.

Mexican hot chocolate, complete with cinnamon and sea salt, heavy levels of cedar, vanilla, and even more brownie batter flow outward from a V-cut cap. The draw is borderline too fluid, and I note that the unlit taste of the tobacco is not very fruity, nor is it spicy in any degree.

As for that classic EPC triple cigar band, it matches blends like Allegiance and Encore, but favors a bright blue accent color for the foot band, with the primary paper portions rocking more of a red pigment. Being that this blend is intended to honor the women in the Carrillo family, the upper band shows both the family matriarch and the next generation of female owner on opposite sides. It's a traditional look that is highly detailed, and finely executed, if a bit old school.

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Initial Smoke

Silky soft, like sexy stockings on a Saturday night, the blend opens up with zero heat or spiciness, and loads on the cedar instead. Behind the resinous taste of the cigar world's favorite evergreen varietal comes a sizable serving of chocolate, both in dark, bittersweet form, as well as with milk and a bit of sugar. Toasted wholegrain cereal, a notable amount of nutmeg, and a milky texture from a velvety retrohale proceed to point the blend in a set direction before letting the next 45 minutes fly.

1st Half

I would not be the least bit surprised to find that all of the online cigar news sources that claim that this blend has a Sumatran binder are right on the money. The aromatics of this cigar scream Sumatran-seed tobacco, and it brings all of the recognizable chai tea and exotic herbs to the table.

Meanwhile, back on the tongue, tastes of raw brownie batter, and the eggy umami note that comes with it continue toe the line and set a pace for everything else to follow. Still satiny smooth, but with a notable amount of fermented funk beginning to form, the first third is more of a prelude than a chapter, with the addition of raw cashew nuts replacing the toasted walnuts and the swift increase to full-bodied being two tell-tale signs.

2nd Half

Chewy, creamy, and still chocolaty as all hell, the center of this 6⅞″ long cigar is where things grow strong and espresso-rich. The continued support of Spanish cedar, vanilla, and that eggy raw brownie batter note makes for a good backbone from which to build upon.

Spicy, but in a moderate, highly controlled amount, the core of the barrel begins to burn with the intensity of Sumatran spice fueling it onward. This is countered by the appearance of Mexican hot cocoa for the second time, and a very full, granola bar-grade level of chewiness to the smoke. Retrohales are still surprisingly smooth and are favoring cedar and dry tannins by this point, and the finish is bold, slightly bitter, and balanced. 

Parting Puffs

Spicy and strong, full power is achieved in the final fifteen minutes of this blend. A massive amount of mixed spices from every corner of the globe seems to have converged on one spot, and it just so happens to be your tongue. Still cedar-focused and equally tannin-rich, the body of the cigar is tempered by these lighter notes, allowing one last glimpse of the mocha tastes that rocked your palate for the past two hours.

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

While this blend started off on a tidy note, it quickly developed an unsightly ash that was equal parts flaky and dirty brown in places. The burn line also roamed all over the damn place, only to suddenly stop, forcing the innards of the cigar to tunnel and then self-correct. This happened not once, but twice, with the final tunnel resulting in the sudden extinguishing of the cigar and the need for a relight. Draw resistance was also close to nonexistent, so overheating and burn problems from the cigar, likely being underfilled, forced me to deduct additional points. 

Nevertheless, I continue to take great pleasure in the texture of the smoke that this E-III vitola produces, and for those who prefer large amounts of the stuff, this blend will most certainly deliver. I also admire the rich mocha aromatics and oily, full-bodied presence of the smoke that permeates the air, which is equal parts classy and clean. 

Final Thoughts

I love everything about this blend, save for the following three things. Construction quality control and the subsequent burn issues encountered seem to be hit or miss. Visual appeal is definitely not as impressive as other box-pressed cigars from EPC. The strength of the blend itself gradually grows more intense, which is fine. But the cigar also tends to grow harsh in places, especially in the final third and beyond, where throat burn becomes a concern.

Outside of these three concerns, there is little to dislike about La Historia as a whole. It's a bold, oily, rich, sultry maduro of a smoke that wastes no time in going full-bodied on you, and balances fantastic espresso and chocolate flavors with plenty of cedar and herb tea spice notes. The addition of raw brownie batter, as well as the hints of vanilla and Mexican hot chocolate here and there, is also an absolute treat.

Dark cigar fans are sure to love this stick, especially if they enjoy an oily San Andrés maduro cigar flavor profile with tons of smoke and mocha aromatics. Which is precisely why I continue to recommend buying a bundle of this blend, regardless of whether or not you've smoked it recently, puffed it a decade back, or have never encountered the glory that is La Historia.

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