E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel

The E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel is Cigar Aficionado's #1 Cigar of the Year for 2020 — the cigar that confirmed Ernesto Perez-Carrillo's place among the greatest living blenders. This 5 × 50 robusto, handcrafted in the Dominican Republic, wears a dark U.S.-grown Connecticut Habano wrapper over an Ecuadorian binder and Nicaraguan fillers.

Construction

The Habano wrapper is dark, oily, and rustic, with a distinctive closed-foot finish. Cold draw brings cocoa and dark earth. The burn is even, the ash firm, and the draw smooth — La Alianza factory craftsmanship at its best.

Flavor profile

Full-bodied and dynamic. The first third opens with cocoa, black pepper, and toasted oak. The middle third develops red-fruit sweetness, espresso, and earth — the layered complexity that won it the title. The final third finishes with dark chocolate and warm spice. A 50–65 minute smoke that justifies the hype.

Pairings & occasion

A trophy smoke for a good evening. Pair with a quality rye (Sazerac), a bold bourbon (Knob Creek 12), a malbec, or espresso. If you buy one cigar to see what modern award-winners taste like, make it this.

How we ship

Every E.P. Carrillo in our humidor is hand-inspected before shipping. Free shipping on orders over $50.