Ever since I smoked the prototype of the Inaugural 2009 after last year's trade show, and made it my number three cigar of the year, I have been anxiously awaiting the next installment from Ernesto. It is now here and I was pleasantly surprised to see an excellent, and unexpected, six to seven dollar price point. The cigar itself is banded very similarly to the Inaugural and it could be mistaken for one if you do not pay attention to the second band that indicates it is a Short Run. The wrapper is leathery and shows very few veins, it is very impressive to look at and the cigar appears to be very well made. An inspection shows me nary an issue and I can feel my taste buds warming up for this experience. The pre light aroma is heady, with notes of spice and nutmeg. The pre light draw shows some interesting dusty qualities and coats the palate with some early intonations of light wood and cinnamon.
The cigar opens with a profile that is deep, but somewhat lacking in complexity, not the same experience as the Inaugural. However, there are nice flavors of spice and the smoke is full, not in body but in character, leaving the palate coated with a satiny feel. At the back of the palate there are some influences of cinnamon and light wood and the cigar shows some more depth. The draw is pure and shows no signs of any issues. The burn is razor sharp and produces a gray ash.
The first half of the cigar shows some nice transitions. The core profile picks up an earthy texture, but maintains some sweet nutty flavors that are interesting. At the back of the palate the cinnamon notes subdue and the flavors of light wood and some spice take center stage. The complexity is somewhat better at this point and I am warming up to this cigar. The draw continues to be excellent and the burn is following along nicely.
The final half of the cigar continues to show improvement. The core profile shows notes of sweet leather and some earthy notes that are a nice offset. At the back of the palate there are still notes of spice and light wood, but there are some flat notes that smack of cardboard in certain spots. I am disappointed by the flat flavors in an otherwise excellent profile. The draw and burn continue to be impressive.
The finish is long and shows cinnamon and floral notes.
Appearance- 92 an excellent looking smoke
Taste- 89 some point reduced for flat notes late in the smoke and lack of complexity early
Construction- 97 an exceptional smoking experience that required no maintenance
Strength- 90 a nice medium/full that could use more kick
Overall- 92.25 a very good smoke and at the price point an early contender for budget cigar of the year
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