Yesterday I had a chance to sit down with David Spirt and Taylor Hall from E.P. Carrillo who stopped by Two Guys Smoke Shop while in New Hampshire. During the course of the visit, I was gifted a pre-release of the Short Run 2016 which is scheduled to ship to retailers in early May.
There are a few things new about this year’s release and the most noticeable is the band which is the first of a few redesigns slated for the company. The blend is also distinct instead of an offshoot of an existing line, as in the past. It also features tobacco from the Somoto region of Nicaragua. This marks the first time E.P. Carrillo has used it in a blend. Limited to 2,500 boxes of 10, the cigar is available as one size, a 6 x 52 Toro.
Cigar Review: Short Run 2016
Factory: Tabacalera La Alianza
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua (Criollo ’98 From Somoto)
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Vitola: Toro
Strength: Medium-Full
The Look: While I haven’t seen the boxes yet, I can only imagine how amazingly the cigars will pop when they are officially released in May, 2016. The gold foil on the band has a powder like appearance to it with some nice details in the embossing. The center features EP on a red background with Carrillo and Short Run beneath it and 2016 above it. As for the cigar itself the mahogany color wrapper is nearly flawless and a nice amount of oils. It is s seamlessly rolled with no soft spots and a nice weight to it.
The Notes: Taking in the aroma off the foot of the E.P. Carrillo Short Run 2016 there is a trifecta of notes that consist of cedar, nougat and toffee. The subtle sweetness teases the nose and in turn the cold draw reminds me a bit of smores with hints of cedar.
One the cigar is lit with my go to lighter, the Vertigo Glock the cigar offers up a nice amount of spice through the nose and on the palate. As the spice subsides there is a distinct taste to the cigar that I can only assume comes from the use of tobacco from Somoto. There is a sweetness present that borders on a mix of vanilla and caramel with traditional flavors of nuts and coffee.
Moving into the center portion of the cigar, the pepper notes remain on the retrohale and sweetness remains on the finish. The sweetness is so enjoyable because it is different than anything I have experienced on a cigar before that I can remember. This distinct note creates an experience that creates the feeling of something new, and it is welcome because I feel as if I was in a rut.
The last third sees the notes of coffee and earth become dominant with the sweetness taking more of a backseat. The pepper remains through the nose, but the aroma of the cigar is woody and adds to the complexity of this cigar that I smoked until I nearly burned my fingers.
The Burn: As the E.P. Carrillo burns it reveals an ultra thin combustion line with a medium color ash that has no flake and holds firm. The draw of the cigar was perfect and lit with ease. During the nearly 2 hours of enjoyment the cigar never needed to be touched up or relit.
Overall: I’ve long been a fan of Ernesto Perez Carrillo and his family. The first time I met Ernesto was at the IPCPR trade show in New Orleans. Some bloggers and myself went to lunch the day before the show and Ernesto was there having lunch with his family. We gave a gentle nod as we went to our table not wanting to disturb him. There was a lot of controversy about bloggers being at the show that still exists today to a lesser degree. After we were seated the waitress comes over with 6 Abita beers for us, compliments of Ernesto. It is something I will never forget and I am happy to say that this cigar is an amazing addition to his legacy. The cigar is EPiC and I can’t wait for its official release when I plan to buy a box. The best Short Run to date, hands down.
Score: 93
Price: $12.00
E.P. Carrillo Short Run 2016
E.P. Carrillo Short Run 2016 Foot
E.P. Carrillo Short Run 2016 Burn
