E.P. Carrillo Short Run 2023 Toro

E.P. Carrillo

• Country of Origin: Honduras
• Factory: Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co.
• Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua
• Length: 6 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 52
• Vitola: Toro
• MSRP: $11.75 (Box of 24, $282)
• Release Date: August 2023
• Number of Cigars Released: 1,250 Boxes of 24 Cigars (30,000 Total Cigars)
• Original Score: 91

It’s an E.P. Carrillo cigar but not a cigar made by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr.

Every so often, I hear stories that Perez-Carrillo Jr. is in Nicaragua looking at tobacco. Turns out, he’s also interested in Honduran tobacco. As this story goes, Perez-Carrillo Jr. was looking for some tobacco from Copán, Honduras and heard that Oscar Valladares might have some. The two met, talked and ended up making this blend, which was made by Valldares and sold as the E.P. Carrillo Short Run 2023.

To me, this blend doesn’t taste much like an E.P. Carrillo, which makes sense given that almost every E.P. Carrillo release has been made at Perez-Carrillo Jr.’s Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. While the profile didn’t scream “made by Oscar,” it’s closer to what I’d expect from Valldares’ Honduras factory than Perez-Carrillo Jr.’s Dominican factory. I found this to be a medium-plus to medium-full cigar in strength and body, but with full flavor. Complexity, the sheer number of flavors, was the standout feature, so much so that it was difficult to keep track of them in the review I published.

“A very engaging pepper in the first half, with a sensation that sends electricity through my upper half in the best way possible,” is how Patrick Lagreid described it. “Tingling, vibrant, engaging, but not overwhelming.”

Given how well the Short Run 2023 performed, I certainly would be interested in a second collaborative project between Ernesto and Oscar. — Charlie Minato.