The History of Ernesto Perez-Carrillo and his Award-Winning Blends

If you’ve smoked cigars for any length of time, odds are you know the name Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, even if you have no idea who the man actually is. That’s because Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Cigars (EPC Cigars) are some of the most highly acclaimed and beloved products on the market. Indeed, EPC Cigars have become synonymous with exceptional quality over the years. Today, we’ll explore Perez-Carrillo’s backstory and highlight some of the best cigars he’s ever made. 

Who is Ernesto Perez-Carrillo?

Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. was born in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, in 1951. His father, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Sr., was a Cuban Senator who left with his family following the Revolution in the late 1950s. Like so many other refugees, the Perez-Carrillos landed in Miami and, shortly after that, the cigar business. 

Perez-Carrillo Sr. had only a tangential connection to the cigar industry during his time in Cuba. Still, he named his new shop “El Credito” after a factory he’d purchased prior to the revolution. They opened for business on Calle Ocho in Miami’s Little Havana, and for decades, the shop struggled. Young Perez-Carrillo seemed to have little appetite for the cigar industry and instead dreamed of one day becoming a jazz drummer.

That changed in the late 1970s when his father became ill. Perez-Carrillo Sr. died in 1980, leaving Perez-Carrillo Jr. with El Credito.

Ernesto Perez-Carrillo and La Gloria Cubana

One of the brands El Credito produced during this period was La Gloria Cubana, which was practically unknown in cigar circles at the time. However, as the years went by, Perez-Carrillo. began to make changes to his father’s operation. 

He updated the bands on La Gloria Cubana, and he altered the blend to the flagship smoke. The new cigar boasted an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, a Nicaraguan binder, and Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers. (If that blend sounds familiar, that’s because La Gloria Cubana Classic still uses it.)

Then, in 1992, Perez-Carrillo got his big break. The new La Gloria Cubana blend received a 90 rating from a then-fledging publication called Cigar Aficionado, and demand for La Gloria Cubana skyrocketed. Eventually, Perez-Carrillo opened up a second El Credito Factory in the Dominican Republic, and La Gloria Cubana became one of the most respected brands in the industry — the original “boutique” cigar of the 1990s cigar boom. 

Ernesto Perez-Carrillo and General Cigar

In 1999, Perez-Carrillo sold La Gloria Cubana to General Cigar Co. In exchange, Perez-Carrillo became a salaried General employee and brand ambassador. For 10 years, Perez-Carrillo worked at General Cigar. During this time, he developed a 60-ring gauge version of La Gloria Cubana Serie R. The cigar became a smash hit in the early 2000s and kicked off a trend of thick ring gauge cigars that persists to this day. In 2009, Perez-Carrillo left General Cigar to create his own line of cigars.

Ernest Perez-Carrillo Cigars

At the behest of his children, Ernesto III and daughter Lisette (who both now play active roles in the company), Perez-Carrillo started a new line of cigars called E.P. Carrillo (EPC Cigars). In the fifteen years since its launch, EPC has proved a massive success. Twice, Cigar Aficionado has named an EPC Cigar its Cigar of the Year, and dozens of other frontmarks have achieved 90+ ratings from various publications. The new family factory, Casa Carrillo, is in the Dominican Republic. 

What are the Best Ernesto-Perez Carrillo Cigars?

La Gloria Cubana Classic

The modern equivalent of the iconic La Gloria Cubana Wavell, the cigar that kickstarted Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s cigar career. 

La Gloria Cubana Serie R

One of the first mainstream cigars to feature a large, 60 ring gauge. Rated 92 and packed with notes of chocolate, coffee, and spice. 

E.P. Carrillo La Historia

Full-flavored and nearly full-bodied, this bold and toothy cigar features a Mexican wrapper that spearheads an earthy, smooth, and subtly sweet blend of premium tobaccos. 

E.P. Carrillo Encore 

How could you possibly top E.P. Carrillo La Historia? With an encore performance. E.P. Carrillo Encore delivers a stunning smoking experience, and this Nicaraguan Puro was the first EPC Cigar to achieve Cigar of the Year status from Cigar Aficionado.

E.P. Carrillo Pledge 

Rated an eye-popping 98(!) by Cigar Aficionado E.P. Carrillo, Pledge offers a simply sublime smoking experience. Pick one up at your local cigar shop — you won’t regret it.

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