Store exclusive sizes and blended have been all the rage lately. Ernesto Perez-Carrillo teamed up with the New Hampshire tobacco chain, Federal Cigars to bring you the exclusive size to the vastly popular 2010 Short Run blend (Read our review of the 2010 short run here). Blended at the Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. in the Dominican Republic, the 2010 Short Run features an Ecuadorian Sumatran wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. The No. 4 comes in boxes of 20 and will run you about $110. Very attractive pricing. For the record, the 2010 Short run came in 3 other sizes: Populares (4 7/8 x 50), Delirios (5 7/8 x 52), and the Doninantes (6 1/4 x 60). These are pretty hard to find, now the new Short Run New Wave Connecticut has been released (Read our review here). But if you are lucky you can still land a few.

Size: 5 1/8 x 42  –  Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra  –  Binder: Nicaraguan  –  Filler: Dominican/Nicaraguan

The EP Carrillo Short Run No.4 is a brilliant looking cigar. The aged, rustic looking wrapper boasts of silk and oil reflecting from it’s light brown and splotchy dark brown composition. I love this size. The wrapper feels mildly delicate, with the only soft spot being on the foot of the cigar. There are only a few, very small veins running throughout the body of the cigar, up to the nubby, round, triple cap. The EP Carrillo Short Run No.4 Federal Cigar Exclusive carries the same black band as the 2010 Short Run as well as the classic yellow, red, brown, white and black EP Carrillo Band.

The wrapper of the cigar gives off a whole ton of tobacco and cedar aroma while the foot of the cigar carries a really sweet, cedar and spice mixture. The cap cut very clean and very easy using my Palio Double Bladed cutter. The cold draw produced this crazy bready, oaty flavor with hints of tobacco and spice. It seriously tasted like tobacco flavored cereal.

First Smoke: The EP Carrillo Short Run No.4 started out with some very pleasant spice and pepper along with lots of cedar, hints of graham, citrus, and sweet, sweet tobacco. The cigar doesn’t give off too much stationary smoke, but it smells almost identical to the flavor make-up described above. Each little puff kicks out just a ton of thick, white smoke. The burnline is slightly wavy and razor sharp. The ash left behind is bright white and every flaky. It held on for about ¾ of a inch before giving way.

Halfway There: I don’t know if it’s from the wrapper and I am just now tasting it due to the smaller ring gauge, but this EP Carrillo Short Run No.4 is crazy sweet! Sweet as in, flavor, not “Dude, Sweet!”. I know I didn’t pick up this much sweetness in the other short run vitolas, although I wish I would have. It really sets the stage for the cedar and strong citrus/zest that the Short Run No.4 has to offer. There is also a bit of bittersweet chocolate sneaking in there, but it might just be the aftertaste on the beer I paired this cigar with. The burnline is still slightly wavy, but I haven’t had to touch it up at all yet. I am feeling absolutely no nicotine from this cigar yet.

Finish: All in all this EP Carrillo Short Run No.4 took only about an hour to take down. The flavors in the last third of this cigar really took off. The cigar is pumping gout massive sweet tobacco flavors, tons of cedar, still lots of orange and lemon flavors, hints of chocolate, and a really subtle pepper. The body has remained pretty solid and mild/medium throughout, prompting no real nicotine kick. The burnline has finally completely corrected itself and is burning solid with no touch ups or relights. There is absolutely no harshness, even though it’s a smaller gauge, all the way down to the tiny little nub. There was some slight heat as I neared the final inch of the cigar, but that’s to be expected. I just couldn’t put this cigar down.

Overview: Is it obvious enough that I really enjoyed this cigar? Hell, I’ve enjoyed just about every EP Carrillo has kicked out since his departure from La Gloria Cubana. The 2010 Short Run, and especially the No. 4 are up on top of that list. This is by far, the best vitola in the line, and really wish he would extend this size to all of the lines. You really start to appreciate the complex flavors of the wrapper that you just don’t get off the larger Ring Gauged versions. I love corona sized cigars for this reason. Again, this is an affordable, complex, and incredibly enjoyable cigar that fits right in with anyone’s regular rotation no matter how long you have been smoking.

Pairing: Pairing up with this EP Carrillo Short Run No.4 was a bit tricky. Based on the blend make-up alone, I normally would spring for an IPA or nice, heavy ale. But I knew that this was a more complex cigar, and with that I paired it with a far more complex beer. Sierra Nevada’s Bigfoot Barelywine is an annual release that I never skip out on chasing down. This 9.6% ABV powerhouse is brewed domestically at the Sierra Nevada Brewery in California. The beer isn’t for the faint of heart. It starts out with some heavy hoppyness witch quickly transforms to a strong alcohol, malty, floral arrangement. This cigar will quickly capture anyone’s attention. The floral and malty flavors went perfect with the citrus and cedar that this cigar kicked out. However, I can honestly say that the best pairing I have had with this cigar is sweet tea. Pure awesomeness.

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I got a few of these in a package that Daniel sent down from the great white north. This is my last out of the handful that he sent over. Each of the cigars that I smoked from that bundle had identical characteristics and flaws. Either way, this cigar is one of the most popular Cuban cigars on the market and for good reason. Let’s find out what makes this cigar so special.

The Good Stuff: As stated earlier the Partagas Serie D No.4 is rated one of the best, if not the best robusto in the world. This cigar is produced in the Partagas factory, the most famous cigar factory in all of Cuba. The Partagas factory was opened in 1845 by Don Jamie Partagas. The Partagas Serie D was originally supposed to be part of a 16-cigar series labled A, B, C and D. The series was introduced into the British market in the early 1930’s but discontinued in 1960. After 15 years of hiding the Serie D No.4 was reintroduced to the market in 1975 and has remained one of the highest ranking cigars ever since.

Prelight: The Partagas Serie D No. 4 is a delicately Cuban wrapped robusto. The wrapper is silky, oily and consistently light brown in color with a few orangish spots.  It seems a bit delicate and I am a bit scared to rough house too much with cigar for fear of tearing the wrapper.  The cigar is then topped off with a round Cuban style triple cap that I state again, I wish more cigar manufacturers would do.  The body of the cigar has just a few smaller veins with one larger one running through the body of the cigar.  The Serie D is extremely firm to the touch and gives almost no response when pressed tightly. The cigar seems packed very tightly. I really hope that doesn’t affect the draw. I have learned that the draw is always very inconsistent when it comes to Cuban cigars. The quality control just doesn’t always seem to be there in comparison to the strict control most Honduran, Nicaraguan, and Dominican cigar manufactures establish. Anyhow, the wrapper gives off just the slightest hint of cedar and spice, where the foot produces a very sweet, raw tobacco smell. The Serie D clipped clean and easy using my double bladed cutter. The cold draw was very interesting. It tasted much like a graham cracker or even a German gingerbread pastry. Really smooth and natural with spice and a ton of sweetness.

First Smoke: The Serie D lit up with extreme ease using my single flame butane touch. I was greeted with the saltiness on the cap that I seem to pick up on almost every Cuban cigar that I have had. It used to bother me at first but I have since grown to get used to it. The flavors I picked up on during the first third were nothing like the cold draw. Although there was a touch of sweetness the main flavors were a strong cedar, a bit of a spice, a ton of white pepper, and a dash of nut. The Serie D does give off a nice amount of very nicely scented cedar smoke. As with most Cubans I’ve smoked, the burn line is very thick and all over the place. It seems to be a stable in Cuban cigar smoking.  That, and the choppy, flaky, dark grey ash that this cigar is producing as well.  The ash only lasted about an inch before giving way.

Halfway There: The pepper has diminished completely from this smoke and what I am left with is a ton of very sweet, creamy tobacco mixed with an awesome cedar taste and a very oaty aftertaste. I am assuming this is what smoking a cigar box would taste like. The retrohale tells much of the same story only the cedar is much more sharp. I have been retro haling the hell of out this cigar. The burnline is still a bit wild, but for the sake of the review I am refraining from touching it up. I haven’t felt any nicotine at all.

Finish: The body of the Serie D showed a significant increase into the final third, but nothing that I would classify above medium. There wasn’t much of a flavor change-up but due to the wonderful cedar flavor this cigar is kicking out, its not a bad thing at all.  The only other flavors making way through the cedar are a very subtle spice and a bit of natural tobacco. The burnline really started to correct itself into the start of the final third and the cigar started to produce the solid zebra styled ash I am used to.  There was only a light bit of harshness that built up towards the end of this Serie D but I am sure I am a lot to blame for that. I was smoking this thing pretty fast as I was really enjoying it. All in all it only took about an hour to take it down.

Overview: I have always been really partial when it comes to Cuban cigars. I have liked a few, and disliked a lot. I honestly think a lot of the hype is solely based on the fact that they are illegal here in the states. The Partagas Serie D No. 4 has definitely made the cut though. Perfectly balanced with a hellishly good cedar taste, mild, and consistent. This Cuban is top grade and would definitely be a great addition to my Cuban rotation. Perfect for the average cigar smoker and the most experienced. The burn was the only issue and after taking in consideration that almost all Cuban cigars produce a similar burn it cancels itself out.

Pairing: I decided to pair this Partagas Serie D with some Fonseca Bin 27 Port. Fonseca bin 27 is produced primarily from wines from Fonseca’s own quintas in the Cima Corgo. Blended from reserve wines selected for their intense fruit character and depth of color, Fonseca Bin No. 27 spends four years in large wood vats prior to bottling. The Fonseca Bin 27 produces intense black cherry, tart grape, and sweet plum flavors  mixed in with some wonderful spice and cinnamon making for an awesome balance with the smooth, cedar flavors produced by the Partagas  Serie D.

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