Last year, E.P. Carrillo asked consumers to help it select a new blend by way of a promotion called Platinum Bash, and at last week’s Total Product Expo (TPE) trade show, the company began showing off the winning cigar to attendees at least by way of a sales sheet as the actual cigars were not at the show.

The winning blend, which wore a platinum-colored band in the packs, features a Mexican wrapper, Ecuadorian binder and a mix of Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. It is being offered in a 6 x 52 toro vitola that is priced at $15, with 500 boxes of 10 cigars produced.

The blend was one of three cigars included in a three-count pack, with a QR code directing consumers to vote for their favorite. The promotion was launched as part of the celebration of Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr.’s 70th birthday in November 2021, though the cigars were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The E.P. Carrillo Platinum Bash is scheduled to ship to retailers in April.

Update (March 1, 2023) — E.P. Carrillo released an image of the cigar and its final packaging, which has been added to the story.

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.