E.P. Carillo Pledge Prequel

What more is there to say about a cigar that already carries one of the highest scores ever put on a review?

E.P. Carrillo sent the Pledge out in September 2020 as the third chapter of the Perez-Carrillo Series, after La Historia and Encore, and the Prequel was the size that led it. A soft box pressed 5 x 50, rolled at Tabacalera La Alianza in Santiago, Connecticut Habano wrapper over an Ecuadorian binder and Nicaraguan filler. Regular production, first run held to 1,250 boxes of ten, $10.75 a stick. Cigar Aficionado later gave it 98 and named it Cigar of the Year, the highest mark a number one had ever taken.

Stogie At A Glance

Curated Music Playlist

Ernesto Perez-Carrillo traded the drum kit for the factory. In mid-70s New York, he soaked up the playing of Tony Williams and the Bill Evans trios, but an audition for Stan Getz didn’t land him the job. Back in Miami, cigars became his life’s work. Pledge is his promise to keep blending, and Prequel is a nod to Cuba, where the tobacco story began.

Review

First Third

The cigar opens with peppery chocolate and nuts, along with a woody, campfire note on the light. There is a good amount of pepper, with earthy dark flavors on the finish. A cedar note emerges alongside black coffee and pepper. The peppery cedar picks up a slight tang, with a touch of creamy chocolate on the finish. The black coffee note builds, along with a bit of earthiness. Toward the end of the first third, a leather note starts to appear with earthy dark chocolate. By the close of this third, the leather is still growing, with peppery cedar and dark chocolate on the finish.

Second Third
The second third begins with big notes of leather and dark chocolate, slightly sweeter than before. Cream and black coffee come through with some earthy pepper on the finish. Dark chocolate and coffee are strong, along with earthy, woody nuts. The finish has coffee and a slight sweetness. Leather continues to make a huge impact, and the earthiness has kept growing from the first third. A creamy quality remains on the finish, with leather and dark chocolate. Leather continues to dominate, with a mineral solidity emerging and a slight nutty note on the finish. Near the end of the second third, leather is still very strong and a salted peanut note has grown. The finish is creamy espresso with leather. A dark cherry note comes out at the end of this third, along with leather and black coffee.

Final Third
A raisin note comes through, along with dark chocolate and pepper. The final third starts with raisin, cedar, black coffee, and pepper. Pepper begins to increase, as does the leather. Earthy notes come through with dark chocolate and leather. Leather and pepper continue, and the raisin note returns ever so slightly. The finish has leather with a little black coffee and dark chocolate. Big leather and chocolate notes continue, with a slightly creamy, earthy note on the finish. Pepper continues near the end of the cigar, with an earthy, leathery pepper on the finish.

Score

94/100