The new VCF-EPC partnership will be announced officially on 23 June.

Belgium-based Vandermarliere Cigar Family (VCF) is poised to become the official distributor for Ernesto Perez-Carrillo (EPC) cigar products on the Italian market.

The new partnership will be announced officially in Florence on 23 June, at a meeting attended by VCF CEO Fred Vandermarliere and EPC Founder, President and Master Blender Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. The collaboration marks the opening of a significant new market for EPC cigars.

From this summer, Italian consumers will be able to enjoy cigars from the EPC portfolio, including the Encore Celestial and Majestic; the Pledge Sojourn and Pledge Prequel (voted cigar of the year by Cigar Aficionado in 2020); and the Triumph three-cigar sampler.

A successful alliance

VCF and EPC – both family companies – have collaborated previously, most recently in bringing back the Aliados brand to the Oliva family of cigars, following VCF’s acquisition of the brand name in 2021.

The new distribution deal means the EPC cigar portfolio will soon be available in Italy.

Perez-Carrillo created a limited-edition release to accompany the full-time offering made by tobacco grower Julio Eiroa.

READ MORE: Oliva brings back Aliados Cigars with two new tribute releases