Casa Carrillo Ascend Ridge (6×52)

Ernesto Perez-Carrillo approaches every new release with a clear question in mind: what does this cigar need to say that nothing else in the lineup already says? With Ascend, his answer is progression. The entire line is built around the metaphor of a climb, with each vitola representing a different stage of the journey. The Ridge is the middle of that climb — the 6×52 box-pressed Toro where, according to Ernesto himself, complexity expands, transitions become more noticeable, and the blend begins to show its full range of character.

The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper is warm and oily, leading with natural sweetness and body. Underneath, a Nicaraguan Estelí binder holds together a filler of Nicaraguan Criollo ’98 and Corojo 2012 seed tobaccos — two varietals that bring depth, structure, and the kind of layered complexity that rewards a slower pace. Made at the Casa Carrillo factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic, the Ridge sits at the sweet spot of the Ascend lineup where the blend fully opens up and everything Ernesto built into this cigar becomes clear. Start here. You’ll want the whole lineup after.