Cigar Review: EP Carrillo Short Run 2015 Napoleon
Fans of limited edition and hard to find stogies are acutely aware of the name Ernesto Perez Carrillo. Hell, you could say that for these die hard hunters of rare smokes, the man truly needs no introduction. Aside from his established core lines like INCH and Cardinal, his quintessentially boutique brand has released a series of limited edition cigars justly named Short Run. Like the name implies, the Short Run is released once a year in limited quantities and is a must have of fans of the accomplished and renowned Ernesto Perez Carrillo. Limited to 1,500 cigars per each of its three sizes, the Short Run 2015 is a blend consisting of binder and filler tobaccos from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Finishing this cigar is a Criollo Jalapa 98 wrapper, a wrapper that Master Blender E.P. Carrillo has wanted to use for some time. Needless to say, as a fan of his many releases like the New Wave Connecticut and La Historia I was more than eager to try the latest Short Run.
Pre-Light: Adorned with a variation of the standard EPC band, the Short Run 2015 Napoleon’s Criollo 98 wrapper is flawless in its deep brown shade. The cigar feels uniform from foot to cap indicative of the time that has been spent crafting the cigar. The cold draw from the Short Run 2015 reveals an effortless draw and notes of earth with a slight tinge of sweet pepper spice before finishing with a doughy note.
1/3: The literal first mouthful of smoke from the Short Run 2015 Napoleon is loaded with spice and pepper. The combination is reminiscent of black pepper with a dash of cumin. This flavor is short lived and settles quickly as the cigar progresses into the meat of the first third. Midway into the first third, the profile has settled into very sumptuous notes of earth with a dash of cedar and a lingering tinge of semi sweet spice. The retrohale is surprisingly clean with a dominate note of hay throughout. The burn is even allowing me to sit back and examine the notes of the cigar.
2/3: The Short Run 2015 Napoleon progresses into the second third with the introduction of a leather note while the earth notes begin to settle into the background. The second third also sees the introduction of a subtle peat note which is reminiscent of Drew Estate’s Kentucky Fire Cured. The note is light and nowhere near as pronounced as the Drew Estate’s Kentucky Fire Cured.
3/3: The end of the Short Run 2015 follows the profile of the second third with little variation. The only additional note found in the cigar’s final moments is a bitter sweet coffee bean note, which harmonizes perfectly with the cigars previous notes. My expectations were pretty high before smoking the Short Run 2015, and the cigar didn’t not disappoint. The combination of Nicaraguan and Dominican binder and filler tobaccos in conjunction with Criollo 98 wrapper make the Short Run 2015 an excellent medium to full bodied cigar bursting at the seams with dynamic and rich flavors that will only get better with time. The cigar is a must try for any aficionado who savors complex medium to full bodied cigars. Look for the EP Carrillo Short Run 2015 is available in three sizes at all five of our Hampton Roads locations as well as online at emersonscigars.com. Since the cigar is limited, be sure to snag a couple of these remarkable smokes while you have the chance.
