EP Carrillo Short Run 2012

Finding time between the hustle and bustle of my work-life, I was able to find a few moments during a gorgeous Sunday afternoon to sit down and enjoy EP Carrillo’s newest offering, the NWC Short Run 2012.

The Good Stuff: In some articles I’ve read they call this the NWC Short Run 2012, in others simple the Short Run 2012, either way you look at it, it’s the same cigar, with the same basic name. The name “Short Run” obviously implies that this cigar will only be available as a limited release. EP Carrillo has released a “Short Run” cigar each year since his separation from La Gloria Cubana, despite theory going around that there would not be one released this year. The Short Run 2012 is actually a Frankenstein blend composed of characteristics of two other EP Carrillo blends. The Short Run 2012 starts out with the same, Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper that he used in the New Wave Connecticut while the Connecticut Broadleaf binder and Nicaraguan/Dominican fillers are the same ones that he used in the Core Line Maduro. The Short Run 2012 will come in 3 different sizes: Exquisitos (4 7/8 x 50,) Invictos (5 7/8 x 52), and the Reinados (6 1/4 x 60). The cigars will ranger from $6.30 – $8.60 and there will only be 1000 boxes of 24 of each vitola released later on this month. These samples were graciously sent over to us by the EPC team.

Size:  4 7/8 x 50  –  Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut  –  Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf  –  Filler: Nicaraguan/Dominican

Prelight: Where to start with this EP Carrillo NWC Short Run 2012. The Wrapper, as is the standard New Wave Connecticut, is a very rustic, mean looking Connecticut. Instead of the standard smooth, and consistent light brown, the Short Run carries a very inconsistent, spotty, medium brown with lighter spots. The wrapper is very smooth and oily, sporting only a single, smaller vein towards the cigar’s round, triple cap. The Short Run in general is very soft and a bit spongy around the foot. The Short Run 2012 also carries the same white, yellow, red and gold band as the New Wave Connecticut only with the addition of a slim secondary white and gold band with the words “Short Run” and “2012” embossed on it. I have to say, I absolutely love EP Carrillo’s bands. They are smooth, simple, and elegant.

Moving on to the Aroma the wrapper of the Short Run is very timid, only showing my a very light tobacco and cedar aroma while the foot of the cigar boasts of strong spice, and lots of earthy tones. The cap cut easy, and not so clean using my double bladed Palio cutter. I think I just missed the filler mark, or my cutter is getting dull cause there was all sorts of mess under that cap. Either way, more than likely my fault and not anything that will hinder the experience at all. The cold draw lets loose this crazy deep, woodsy, sweetness. Something I wasn’t expecting from a Connecticut wrapped cigar.

First Smoke: The EP Carrillo Short Run 2012 started out with just a dash of pepper which faded after the first few puffs while the smoked transcended into a much sweeter, chocolate-filled malt, cedar, and nutmeg. It’s a very interesting mash-up of flavor. The draw is spot on, pumping out huge, HUGE clouds of thick white smoke with every puff. The Short Run 2012 gives off a whole ton of thick, cedar scented stationary smoke as well. It’s seriously just fountaining off smoke as it sits in my ashtray. The burnline started out a bit crazy, but started to correct itself leaving behind only a few larger waves, and a flaky white and dark grey ash. The ash held on for an inch before falling into my ashtray.

Halfway There: Early into this second third of this EP Carrillo Short Run 2012 the flavors really started to blend together and smooth out. I didn’t think that the Broadleaf binder and filler would marry up as well as it did to the Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, but that just proves that I know nothing about tobacco. I am still getting the great sweetness, chocolate, nutmeg, and even some cashew from the inner tobacco while the wrapper is laying a nice subtle cedar and honey over the filler flavors. The retrohale is really smooth coating only with a nice, smooth cedar and spice. The burnline has since corrected itself 100% and I am feeling absolutely no nicotine from this smoke.

Finish: If I had to list a complaint about this cigar, there would be one. And it’s just my pet peeve. There was way too much glue on the bands. Sometimes this doesn’t matter, but in the case of the delicate wrapper on the Short Run 2012 the glue actually tore the hell out of the wrapper when I tried to take the band off of the cigar. Not only did the main band do it, but the small secondary band as well. This happened on two of the three samples I had. Anyways. It didn’t really hinder the experience though. Since it was merely the wrapper, the binder stayed in tact letting the smoke flow smoothly through the cigar. The flavors stayed much the same as the second third, chocolate, nut, honey, cedar, and spice. The main changeup was just how incredibly smooth this cigar finished. I was able to take this cigar down to the nub with no harshness before I even realized just how fast I was smoking it. It took me a little over an hour to take this robusto down, and I felt absolutely no nicotine at all. If anything, I had a little buzz from the beer I decided to pair it with.

Overview: Obviously, EP Carrillo produced yet another notch in his already filled book of winning. The Short Run 2012 is a great experience, and even a nice departure from the standard New Wave Connecticut producing a smoother, more full cigar. Does it lapse the New Wave Connecticut? Not in my book. I hold that cigar pretty high, and although it’s a totally different cigar, I couldn’t help but compare the two. The Short Run is sweeter, and has more body, but those are two characteristics I don’t look for in a Connecticut. This is an amazing cigar, but I truly think I liked the New Wave Connecticut a lot more. Now in comparison to other Connecticut wrapped cigars, the Short Run 2012 blows the doors off of 90% of them. If you are a Connecticut fan, you will fall in love with this cigar. Get them while you can.

Pairing: I’ve been holding onto this beer for a few months, waiting for the perfect cigar to pair it with. Luckily I found it. Pairing with EP Carrillo’s Short Run 2012 I reached deep into my beer stash and grabbed my last bottle of Samuel Adams Infinium 2011. This beer was created as an interesting experiment alongside one of my favorite German breweries, Weihenstephan, the oldest Brewery in the world. Brewed under the “Reinheitsgebot” or “German Purity Law” of 1516, Infinium is a Champagne style ale brewed using only the following ingredients: Water, Barely, Yeast and Hops. Although this law is no longer in effect, many, if not most of the German Breweries still abide by it, brining their brews to a whole new level. Infinium is a 10.3% powerhouse, that tastes nothing like it has that much alcohol. In fact, the beer is very sweet, fruity, and smooth carrying some awesome notes of orange, lemon, cinnamon, and berry. Again, any smooth or sweet beer pairs perfectly with the New Wave Connecticut blends.