Vitola: Pledge (Box-pressed Robusto)- 5” x 50 ring gauge
- $10.75
- Purchased from Small Batch Cigar
Background
The remaking of the EP Carrillo cigar lineup started several years ago, with La Historia taking a very notable and prominent position in the company’s catalog. It was followed a couple years later by Encore and the line was called the Pérez-Carrillo Series, where generations are honored. “Only these cigars are allowed to bear the name Perez-Carrillo and each vitola is an homage to someone within the family and celebrate the pride, joy, and cigars of the Perez-Carrillo history.” The Encore was named Cigar Aficionado’s Cigar of the Year for 2018, and I found that I very much agreed with their choice…for once.
We were promised the third entry in the Pérez-Carrillo Series for early in 2020, but…COVID. Need I say more? After an extra six months on the shelf, the Pledge did ship to retailers in September and I ordered a 5-pack from Small Batch Cigar in November. This is an interesting blend featuring Nicaraguan fillers, an Ecuadorian wrapper, and what I believe is Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, Jr.’s first time using Connecticut-grown Habano for the wrapper. This wrapper leaf was almost unheard of 15 years ago; then Drew Estate made the Liga Privada T-52…and more recently Nick Melillo’s Foundation Cigars used the leaf for the Tabernacle No. 142 release.
Like the others in the Perez-Carrillo Series, these come in 10-count boxes. So far, there are only two vitolas for Pledge…the Robusto (Pledge) that I’m reviewing today and a Toro (Sojourn). This review is based on the second time I’ve smoked this blend.
Prelight
The original La Historia looked interesting in the colorful red and light blue. That same design took on a very different and subdued look in the browns and coppers found on Encore. The Pledge uses the same basic design, now rendered in blues and coppers and golds…and I think this is easily the best rendition of the design. Of course, I may be a little biased since blue is my favorite color (Go Dodgers!).
The wrapper was a shade darker than milk chocolate, but not quite dark chocolate brown. It had a few prominent veins and some oils glistening in the light. It smelled of leather and earth, while the foot had a more pungent earthiness, with lingering notes of cocoa powder and coffee beans.
Once clipped with my Xikar Xi cutter, the prelight draw was very good and it tasted of espresso beans, leather, unsweetened cocoa powder, and molasses.
Flavor
The Pledge fire up quickly and easily; soon it was chugging out an amazing amount off thick, oily, full-bodied smoke. I got immediate flavors of leather, earth, and espresso bean, while there was a slight dark fruit sweetness coming in just behind, and a tinge of pepper on the finish. There was a little more pepper on the retrohale, but it fell behind more leather and earthiness. As the first third went along, I got more sweetness in the mix with a touch of the molasses I picked up in prelight.
The last third was mostly the same, with even more leathery notes if that were possible, as well as a deeper coffee flavor.
Construction
I had a great draw, very even burn line, and solid ash.
Value
Great cigar and price tag that is just “slightly” premium. Very good value.
Conclusions
I enjoyed the Pledge from end-to-end, finding the full-bodied smoke to be very complex and never overwhelming. I thought it was a very nice follow-up to the Encore, although I still like that one better overall, and I’m sure I’ll find myself coming back to this one over and over again for some time.
Shortly before this review posted, but a full month after I wrote it, Cigar Aficionado magazine named this their 2020 Cigar of the Year. While I would not have named this COTY (if I had named one in 2020), I can certainly see it making a Top 25 list.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
