For its new Escapade line, E.P. Carrillo is enlisting consumers to help Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. develop the cigar’s blend. To do this, the company will be hosting a series of three Zoom sessions where small groups of consumers will have the opportunity to share their preferences and ideas for the new blend directly with Carrillo.

The first of these sessions is scheduled for June 12, while two more sessions are in the works, and each one is limited to 10 participants. Once those sessions are over, the company will create a three-pack featuring blends inspired by the consumers who participate in the sessions, with a round of voting similar to that of the Platinum Bash release. Escapade will eventually be launched with the winning blend, and while the company said it expects that the line will be a limited edition, that detail is still under consideration.

The company has said that while Escapade is designed with new smokers in mind, it will also be a cigar that will be enjoyable by all and will embody the company’s philosophy of being “blended to share.”

“It is important to me that I listen to what our consumers are seeking,” said Ernesto Perez-Carrilo Jr. “It gives me such satisfaction to create a blend for others to enjoy around the world. When our consumers expressed they wanted something lighter, we had one thing to do…listen.”

Consumers wishing to participate in one of the upcoming sessions are invited to email an RSVP to [email protected] with ‘Escapade’ in the subject line, and then sharing three things they would like to see in a new cigar in the body of the e-mail.

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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 Major League Baseball, 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.