Match M25 opened the Elite Luxury Group with two cigars that would advance to the Top 16. E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic entered as an all-Nicaraguan blend made in the Dominican Republic, while Plasencia El Año del Caballo brought a large-format, full-strength celebration cigar from Nicaragua.
Encore used a 5 3/8 x 52 Majestic Robusto rolled at Tabacalera La Alianza. El Año del Caballo used a commanding 7 x 58 Parejo Gordo with organic Nicaraguan Jalapa wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan-Honduran filler made by Plasencia Cigars.
Construction and flavor complexity tied at 5.0. Encore won draw, burn and balance with perfect scores against Plasencia's 4.5 marks. Plasencia answered by winning finish 5.0 to 4.5, leaving Encore with a 29.5 to 28.5 victory.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic | Plasencia El Año del Caballo |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Casa Carrillo / E.P. Carrillo | Plasencia |
| Origin | Dominican Republic | Nicaragua |
| Wrapper | Nicaraguan | Organic Nicaraguan Jalapa |
| Binder | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan |
| Filler | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan and Honduran |
| Factory | Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. | Plasencia Cigars S.A. |
| Vitola | Majestic Robusto, 5 3/8 x 52 | Parejo Gordo, 7 x 58 |
| Strength | Medium-Full | Full |
| Ashology score | 29.5/30 - Exceptional | 28.5/30 - Elite |
| M25 result | Winner | Loss |
Encore opened with sweet cedar, raisin, cocoa and baking spice. Cedar, cinnamon and natural tobacco sweetness led the first third as cocoa and pepper developed. Caramel, roasted nuts, coffee and dried fruit formed a balanced center before espresso, oak and baking spice grew richer without losing sweetness.
El Año del Caballo began with cedar, cocoa, dried fruit and pepper. Sweet cedar, dark cocoa, black pepper and toasted nuts created a luxurious opening. Coffee, leather and raisin-like sweetness increased richness before oak, espresso and pepper strengthened over a steady cocoa base.
The cigars shared cedar, cocoa, coffee, dried-fruit sweetness, nuts, espresso and oak, explaining their perfect complexity scores. Encore emphasized caramel, cinnamon and refined transitions. Plasencia delivered greater physical scale, darker richness and a more powerful closing expression.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
Construction and flavor complexity tied 5.0 to 5.0. Both cigars showed exceptional craftsmanship and layered development, so the result depended on the remaining four categories.
Encore won three categories; Plasencia won one; two categories tied.
Encore built its margin through technical control. Its effortless draw, steady burn and beautifully integrated profile scored 5.0 in draw, burn and balance. Plasencia remained Outstanding at 4.5 in each, with controlled airflow, substantial smoke and reliable combustion, but surrendered three half-points.
Plasencia answered in finish. Its rich, warming and long conclusion earned 5.0, while Encore's long, sweetly spiced and refined close scored 4.5. That half-point recovery reduced Encore's 1.5-point technical advantage to the final one-point margin.
Official Result: E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic Wins Match M25
E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic defeated Plasencia El Año del Caballo and opened Group E at 1-0. The win established the complete performance that would carry Encore through a perfect 3-0 group stage and eventually to fourth place overall.
Plasencia rebounded with victories over Illusione Epernay L'Excellence and HVC Selección No. 1 Maduro, finishing 2-1 and advancing in second place. Its tournament ended at 2-2 after a Top 16 loss to Davidoff Year of the Horse Limited Edition 2026.
Encore continued past Plasencia Alma Fuerte Eduardo I in the Top 16 and Davidoff Millennium in the Grand 8. Losses to Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto and Liga Privada T52 left it #4 overall with a 5-2 tournament record.
Final Ashology Verdict
Plasencia El Año del Caballo earned an Elite 28.5 through perfect construction, complexity and finish. Its luxurious size, dark flavor development and commanding conclusion made it a memorable Top 16 cigar, even though three 4.5 technical scores cost it this opener.
E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic earned an Exceptional 29.5 with five perfect categories and one Outstanding 4.5 finish. Its all-Nicaraguan blend combined sweetness, spice, depth and technical control into one of the most complete evaluations in the tournament.
M25 showed the difference between elite flavor power and near-total performance. Plasencia won the finish and tied the two foundational categories, but Encore's perfect draw, burn and balance created the decisive one-point victory.
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.