GROUP G - CLASSIC TRADITIONS
Winner: E.P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Brillantes
Match M42 closed Group G with two Connecticut cigars seeking their first win. New Wave Connecticut entered 0-2 after half-point losses to the two qualifiers. La Galera Connecticut also entered 0-2 after smooth but narrower performances against Romeo y Julieta and Nica Rustica.
Both cigars used a 5 x 50 format, but their internal designs differed. New Wave paired an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and filler. La Galera paired Connecticut wrapper with Dominican Piloto Cubano binder and Criollo '98 filler.
New Wave won the approved M42 matchup 27.5 to 27.0. La Galera maintained approachable balance, but New Wave produced the cleaner construction, stronger smoke output, and longer creamy coffee-and-nut finish. New Wave placed third at 1-2; La Galera finished fourth at 0-3.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | E.P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Brillantes | La Galera Connecticut Chaveta Robusto |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Casa Carrillo - New Wave Connecticut | La Galera Cigars - Connecticut |
| Origin | Dominican Republic | Dominican Republic |
| Wrapper | Ecuadorian Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Binder | Nicaraguan | Dominican Piloto Cubano |
| Filler | Nicaraguan | Criollo '98 |
| Factory | Casa Carrillo | Tabacalera Palma in the approved tournament profile |
| Vitola | Brillantes, 5 x 50 | Chaveta Robusto, 5 x 50 |
| Strength | Mild to medium | Mild to medium in the approved tournament profile |
| Qualifying price | Approximately $8.50 in the approved tournament profile | Approximately $8.29 in the approved tournament profile |
| Profile score | 27.5/30 - Excellent | 27.0/30 - Very Good |
Official M42 score
27.5/30 - Winner
27.0/30 - Loss
Modern Connecticut Depth vs. Traditional Dominican Smoothness
New Wave opened with hay, cream, almond, and cedar through excellent airflow. Creamy cedar, toast, white pepper, and roasted nuts established the first third. Coffee, almond, and subtle sweetness added depth before oak and pepper became firmer while the texture stayed smooth.
La Galera opened with hay, cream, cashew, and cedar through comfortable resistance. Toasted almond and gentle white pepper shaped the opening. Mild coffee, vanilla-like sweetness, and soft earth broadened the center before cedar and pepper closed cleanly.
The profiles shared cream, cedar, nuts, coffee, sweetness, and white pepper. La Galera stayed softer and more relaxed. New Wave created greater toast and earth definition, denser smoke, and a longer coffee-nut finish. Exceptional construction converted those modest differences into the half-point victory.
Where Match M42 Was Decided
The standing profiles rate E.P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Brillantes at 27.5/30 - Excellent. Construction is 5.0; draw, burn, flavor complexity, balance, and finish are 4.5. La Galera Connecticut Chaveta Robusto is rated 27.0/30 - Very Good. All six standing profile categories are 4.5.
Official M42 score: E.P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Brillantes 27.5, La Galera Connecticut Chaveta Robusto 27.0.
The official M42 totals match the standing profile scores. The approved archive does not publish a separate M42 category-by-category card, so the standing card is used only as verified context for the head-to-head result.
La Galera's even 4.5 standing card produced a credible and balanced close to group play. New Wave separated itself with the only perfect construction mark in the matchup, then supported that mechanical advantage with richer toast, coffee, roasted nuts, earth, and a longer creamy finish.
Official Result: E.P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Brillantes Wins M42
E.P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Brillantes defeated La Galera Connecticut Chaveta Robusto 27.5 to 27.0 and completed Group G in third place at 1-2. The result rewarded a Connecticut cigar whose two earlier defeats had each come by only half a point.
La Galera completed group play at 0-3 in fourth place. Its smooth construction and balanced cream, cedar, almond, mild coffee, earth, sweetness, and white pepper remained credible everyday value qualities even without a tournament victory.
Final Ashology Verdict
La Galera Connecticut Chaveta Robusto closed Group G with cream, cedar, cashew, toasted almond, mild coffee, sweetness, soft earth, and white pepper in a relaxed profile.
E.P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut Brillantes delivered the stronger M42 performance. Cream, cedar, toast, roasted nuts, coffee, sweetness, earth, oak, and white pepper developed with superior construction and a longer finish.
Tasting notes reflect the exact cigars and vitolas evaluated for the 2026 Value Cigar Championship. Current product specifications were checked against official manufacturer information. Flavor, strength, draw, and burn may vary with storage, age, production variation, and individual palate. Tobacco products are intended only for adults of legal smoking age.
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