EP卡里約

EP Carrillo -- An Independent Declaration by a Master Cigar Maker

Founded in 2009 by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. -- a representative brand independently created by "one of the most respected cigar makers in the cigar industry."

If Crowned Heads (2011), Foundation (2015) represent "former CAO/Drew Estate executives leaving" -- then EP Carrillo (2009) represents "the former leader of La Gloria Cubana leaving".

It is the brand in the "Boutique cigar revolution" with the strongest "master cigar-maker pedigree" -- Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. is one of the most respected cigar makers in the cigar industry.

Founder Story: The Perez-Carrillo Family Dynasty

Father Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Sr. -- Founder of the American La Gloria Cubana

Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Sr. came from a Cuban cigar family:

• Operated a cigar business in Cuba before the 1959 Cuban Revolution
• Went into exile in Little Havana, Miami, USA in 1959
• Rebuilt the American version of "La Gloria Cubana" in Miami in 1968 -- a representative "Cuban Refugee Cigar"

Note: The American La Gloria Cubana and the Cuban La Gloria Cubana (1885, under Cifuentes, already included in the W Cigar Bible Cuban 30 series) are different brands -- the American version uses the same name but is completely independent.

Son Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. -- Master Cigar Maker

Ernesto Jr. grew up in Miami:

• Began learning cigar making from his father in the 1970s
• Officially took over the American La Gloria Cubana in the 1990s
• Turned the American La Gloria Cubana into a "precursor to the Boutique cigar revolution" -- its products received multiple 90+ scores from Cigar Aficionado

1999: General Cigar Acquires La Gloria Cubana

In 1999, America's General Cigar acquired the American La Gloria Cubana -- an important turning point in Ernesto Jr.'s cigar life:

• Ernesto Jr. remained within the General Cigar system as the leader of La Gloria Cubana
• This collaboration lasted 10 years (1999-2009)
• During this period, Ernesto Jr. continued to lead formula development for La Gloria Cubana

But Ernesto Jr. became increasingly dissatisfied with the "large-company framework" -- similar to Steve Saka's situation at Drew Estate.

2009: EP Carrillo Is Founded Independently

In 2009, Ernesto Jr. decided to leave General Cigar and establish his own brand, EP Carrillo:

Reasons for leaving:

• He wanted to make cigars that he "fully believed in"
• He was dissatisfied with General Cigar's "large-company decision-making model"
• His son Ernie Perez-Carrillo III also joined the family business -- a continuation of "family heritage"

"EP Carrillo" is the abbreviation of Ernesto Perez-Carrillo -- a direct tribute to the family surname.

Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. -- Dominican Self-Owned Factory

EP Carrillo established the Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic:

• "La Alianza" means "alliance" in Spanish -- paying tribute to the concept of a "family alliance"
• It is a factory jointly operated by Ernesto Jr. and his son Ernie III
• Santiago, Dominican Republic is the same production region as Ashton, Diamond Crown, and Davidoff

Encore -- 2018 Cigar of the Year #1

EP Carrillo Encore (launched in 2018) was a historic victory for the brand:

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
• Strength: Medium to full
• Characteristics: Spicy pepper, dark coffee, dark cocoa, leather, cedar
• In 2018, it was named "2018 Cigar of the Year #1" by Cigar Aficionado (96 points)

The significance of this award for EP Carrillo:

• It was the second time in Ernesto Jr.'s life that he achieved "Cigar of the Year #1" -- the first time was when La Gloria Cubana Serie R received the honor within the General Cigar system
• It proved that "Ernesto Jr. after independence was even more top-tier than he had been within the General Cigar system"
• It was a historic victory for the "Boutique cigar revolution"

Inch -- The "Short and Thick Cigar" Philosophy

The EP Carrillo Inch series pays tribute to "short and thick cigars" (large ring gauge):

• Specification range of 60-66 ring gauge -- one of the thickest regular specifications in the cigar industry
• Multiple specifications including Inch No.62, No.64, No.66
• It is the brand's response to the "tastes of modern American cigar players"

La Historia -- Tribute to Family History

EP Carrillo La Historia (launched in 2014) pays tribute to the history of the Perez-Carrillo family:

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
• Strength: Medium to full
• It is a representative series of the brand's "family narrative" philosophy

Pledge -- The "Commitment" Philosophy

EP Carrillo Pledge (launched in 2017) pays tribute to a "commitment to the cigar industry":

• Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
• Strength: Medium to full
• Characteristics: Ernesto Jr.'s commitment to the "future of the cigar industry"

New Wave Connecticut -- Entry-Level Elegance

EP Carrillo New Wave Connecticut:

• Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut Shade (light-colored)
• Strength: Medium
• It is the brand's "entry-level elegance" series

Why Taiwan Players Should Smoke EP Carrillo

3 reasons:

1. Master cigar-maker pedigree: Smoking EP Carrillo = smoking the "30+ years of experience of one of the most respected cigar makers in the cigar industry"
2. 2018 Cigar of the Year #1: Encore 96 points -- smoking it is smoking a historic victory
3. A completely independent "family narrative": From the same era as Crowned Heads and Foundation, but with more "master cigar-maker pedigree"

Pairing suggestions:

• Encore + aged bourbon (Pappy Van Winkle 23 years)
• La Historia + Cuban rum (Havana Club 7 years)
• Inch + beer or espresso
• Pledge + aged single malt whisky

Welcome to W Cigar Bar in Da'an District, where Cigar Prince Wilson Tsai will personally accompany you in experiencing EP Carrillo's "independent declaration by a master cigar maker."

---

Further Reading: The Complete EP Carrillo Product Spectrum

Encore -- 2018 Cigar of the Year

Classic specifications:

• Encore Robusto (5" × 50)
• Encore Toro (6" × 50)
• Encore Majestic (5⅝" × 54) -- 2018 Cigar of the Year #1
• Encore Petit Robusto (4½" × 50)

Inch -- Short and Thick Cigars

Classic specifications:

• Inch No.62 (5⅝" × 62)
• Inch No.64 (6" × 64)
• Inch No.66 (6½" × 66)

La Historia -- Tribute to Family History

Classic specifications:

• La Historia E-III (5⅛" × 50)
• La Historia Doña Elena (5⅝" × 54)
• La Historia Mi Amor (6" × 50)

Pledge -- Commitment to the Cigar Industry

Classic specifications:

• Pledge Apogee (5½" × 56)
• Pledge Prequel (5" × 50)
• Pledge Sojourn (6¼" × 60)

New Wave Connecticut -- Entry-Level Elegance

Classic specifications:

• New Wave Connecticut Robusto
• New Wave Connecticut Toro

EP Carrillo Allegiance -- Limited Collection

EP Carrillo's limited flagship -- a rare collectible pursued by collectors.

---

Collection and Aging Suggestions

Entry Level (NT$5,000-15,000)

• New Wave Connecticut Robusto × 5
• Inch No.62 × 5

Advanced (NT$30,000-80,000)

• Encore Robusto × 5
• La Historia E-III × 3
• Pledge Apogee × 3

Collector (NT$200,000+)

• Encore Majestic × 5 (2018 Cigar of the Year #1)
• Allegiance limited collection
• Complete La Historia vitola combination

Aging Suggestions

• Encore: Recommended aging of 2-3 years -- allowing the depth of a 2018 Cigar of the Year-level blend to unfold
• Pledge: Recommended aging of 2-3 years -- allowing the Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro to ferment in depth
• Inch: Can be smoked immediately -- the short and thick specification is best experienced fresh

---

The Cigar Prince's "EP Carrillo Advanced Appreciation Path"

Stage 1: Understanding (Sticks 1-3)

Start with New Wave Connecticut Robusto -- experience EP Carrillo's medium, elegant entry point.

Stage 2: Cigar of the Year (Sticks 4-6)

Move into Encore Majestic -- experience a 2018 Cigar of the Year #1-level work.

Stage 3: Family Narrative (Sticks 7-9)

Smoke La Historia E-III + Pledge Apogee -- experience the brand's philosophy of "family heritage + commitment."

Stage 4: Limited Collection (Sticks 9+)

Smoke Allegiance + Inch No.66 -- enter the complete EP Carrillo spectrum.

Welcome to W Cigar Bar in Da'an District to experience the complete spectrum of the "independent declaration by a master cigar maker" together with the Cigar Prince.

W Cigar Bar is an authorized dealer of Pacific Cigar Company PCC (PCC is the official regular import channel in Taiwan for Habanos S.A. of Cuba) -- and also provides the complete EP Carrillo spectrum experience in Taipei.

---

The Historical Context of EP Carrillo and the American La Gloria Cubana

The legend of the American La Gloria Cubana:

1968-1990 Miami Handcrafted Period

Ernesto Sr. hand-rolled La Gloria Cubana in Little Havana, Miami -- a representative "Cuban Refugee Cigar."

1990-1999 Son Takes Over

Ernesto Jr. officially took over in the 1990s -- turning the American La Gloria Cubana into a "precursor to the Boutique cigar revolution".

1999-2009 General Cigar System

After General Cigar acquired it in 1999, Ernesto Jr. stayed on for 10 years -- one of the longest records in the cigar industry of a "founder remaining within the acquiring company's system".

From 2009 EP Carrillo

After leaving General Cigar, he founded EP Carrillo -- 9 years later (2018), it received Cigar of the Year #1.

This "5-stage, 50-year cigar life" has made Ernesto Jr. one of the contemporary cigar makers with the greatest historical depth in the cigar industry.

---

Welcome to W Cigar Bar in Da'an District, where Cigar Prince Wilson Tsai will personally accompany you in experiencing the complete spectrum of EP Carrillo's "independent declaration by a master cigar maker."