Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran
Vitola: Toro (6 x 52)
Strength:
Purchase Link: EPC Short Run 2023
EPC SHORT RUN 2023 REVIEW – DOM
Summary: Milk chocolate and pepper are the tried-and-true flavors in the first inch while the smoke consistency feels bready. The emergence of slightly bitter black tea has me wishing I had some honey. With the sweetness lacking, macadamia nuts are missing their cookie counterpart as the milk chocolate fades away.
At the halfway point, tea and umami call for palate wetting with water. This is a cigar that would be benefitted by a drink companion.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Dehydrating produce for garnishes
Pairing Suggestion: Honey whiskey
Perceived Strength: Medium-
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Single
EPC SHORT RUN 2023 REVIEW – RICH
Summary: This cigar brings a whole lot of earth, coffee, cocoa nibs, cinnamon, umami, and oak. There’s some bitterness to it, but in this cigar it works perfectly.
Construction was on point with no issues to speak of. An excellent smoking experience.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Dark coffee
Pairing Suggestion: Bourbon
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box
EPC SHORT RUN 2023 REVIEW – BEN
Summary: Opened up with a fun cayenne pepper flake spice that pranced on the tongue. Tastes like well-seasoned smoked meat with an earthy back. Second third offered me less spice and more 'peppercorn and a black coffee in taste and bitterness. There was a sweet, unidentified undertone. Looks are deceiving because it looks stronger than it smoked.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: A steak dinner with mash and asparagus on the side
Pairing Suggestion: Pinot
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack
EPC SHORT RUN 2023 REVIEW – TED
Summary: The opening portion of this cigar featured oak, mild and slightly sweet caramel notes, a mild mixture of baking spices and barely discernible floral notes. Good construction and smoke production out of the gate.
Further in, the profile became a slightly muted and sweet mixture of wood notes, baking spices, leather, and black pepper. Smoke production remained good but a small a tunnel in the center of the stick was likely responsible for the profile weakness.
The cigar finished with a still muted mix of the same notes from the middle. The tunnel self-corrected, the smoke was heavy, and construction got back on track. It’s too bad the profile at the start didn’t carry through to the end.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Sticking with appetizers and bypassing the main course
Pairing Suggestion: Chai tea with a splash of spiced rum
Perceived Strength: Medium
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack
Participants in this blind review were completely unaware of the cigar they were evaluating until all submissions were received and processed. Each participant was asked to answer a summary paragraph, an if/than statement, a pairing suggestion, and a purchase suggestion. Cigars were provided by Small Batch with only the expectations of candid responses. All pictures, information, and formatting were completed by a Coordinator outside of the reviewing process.
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