Oct 8, 2026
Pledge Purple
Nearly decade-aged Connecticut tobacco takes center stage as Casa Carrillo expands its limited-production Pledge Purple collection.
October 8, 2026 | ChiTown Cigar Podcast | Cigar Industry News
Casa Carrillo is adding another chapter to its celebrated Pledge story with the introduction of the Pledge Purple Robusto, a new size that brings one of the company's most interesting tobacco projects into a shorter format.
The new 5 1/4 x 52 box-pressed Robusto joins the 6 x 54 Toro introduced earlier this year, giving enthusiasts a second opportunity to experience a blend built around an exceptionally aged Connecticut-grown wrapper.
Expected to begin shipping to select retailers during the week of October 12, the Pledge Purple Robusto will carry a suggested retail price of $16.50 per cigar, packaged in boxes of 10.
A Wrapper Nearly a Decade in the Making
What makes Pledge Purple particularly noteworthy isn't simply the addition of another vitola. It's the tobacco behind the blend.
The cigar features a Havana-seed Connecticut wrapper grown by Dunn & Foster in the Connecticut River Valley. The tobacco comes from the same crop used for the original Pledge Prequel, a cigar that earned Cigar Aficionado's prestigious 2020 Cigar of the Year recognition with an impressive 98-point rating.
Following that success, Casa Carrillo reserved a portion of the wrapper tobacco for additional aging.
While the original Pledge Prequel utilized tobacco aged for more than three years, the wrapper selected for Pledge Purple has now undergone nearly a decade of aging.
That extended aging period is central to the identity of Pledge Purple, offering the potential for a more refined expression of a tobacco already associated with one of the company's greatest achievements.
Honoring an Award-Winning Legacy
The original Pledge was introduced in 2020 as part of Ernesto Perez-Carrillo's portfolio of premium cigars, joining celebrated releases such as Encore and La Historia.
The Pledge Prequel quickly established itself as a standout, eventually capturing the top position on Cigar Aficionado's annual Top 25 list.
In March 2026, Casa Carrillo revisited that legacy with the introduction of Pledge Purple, a commemorative release recognizing the fifth anniversary of the Pledge Prequel's achievement.
Rather than simply reproducing the original Pledge blend, the company created a different combination of tobaccos around the exceptionally aged Connecticut wrapper.
Pledge Purple incorporates a Mexican binder and Nicaraguan fillers sourced from three distinct growing regions: Estelí, Condega and Ometepe.
The result is a cigar that connects directly to the Pledge heritage while establishing its own identity.
Same Blend, Different Experience
With the introduction of the Robusto, Casa Carrillo has chosen to preserve the existing Pledge Purple blend rather than reformulate it for the new release.
While the tobacco components remain unchanged, the smaller dimensions may provide a different smoking experience.
Changes in cigar length and ring gauge can influence combustion, the balance between wrapper and filler, and how flavors develop throughout a smoking session.
For enthusiasts who enjoy comparing multiple vitolas of the same blend, the Robusto creates an interesting opportunity to explore those differences.
The new release also provides a slightly lower price of entry into the Pledge Purple collection, coming in $1.50 below the original Toro's $18 suggested retail price.
Pledge Purple Robusto Specifications
Manufacturer: Casa Carrillo
Cigar: Pledge Purple Robusto
Size: 5 1/4 x 52
Shape: Box-Pressed Robusto
Wrapper: Havana-seed Connecticut, USA
Wrapper Grower: Dunn & Foster
Binder: Mexico
Filler: Nicaragua (Estelí, Condega and Ometepe)
Country of Manufacture: Dominican Republic
Factory: Casa Carrillo
Packaging: 10-count boxes
MSRP: $16.50 per cigar / $165 per box
Production: Limited
Expected Shipping: Week of October 12, 2026
Limited Production Will Continue
Casa Carrillo plans to maintain limited production of both the Robusto and Toro formats, with additional quantities released periodically throughout the year.
The new Robusto is expected to reach select premium cigar retailers beginning in mid-October.
For collectors and enthusiasts of the original Pledge, the Purple series represents an intriguing continuation of a cigar that helped solidify Ernesto Perez-Carrillo's reputation for creating award-winning blends.
The combination of a historic wrapper crop, extended tobacco aging and a new vitola makes the Pledge Purple Robusto a release worth watching.
And for cigar smokers who have already experienced the Toro, the question becomes an interesting one: Can the same tobacco deliver an even better experience in a smaller format?
That's a comparison we'd certainly like to make.
ChiTown Cigar Podcast will continue following the Pledge Purple release as the new Robusto makes its way to retailers.
About ChiTown Cigar Podcast
ChiTown Cigar Podcast is a live, interactive cigar show bringing enthusiasts closer to the people, brands and stories shaping the premium cigar industry. Through interviews, industry news, cigar reviews and lively discussions, the show creates a virtual cigar lounge where everyone has a seat.
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