E.P. Carrillo Cigars Launching Allegiance
The newest smoke from Ernesto Perez-Carrillo will be quite different from all the others he’s made, as it’s a cigar brand meant to be rolled by other cigar factories, not his own.
E.P. Carrillo Allegiance is a cigar bearing the Carrillo name that’s being produced in Nicaragua by Oliva Cigar Co. Future versions of the cigar will be made by other cigar factories.
“This is an ode to the deep roots we have in the industry, the friendships and the bonds we’ve made over the years, and how this extends to the E.P. Carrillo lines,” says Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, a two-time winner of Cigar Aficionado’s Cigar of the Year award, as well as a member of the magazine’s Hall of Fame. “Oliva Cigars consistently grows excellent tobacco,” he adds, “and our friendship with their team made it an easy choice to partner with them for Allegiance.”
This version of Allegiance is all Nicaraguan, save for the Sumatra-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador. The blend is intended to be medium-to-full in body. It comes four sizes: Robusto, Toro, Double Corona and No. 58, with suggested retail prices ranging from $12 to $14. It will be shown in Las Vegas this weekend at the PCA trade show.
This is expected to be the first of several projects with other cigar companies. “We aspire to create new series of Allegiance throughout the years. Meaning it is a true ode to the industry,” says Lissette Perez-Carrillo. “The first Allegiance is with Oliva. We hope to make cigars with other factories, in other blends, as well in the future as part of a series. We are still in developmental phases of the bigger concept.”
Allegiance will be somewhat limited. “There will be 5,000 boxes made for the United States, and 2,500 boxes shipped internationally this year, and we will continue ordering as needed,” says Lissette Perez-Carrillo.
This first edition of Allegiance will come in green boxes of 20, marking a switch for the entire Perez-Carrillo line as it moves from the 10-count format of many of its brands. For now, the cigars are wearing generic white bands—E.P. Carrillo awaits the printing of the final bands.
The Perez-Carrillos have been branching out of late. Earlier this year, the company created The Inch Nicaragua, which is being made by the Plasencias. And it recently signed on to roll a limited edition of the relaunched Cuba Aliados brand in the Dominican Republic for Oliva.
