By going the extra mile, and then some, as Carrillo did.
Frankly, this would have been a 'must buy' even if it didn't win Cigar of the Year - but the award proves it. EPC does is again! Nicaraguan fillers are paired with a binder from Ecuador, then rolled in a hand-picked Connecticut-seed Habano - we tasted a savory sweetness from thick, creamy smoke, along with pepper and spice on the finish. It wasn’t enough to toil on just one blend for Pledge - he actually started with six high quality blends, but still culling the group stick by stick until his personal best-of-the-best remained.