SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 - PHIL KURUT, COMEDY - CIGARS - MUSIC
E.P. CARRILLO PLEDGE PREQUEL (5 x 50)
WRAPPER: USA CONNECTICUT HABANO ('Merica!)
BINDER: ECUADOR
FILLER: NICARAGUA
Fully dressed, the Pledge possesses a timeless look, adorned with a gold foot ribbon and bands with eye-catching blues and gold. Construction appears to be excellent.
My nose detects raisin, barnyard, and hay off the foot and wrapper with hay being the quietest of the three.
When I remove the gold ribbon, a small crack in the wrapper stares me in the eyes. “You’ve got to ask yourself one question. Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya’, punk?” Impressive. I’ve never had a wrapper talk to me.
Once lit, oak, earth, and a little bit of spice get things moving along. The retrohale shoots straight with earth, and dark earth leans towards coffee without fully committing to it on the finish.
The aromas off the foot smoke are dominated by wood with a pinch of salt and the slightest hint of dark chocolate buried deep down. Not a bad air freshener.
The draw and smoke output are performing like the teacher’s pets. In a good way. Actually, was there ever a teacher’s pet anyone liked?
As I get further into the first third, earth leads with an underlying sweetness, equal parts vanilla and milk chocolate. Both subtle.
The retrohale’s earth is joined by a dirty oak. Not to be confused with “Dirty Pop”. Try not to think of that song now. Dang it. Now, it’s stuck in my head. Boy bands. The soiled underwear of the music world.
Cherry and coffee move the earth to the background as the second third moseys through, and oak along with an understated bed of eastern spices join.
Earth continues to smoothly persist through the retrohale, and coffee replaces the dirty oak. Thank God. I can finally get that song out of my head. Probably not. Soiled underwear, I tell you.
The finish presents a nice separation of coffee and eastern spices. Tasty.
The smoke has started getting creamy.
For those curious minds, the split in the wrapper gave me no issues, but another one has popped up in the area of the final third. Sure, I feel lucky.
Cherry and coffee continue to lead the charge here in the final third. Earth and prune pick up any remaining slack. Prune fans, give it up for regularity.
Earth decides it’s better off alone here in the retrohale, and the finish leaves me with coffee. Beef jerky and leather step in every so often. Still undecided whether I like beef jerky or not while enjoying a cigar. I don’t get it a lot, but I always find myself asking...myself, “Do I like beef jerky that much?” Maybe. Maybe not.
Burned right through the split once again.
The Pledge did good. Excellent draw and smoke output and not a single burn touch-up. I can see why some people would dig it.
On a side note, check out the video review if you want to see some high level slow motion smoking action. Epic. Overused word.
SMOKE TIME: 1 hr. 57 mins.
RATING: 2.8 / 4 - It’s good enough. It’s smart enough. And doggone it, some people like it.