INTRODUCTION
E.P. Carrillo is known for crafting excellent cigars that always find their way on annual top lists. In January the “newest jewel” in the Perez-Carrillo series began shipping, that being the Endure. EPC finally has a Cameroon wrapper cigar. It is not just any Cameroon though, it is dressed in a Meerapfel Cameroon wrapper. As many know, the Meerapfels not only cultivate the greatest Cameroon tobacco, but they supply a large portion of the industry with it. This is not an accident however. Rick Meerapfel has been admired for his unwavering commitment in saving and cultivating Cameroon. His work not only created an exceptional wrapper, but set in motion the recipe for the current patriarch, Jeremiah Meerapfel, to make the family dream come true and make cigars.
This review is not about the Meerapfels success however, it is about EPC using their Cameroon wrapper. This is something that EPC makes sure the consumer knows, on the box, and on the cigar bands. I had to mention Rick Meerapfel because the name Endure is derived from overcoming challenges and pushing boundaries. The cigar acknowledges both EPC struggle in settling in America as well as Rick Meerapfel’s struggles in cultivating Cameroon.
To quote, EPC stated the following “Endure represents the convergence of two iconic legacies. The Perez-Carrillo family’s journey from Cuba to the U.S. is a testament of their passion and perseverance in preserving cigar excellence. Meanwhile, the Meerapfel family’s pivotal role in saving the Meerapfel Cameroon wrapper adds a layer of dedication and resilience to this blend.”
UNDER THE LID
After taking the Perez-Carrillo Endure out of the cello, I could immediately recognize that this is a Meerapfel Cameroon wrapper. A caramel tan hue with a slight lavender undertone with notable dark spots throughout the wrapper. As the legendary Carlos Senior once said, good Cameroon has spots (not a direct quote but words to that effect). The foot of the cigar shows the Nicaraguan leaves evenly bunched with no notable stems or inconsistencies. The cigar has more than a slight give upon pressure, giving the expectation that the cigar will have a loose draw.
An orange gold embossed band shines and compliments the wrapper giving a slight orange illusion upon the wrapper. The first third of the cigar is concealed by a wax paper type foot band. The Meerapfel Family’s name is displayed on the bottom of the cigar band.
Aroma wise, the Endure has a delicate white spice, walnut, ginger, and barnyard. A fairly interesting mix of aromas.
- Origin: Dominican Republic
- Wrapper: African Cameroon (Meerapfel)
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Vitola: 5 x 50 Robusto (box pressed)
- Factory: Casa Carrillo
- Released: February 2025
- Box Quantity: Regular Production
- MSRP: $18.00 / box of ten: $180.00
PERFORMANCE NOTES
FIRST THIRD
After a straight cut a very open draw is revealed. The cold draw is subtle, sweet, musty, with a very slight cedar spice. A faint taste of allspice is noticeable if you pay close attention of the cold draw.
After using my S.T. Dupont Monogram Collection Ligne 2 to elegantly toast and light the Perez-Carrillo Endure up, my palate is met with a dry maltiness, similar to oats. Interestingly, it also has a smokey sweet aroma. Not “cigar smoke” but a similar sweet smoke as a Virginia Perigue. Interestingly, the aroma from the cigar fills the room with an aromatic smokey oak. I actually looked around the lounge to verify a pipe was not lit. Secondary notes on the palate are walnut, white spice, and a slight clove along the sides of the palate.
The retrohale starts with a very refined raison sweetness. It is not overpowering, but mellow. Similarly, white spice nips the nose. It is assertive without being aggressive on the palate. There is a sherry oak that flows the the roof of my palate which remains through the finish. Overall, the smoke texture is buttery and medium bodied. The sherry lingers for a medium plus finish. It is worth mentioning again, the room note is extremely aromatic. This results in the finish being complex and introducing cherry, vanilla, redwood, and leather to the finish. A very diverse realm of flavors and aromas making the Endure an excellent display of pulling a smoker in for what’s to come.
SECOND THIRD
The second third starts as a slightly fuller bodied mouth feel. The palate is met with that bready oak, however a sweet dark plum and clove spice are dispensed along the palate. The smoke dries the exterior ends of my palate while making the tip to center palate salivate. A very interesting mouthfeel with a sensation that remains for the duration of the medium plus finish.
The retrohale is interesting and in full transparency, required me to do three retrohales to pinpoint. There is a sweetness that has a very slight initial spice. If you ever sampled a bourbon barrel aged maple syrup I believe that is the closest example in words I could provide. However, the spice turns to a chili chocolate after settling through the nasal passage. This could be compared to that sweet spice one can replicate by sampling a Mexican hot chocolate. Very timid expressions of anise, spice, cinnamon, and cedar. The finish has a slight charred oak towards the back of my throat. This is a very enjoyable addition to that quasi palate feel I reference in the beginning of the second third as to mouth feel. I am thoroughly interested in this cigar’s development. The Nicaraguan fillers I believe are viso, seco, and a ligero leaf. The Nicaraguan aromas are trying to be assertive but the very distinct and known sweetness of the Meerapfel Cameroon are keeping them in check, and marrying them together to create an exceptional expression of both taste and smell. At this point, the ash is almost flirting with the secondary band bearing Endure. An ash that is a beautiful consistent white and gray. Looking closely, you can see the slight bumps from the well aged wrapper burn onto the ash leaving those same bumps. This is a sign of a very mature and high quality wrapper leaf. The second third leaves us with a true medium plus body and strength cigar.
FINAL THIRD
As I begin the final third of the Perez-Carrillo Endure, I find myself thinking about how unique Meerapfel Cameroon really is. Oftentimes a wrapper is molded into a blend and not much attention is given distinctly. However, with a Meerapfel, the Cameroon distinctively stands out from the rest of the tobacco without separating itself. It’s both distinguishable but molded in with the Nicaraguan tobacco. You can zero in on it and appreciate it on its own, or you can savor the overall blend together. Perhaps that is why Endure is a fitting name, you can appreciate EPC’s resilience through their Nicaraguan tobacco expression, whilst you focus on Meerapfel by standing out and balancing the portfolio.
Enough of the poetic inquiry. The final third keeps the core palate flavors as discussed prior, but an enjoyable dark leather now develops center palate. The roof of the palate has an aromatic bitter french roast. Again, echoing its similarity to the complexity of light tobacco in pipe blends.
The retrohale is something I still continue to find trouble describing. In order to avoid being repetitive, the above retrohale notes still stand true. However, that bourbon syrup described has developed to a warming effect. The nose has a varying display of baking spices. It is warm, sensational, sweet, spicy, and comforting. Overall, the profile of the Perez-Carrillo Endure is balanced and complex. A truly well executed cigar.
Core Flavors: Raisin, baking spice, cedar, oak, leather, oat, maple
Strength: Medium+
Body: Medium+
Complexity: Full
Smokin Experience
The EPC Endure is an example of an extraordinary blend. I objectively review cigars with the same score sheets. While smoking, the only feedback on performance is a mix of numbers and slashes on the sheet. I am unaware of the final product until the columns are added together and divided by three since that is how many independent sheets I have and since each sample is a new slate. The only issue I had reviewing this cigar was trying to find reasons to slash points. Something I was unsuccessful with.
Purchase recommendation: Two boxes. Have one to smoke and one to age.
Smokin Facts
- EPC had a unique concept where there was a signature under certain bands that entitled the buyer to win a prize. I believe there were even fewer bands with multiple signatures and that entitled the buyer to a factory tour I believe.
- Meerapfel has made their family name known since 2020. Most people identified the tobacco as African Cameroon, but now I find many identify it as Meerapfel Cameroon.
- As a New England man, I find it funny that Meerapfel shipped their own line for the first time in New England during the winter. The Endure was also shipped during the winter. This is the worst time to ship Cameroon.
- I also smoked the Perez-Carrillo Endure toro and it is not nearly as good as the robusto.
Smokin Wrap
Cigars Smoked for the Review: Three
Average smoking time: 1 hour and 53 minutes.
