OUR FOUNDERS
Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, the legendary architect behind the famous blockbuster brand La Gloria Cubana, is once again captivating the cigar world under his own name, E.P. Carrillo. As a young adult, Ernesto’s passion was for jazz, not cigars. He always dreamed of becoming a successful jazz drummer and, at the age of 25, he moved to New York City to pursue a career as a musician. After exhausting his efforts to catch on with the famed Stan Getz and his band, he finally returned to Miami, and began his journey to becoming a legendary master blender. In 1976, Ernesto discovered his true calling in life and spent the next four years shadowing his father and learning how a master created a cigar.
In his path to becoming an established name in the cigar industry, Ernesto took over the reins of El Credito, his father’s cigar company, and set out to create a cigar that would ignite the senses and create a full-sensory experience for cigar lovers. When he finally put the perfect blend together, under his sole craftsmanship, La Gloria Cubana was re-created.
The La Gloria Cubana instantly became a hit in the cigar craze of the early 90’s and, in 1999, Swedish Match purchased El Credito from the Perez-Carrillo family.
After working for Swedish Match/General Cigar until March 2009, Ernesto’s children proposed for him to return to the tobacco fields and craft the next great cigar. With the start of E.P. Carrillo, Ernesto had once again dedicated himself to perfecting a family-run, boutique cigar brand alongside his daughter, Lissette Perez-Carrillo, and son, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo III.
After dedicating over 50 years to his craft, Ernesto continues to develop top-rated, masterful blends under the E.P. Carrillo name at the family’s factory, La Tabacalera Alianza, in the Dominican Republic. Ernesto has been awarded two #1 Cigar of the Year awards from Cigar Aficionado (2020 Pledge Prequel rated 98 and 2018 Encore Majestic rated 96) and one #2 (2014 La Historia E-III rated 95). The Pledge Prequel continues to receive high accolades becoming the highest ever rated Cigar of the Year and becoming #1 Cigar of the Year by Cigar Dojo. Ernesto is also a member of Cigar Aficionado’s Hall of Fame Class of 2012.
As part of the Perez-Carrillo heritage, Lissette Perez has been immersed in cigar culture since childhood and has developed passion for the industry. Through intently observing her father “work his magic” at his old factory, El Credito, Perez-Carrillo was able to gather knowledge while witnessing the industry’s evolution. Her well-rounded entrepreneurial abilities with a keen vision on the brand’s development and progression, are taking the company to a new level of success. Perez-Carrillo is a born leader, overseeing all the different aspects of the business, paying special attention to every detail and dynamic for a prosperous enterprise. Managing operations with a perfectionist approach by always pushing the limits sets her apart as an industry veteran.>/
Lissette Perez-Carrillo is a co-founder and oversees management at all levels for E.P. Carrillo. Presently, she is in charge of running U.S. operations, managing finances and legal matters as well as cigar distribution and marketing for the brand. Her masterful marketing vision is opening the company to new target markets and audiences, bringing forth a new era for the E.P. Carrillo brand. She is focused on taking the company to the next chapter, honoring the tradition and family legacy that the name E.P. Carrillo is known for. While expanding on how cigars influence social dynamics, Perez-Carrillo is exploring new ways to earn clients’ and consumers’ strong and lasting relationships with the brand. She has a diverse professional portfolio. With a Law degree from Columbia University, she worked at the prestigious law firm of Paul Weiss et al. in New York City and later at the Legal Aid Society in New York. When she moved back to Miami, she ran a real estate investment company. She also has a graduate degree in Psychology. She has been interviewed by various media from the Cigar Industry and is an active member of Cigar Association of America (CAA), Cigar Rights of America (CRA) and International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR).
Her favorite E.P. Carrillo cigar is the New Wave Reserva. Much like the cigar, Perez-Carrillo is complex and unique with a balance between intensity and grace that is just impeccable.
Ernesto Perez-Carrillo III has been learning about cigars and the industry as part of the Perez-Carrillo legacy since he was a young man. His exceptional finance and marketing management skills have helped in building the brand and product portfolio through his mindfulness of every aspect in the business and all key market segments. Known strategist, leader and visionary, Perez-Carrillo III always keeps his focus on the brand’s expansion and positioning to ensure the brand identity’s evolution and financial growth. Perez-Carrillo III has successfully developed logistics on how to approach inventory, merchandising, and vendor/client/consumer relationships – all as a result of the knowledge and skills that come naturally to him from growing up in the industry.
Perez-Carrillo III is a co-founder and a member of the Board of Directors of E.P. Carrillo, where he is currently consulting on various aspects of the company. With a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University, he has a diverse professional background. In 2010, Perez-Carrillo III was interviewed by The New York Times, as an Entrepreneurship case study for E.P. Carrillo’s Marketing Strategies, Traditional versus Social Media. Perez-Carrillo III currently runs his own hedge fund.
His favorite E.P. Carrillo cigar is the New Wave Reserva. Much like the cigar, Perez-Carrillo III brings a distinguishable intricacy with bold and robust characteristics that always leave a lasting impression.
OUR TEAM
As a devoted cigar aficionado, David Spirt is constantly studying the cigar industry with an entrepreneurial and marketing emphasis that makes him a successful groundbreaker in the trade. Known leader and relationship builder, he is responsible for growth of the E.P. Carrillo client base with incredible brand retention levels. Sprit is notorious for his emergent cigar knowledge, guiding customers through flawless cigar selections combined with strategic marketing planning solutions. His approach to business development begins with providing world-class, luxury services for exclusive clients.
Currently, Spirt serves as COO at E.P. Carrillo, where he manages the company’s largest clients while assisting Lissette Perez-Carrillo with operations, finance and overall marketing for the company. He is responsible for overseeing sales information and promotions for the sales team, and is also involved in assisting with E.P. Carrillo’s marketing. His passion for cigars and the industry have led him to participate in various respected discussion panels around the country.
Spirts’ favorite E.P. Carrillo cigar is the New Wave Reserva. Much like the cigar, Spirt has a fine elegant quality that offers a perfect platform for an excellent, subtle complexity.
Contact Information:
Phone – (305) 305-9898
Email – dspirt@epccigar.com
Contact Information:
Phone – (563) 505-6666
Email – jgripp@epccigar.com
Highly dynamic and results-driven in building new business, Scott Mackenzie has more than 15+ years of demonstrated success in delivering revenue growth. Mackenzie thrives as a creative, energetic, self-motivated professional specializing in offering clientele a deluxe service experience. He emphasizes on developing existing markets, as well as emergent new territories, while educating about the brand and product portfolio. He is characterized by forging strong and long-lasting business partnerships, ensuring loyalty to the brand.
Mackenzie currently serves as the Business Development Manager for E.P. Carrillo Cigar Co., where he focuses his efforts in assisting outside sales teams and coordinates targeted sales calls within certain regions across the U.S. He also supports direct management with Social Media Coordination and Client Direct Mailing Campaigns. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management from Florida International University, he previously worked as Sr. Account Manager for the Miami Heat, where he was a leader in sales and services for almost 10 years. He has professional experience within the Entertainment, ecommerce and Marketing Industries.
Scott Mackenzie’s favorite E.P. Carrillo cigar is the New Wave Reserva. Much like the cigar, Mackenzie brings a bold richness with a sweet finish that is sure the leave a long lasting impression.
Contact Information:
Phone – (305) 460-2664 ext. 1
Email – smackenzie@epccigar.com
OUR REPRESENTATIVES
Wayne, a NAVY veteran, spent 30+ years in the hospitality/customer service industry. He specializes in marketing, brand development, and education to create new revenue streams. Wayne prides himself on building long lasting relationships with both clients and customers.
Wayne’s favorite E.P. Carrillo cigar is the Inch with La Historia being a very close second! Like the cigars, Wayne’s personality can be robust in approach, while using a mild delivery to develop long lasting customer relationships.
Contact Information:
Wayne Stoner
Cell – (248) 420-8795
Email – wstoner@epccigar.com
Chris began his career in the premium cigar industry in 2003, where he worked in and managed several retail tobacconist shops in the greater Knoxville, TN area. Chris tells that some of his greatest moments with cigars are either enjoying with friends and/or family on his deck or during a round of golf. A devoted family man and lover of Disney World, Chris is looking forward to connecting with each of you.
Contact Information:
Phone – (865) 257-6177
Email – cwhaley@epccigar.com
Joe Mosko is the Territory Manager for the Mid Atlantic (MD, VA, DC, DE, NJ and eastern PA). Joe has been an avid cigar smoker for many years. His commitment to the cigar industry has been evident in the past, working for other cigar manufacturers. Joe’s love for cigars has allowed him to continue in the industry as part of the E. P. Carrillo family by assisting us in continuing to grow and hit new heights.
Contact Information:
Phone – (267) 218-1532
Email – jmosko@epccigar.com
Independent cigar broker representing E.P. Carrillo Cigars in the states of Florida, Mississippi & Louisiana.
Contact Information:
Phone – (561) 400-1879
Email – jgcigars@gmail.com
Independent cigar broker representing E.P. Carrillo Cigars in the states of California, Washington, Oregon.
Contact Information:
Phone – (323) 646-0941
Email – terry@tmcsales.net
Independent cigar broker representing E.P. Carrillo Cigars in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado and Nebraska.
Contact Information:
Phone – (602) 722-9546
Email – cigarmechanicllc@gmail.com
Independent cigar broker representing E.P. Carrillo Cigars in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Western PA, North and South Dakota
Contact Information:
Phone – (313) 388-4600
Email – orders@impactforce.net
Independent cigar broker representing E.P. Carrillo Cigars in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and Upstate NY
Contact Information:
Phone – (617) 543-0861
Email – edaker@daker.net
