It's been awhile since I have done a review from the EP Carrillo (EPC for short) camp, so I thought I'd do one today for a cigar that my friend Tony Casas (Casas Fumando) gave to me on our recent trip to Nicaragua. The EPC Short run #4 was an exclusive release to Federal Cigar last year. The blend is the 2010 short run release, but the size is something exclusive for the Federal 90th anniversary.

I don't have a quote to add to this, but I'm not sure one is really necessary as most cigar blog readers are pretty well versed in the story behind the Short Run line. I must say that I was a big fan of this blend in the other sizes. I'm excited to see what the #4 brings to the table. On to the review...

(Due to the size of this cigar, this review is only in two parts instead of the traditional thirds.)
 
Specifics
Vitola: #4
Length: 5 1/8
Ring Gauge: 42
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan & Dominican
Price: $5.50
Smoking Location: My back deck
Beverage: water

Today's review is for a cigar and brand which, until last week, was unknown to me. EloGio Cigars is a small company whose products are being produced where I consider the heart of all things cigar-related...Esteli, Nicaragua. It seems EloGio's claim to fame is their Master Blender Carlos Pereda Robaina, who is the grandson of the late, legendary Alejandro Robaina.  

Info taken from the EloGio Website: We only use select long filler Nicaraguan tobacco grown exclusively for us in Candega, Jalapa, and a exclusive small farm in Somoto.

According to their website, the Serie Habano is the newest release in their portfolio. I want to thank Ben from Nice Tight Ash for setting me up with this stick....Good looking out, friend.
Specifics
Vitola: Corona Extra
Length: 6
Ring Gauge: 42
Wrapper: Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Price: $?
Smoking Location: My back deck
Beverage: water

Next up for review is the latest installment in the Smoke Inn Micro Blend Series - a project for Smoke Inn in West Palm Beach, Florida. You can view my reviews of the previous three releases in this series Here, Here, and Here. The Fuente Solaris is a departure from the all Nicaraguan blends of the past three cigars and is, from what I can find, one of the only Fuente single shop releases in awhile.

Info taken from the Smoke Inn Website: For this Microblend installment Smoke Inn played no part in the creation of the size or blend. When Smoke Inn Proprietor Abe Dababneh approached the Fuente Family about making a Microblend, they decided this would be a perfect project for a small batch of cigars made over 6 years ago. Carlos Fuente Sr. had produced a small batch of belicoso cigars made from Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper that was uniquely light in its complexion. The cigars sat and aged for over six years. When smoked, we found the flavor mellow yet complex. One could definitely taste the quintessential Fuente flavor profile behind the elegantly aged smoke. Solaris will delight the palate of Fuente fans and collectors; especially those who like to age their cigars.”

Fuente is famous for their aged tobacco, so it should be interesting to see what this cigar is like due to that fact that they were made 6 years ago.
Specifics
Vitola: Belicoso
Length: 6
Ring Gauge: 49
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown
Binder: ?
Filler: ?
Price: $8.95
Smoking Location: House of Cigar
Beverage: water