Match M61 opened the Final Smokeout with two undefeated 5-0 contenders. Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto had won Group A before defeating Warped Corto and My Father Cigars Blue Label. E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic had won Group E before eliminating Plasencia Alma Fuerte Eduardo I and Davidoff Millennium.
The semifinal contrasted a medium-full-to-full, 6 1/2 x 56 Nicaraguan Perfecto with a medium-full, 5 3/8 x 52 Dominican-made Robusto. Padrón used a Nicaraguan sun-grown natural wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler. Encore was a Nicaraguan puro made at Tabacalera La Alianza in the Dominican Republic.
Construction, draw, burn, flavor complexity and balance all tied at perfect 5.0 scores. Only finish separated the cigars: Padrón won 5.0 to 4.5. That single half-point produced a 30.0 to 29.5 victory and carried the eventual champion into the title match.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto | E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Padrón | Casa Carrillo / E.P. Carrillo |
| Origin | Nicaragua | Dominican Republic |
| Wrapper | Nicaraguan Sun-Grown Natural | Nicaraguan |
| Binder | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan |
| Filler | Nicaraguan | Nicaraguan |
| Factory | Padrón Factory, Estelí | Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. |
| Vitola | Perfecto, 6 1/2 x 56 | Majestic Robusto, 5 3/8 x 52 |
| Strength | Medium-Full to Full | Medium-Full |
| Ashology score | 30.0/30 - Legendary | 29.5/30 - Exceptional |
| M61 result | Winner - advanced to Championship | Loss - Final Four finisher |
Padrón began with cocoa, cedar and roasted coffee on a cold draw with easy, controlled resistance. Dark cocoa, toasted cedar, espresso and measured black pepper formed a rich opening. Coffee developed into mocha as walnut, earth and natural sweetness emerged before dark chocolate, espresso, seasoned oak and refined pepper completed the progression.
Encore began with sweet cedar, raisin, cocoa and baking spice on the cold draw. Cedar, cinnamon and natural tobacco sweetness opened the cigar as cocoa and pepper developed gradually. Caramel, roasted nuts, coffee and dried fruit formed the center before espresso, oak and baking spice grew richer while sweetness remained intact.
Both cigars shared cedar, cocoa, coffee, espresso, oak, pepper, nuts and natural sweetness. Padrón expressed those elements through dark chocolate, mocha, walnut and earth with a smooth, composed character. Encore was brighter and sweeter through raisin, cinnamon, caramel, dried fruit and baking spice.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
The technical categories produced no separation. Construction, draw and burn tied 5.0 to 5.0. Padrón delivered an excellent draw, straight burn and dense ash, while Encore supplied an excellent draw, steady burn and firm ash. Both cigars earned perfect marks for complete technical control.
Padrón won one category; Encore won none; five categories tied.
Complexity and balance extended the deadlock at 5.0 to 5.0. Padrón layered cocoa, cedar, espresso, mocha, walnut, earth, sweetness, dark chocolate and oak without losing composure. Encore moved through cedar, cocoa, cinnamon, caramel, nuts, coffee, dried fruit, espresso and oak while preserving its sweeter identity.
Finish decided the semifinal 5.0 to 4.5. Encore's long, sweetly spiced and refined close earned an Outstanding score. Padrón answered with a long, smooth and luxurious finish carrying dark chocolate, espresso, seasoned oak and refined pepper. That perfect close created the only half point on the scorecard.
Official Result: Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto Wins Match M61
Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto defeated E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic 30.0 to 29.5 and advanced to the Championship. The victory improved Padrón to 6-0 and created Match M63 against Fuente Fuente OpusX Angel's Share.
Padrón later defeated Angel's Share to finish 7-0 as the #1 Champion and 2026 Cigar of the Year. Its Legendary 30.0 evaluation remained the tournament's only perfect score. Encore later lost the third-place match to Liga Privada T52 and finished #4 overall at 5-2.
Final Ashology Verdict
Encore delivered a nearly flawless semifinal. It matched Padrón in construction, draw, burn, complexity and balance, and its cedar, cocoa, cinnamon, caramel, coffee, dried fruit, espresso and oak formed an exceptionally complete performance.
Padrón advanced because its final impression reached the only higher level available. Encore closed long and sweetly spiced; Padrón finished longer, smoother and more luxuriously. Five perfect ties left no room elsewhere, so one half point on finish sent the undefeated Padrón into the Championship.
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.