Casa Carrillo Ascend Review: Sizes, Price & Who It's For
Casa Carrillo — the Dominican factory and brand run by master blender Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, formerly known as E.P. Carrillo — began shipping its Ascend line to retailers on July 30, 2026. Here's what's confirmed about the blend, the pricing across its three sizes, and who it's likely to suit.
The short answer
Ascend is a three-size line built around an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler, priced from roughly $12.75 to $14.95 depending on vitola. The naming — Saddle, Ridge, and Peak — is built around a "progression" concept, with each size meant to represent a stage in a journey rather than just a bigger or smaller version of the same stick. Perez-Carrillo's factories have a strong reputation for consistent construction, so this is a reasonable one to try even before third-party tasting notes land.
Specs at a glance
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand / line | Casa Carrillo Ascend |
| Wrapper | Ecuadorian Habano |
| Binder | Nicaraguan (Estelí) |
| Filler | Nicaraguan |
| Vitolas & sizes | Saddle (5" x 50), Ridge (6" x 52), Peak (6 1/4" x 58) |
| Price | Saddle $12.75, Ridge $13.75, Peak $14.95 (MSRP per cigar) |
| Rolled at | Casa Carrillo factory, Santiago, Dominican Republic |
| Release date | July 30, 2026 |
The maker hasn't published strength or box-count details yet — we'll update this page once that lands.
Why the "progression" naming matters
Casa Carrillo is framing Ascend's three vitolas — Saddle, Ridge, Peak — as stages of a single journey rather than a standard small/medium/large size run. That's a more deliberate naming choice than most lines bother with, and it suggests the blend itself may be tuned slightly differently across sizes rather than just scaled up, since a "journey" concept only makes sense if there's a reason to smoke more than one size. Worth trying more than one vitola here rather than assuming the biggest ring gauge is simply "more of the same."
Who this cigar is likely to suit
- Existing Perez-Carrillo fans. The factory's reputation for construction quality under both the E.P. Carrillo and Casa Carrillo names is well established, so this is a reasonably safe try even without tasting notes yet.
- Smokers who like Ecuadorian Habano wrappers. Expect a wrapper style associated with balanced spice rather than the sweetness of a Connecticut or the heaviness of a maduro — a middle-ground profile, generally.
- Size experimenters. With three distinct sizes explicitly built around a progression concept, this is a line worth sampling across more than one vitola.
New to cigars? Hold off on a brand-new release with no track record yet — our best cigars for beginners guide has more proven starting points.
Where to buy
Browse Casa Carrillo cigars at Famous Smoke Shop — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As a release that just started shipping, availability will vary by retailer.
FAQ
What sizes does Casa Carrillo Ascend come in?
Three: the Saddle (5" x 50, $12.75), the Ridge (6" x 52, $13.75), and the Peak (6 1/4" x 58, $14.95).
Who makes Casa Carrillo Ascend?
Ernesto Perez-Carrillo's Casa Carrillo factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic — the same operation previously known as E.P. Carrillo.
What wrapper does Casa Carrillo Ascend use?
An Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler.
Is Casa Carrillo Ascend a limited release?
That hasn't been specified — it's presented as a new regular line rather than a one-off limited edition.
Conclusion
Ascend leans on a well-regarded factory and a deliberate, size-driven concept rather than gimmicks. If you already trust the Perez-Carrillo name, it's a reasonable one to pick up across a couple of sizes once specs firm up further.
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