E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel
The E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel, named Cigar of the Year 2020 by Cigar Aficionado, is the third installment in a trilogy created by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, a highly respected cigar maker with more than five decades of experience in the industry. The name “Pledge” was chosen by cigar enthusiasts through a 2019 public vote and symbolizes Perez-Carrillo’s commitment to exceptional quality.
This box-pressed Robusto (5 x 50), handcrafted in the Dominican Republic, is wrapped in a rare Connecticut-grown Habano leaf—a unique tobacco variety developed from Cuban seed that Perez-Carrillo was already using in the early 1980s. Beneath the wrapper lies an Ecuadorian binder and Nicaraguan fillers.
The cigar delivers a rich and complex flavor profile. The opening reveals notes of leather, earth, and espresso beans, gradually evolving into subtle sweetness with hints of dark fruits and molasses, complemented by touches of pepper on the finish. In the final third, the leather and coffee notes intensify while maintaining a full-bodied yet remarkably balanced character.
The Pledge Prequel joins Encore and La Historia as one of Perez-Carrillo’s most significant achievements of the past decade.
