Match M26 paired two refined Nicaraguan-tobacco expressions made in different countries. E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic entered at 1-0 after defeating Plasencia El Año del Caballo, while Illusione Epernay L'Excellence began its Group E campaign with a reputation for subtle complexity and graceful balance.
Encore used a 5 3/8 x 52 Majestic Robusto rolled in the Dominican Republic at Tabacalera La Alianza. Epernay used a slimmer 6 3/4 x 48 Churchill made in Honduras at Fábrica de Tabacos Raíces Cubanas, combining Nicaraguan binder and filler with a shade-grown Corojo '99 wrapper.
Encore scored 5.0 in construction, draw, burn, flavor complexity and balance against five 4.5 marks from Illusione. Finish tied at 4.5, giving Encore five category wins and a decisive 29.5 to 27.0 victory.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic | Illusione Epernay L'Excellence |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Casa Carrillo / E.P. Carrillo | Illusione |
| Origin | Dominican Republic | Honduras |
| Wrapper | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan shade-grown Corojo '99 |
| Binder | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan |
| Filler | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan |
| Factory | Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. | Fábrica de Tabacos Raíces Cubanas |
| Vitola | Majestic Robusto, 5 3/8 x 52 | Churchill, 6 3/4 x 48 |
| Strength | Medium-Full | Medium |
| Ashology score | 29.5/30 - Exceptional | 27.0/30 - Premium |
| M26 result | Winner | Loss |
Encore opened with sweet cedar, raisin, cocoa and baking spice. Cedar, cinnamon and natural sweetness developed with cocoa and pepper before caramel, roasted nuts, coffee and dried fruit formed the center. Espresso, oak and baking spice grew richer in the final third while the sweetness remained composed.
Epernay began with hay, floral notes, cedar and mild sweetness. Cream, cedar, white pepper, floral character and black tea created a delicate first third. Almond, honey and toasted bread added richness through the middle before cedar and pepper became more noticeable without erasing the floral sweetness.
Both cigars balanced cedar, sweetness, nuts and spice, but they expressed complexity differently. Encore moved through darker cocoa, caramel, coffee and espresso transitions. Illusione stayed lighter and more aromatic, emphasizing cream, honey, tea and flowers through a long Churchill format.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
Encore won construction, draw, burn, flavor complexity and balance by identical 5.0 to 4.5 margins. Illusione did not post a weak category; six Outstanding scores produced a consistent Premium 27.0. Encore simply answered that consistency with five Exceptional scores.
Encore won five categories; Illusione won none; one category tied.
Technical performance created three of the half-points. Encore's excellent draw, steady burn and firm ash earned perfect marks in construction, draw and burn. Illusione delivered a refined draw, clean burn and elegant smoke production, but each technical category remained at 4.5.
Encore added two more half-points through greater flavor development and integration, taking complexity and balance 5.0 to 4.5. Finish was the only tie: Encore closed long, sweetly spiced and refined, while Illusione finished clean, floral and medium in length. Both earned 4.5.
Official Result: E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic Wins Match M26
E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic defeated Illusione Epernay L'Excellence and improved to 2-0 in Group E. Its second straight win confirmed the complete performance that would produce a perfect 3-0 group record and an eventual fourth-place finish.
Illusione opened at 0-1 and later lost to Plasencia El Año del Caballo before defeating HVC Selección No. 1 Maduro. It finished group play 1-2, leaving the tournament with one victory and a Premium 27.0 evaluation.
Encore continued beyond Group E with victories over Plasencia Alma Fuerte Eduardo I and Davidoff Millennium. Its 5-2 tournament run ended after Final Smokeout and third-place losses, but its #4 overall placement made it one of the competition's defining cigars.
Final Ashology Verdict
Illusione Epernay L'Excellence earned a Premium 27.0 with six Outstanding 4.5 categories. Its floral sweetness, cream, honey, almond and tea produced one of Group E's most elegant profiles, supported by clean construction and composed medium strength.
E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic earned an Exceptional 29.5 with five perfect categories and an Outstanding finish. Its richer flavor progression, precise mechanics and integrated balance separated it from a highly consistent opponent.
M26 was not decided by a failure from Illusione. It was decided by Encore repeatedly turning Outstanding performance into Exceptional performance. Five half-point advantages, combined with a tied finish, created the exact 2.5-point margin.
Tasting notes reflect the cigars and vitolas evaluated during the 2026 competition. Flavor, strength and burn performance may vary based on storage, age, vitola and individual palate. Tobacco products are intended only for adults of legal smoking age.