When it comes to premium cigars, age is your friend and in the case of the Tabacalera Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel-Aged Maduro, age was key to the success of this blend. The Barrel-Aged Maduro is one of three barrel aged blends the company offers. The other two are the Connecticut and the Sun Grown. Besides the wrapper, the difference in this variety, is the maduro wrapper is aged the longest in the bourbon barrels, 14 months to be exact. That is after the leaf has been naturally aged for six years. If you are just old enough to consume tobacco products, that means the leaf in this cigar was harvested when you were just starting high school.
The Perdomo Barrel Aged Maduro is a true Nicaraguan puro with a blend described as:
- Wrapper: Nicaragua Maduro
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua (4 year aged Condega, 5 year aged Jalapa, 6 year aged Esteli)
Like all blends in the Barrel Aged line, these are expressed in six different vitolas:
- Habanito (4 x 38) MSRP $3.60 (Famous Smoke)
- Robusto (5 x 54) MSRP $8.00 (Corona Cigars)
- Epicure (6 x 54) MSRP $8.50 (Corona Cigars)
- Gordo (6 x 60) MSRP $9.50 (Corona Cigars)
- Torpedo (6.5 x 54) MSRP $8.75 (Corona Cigars)
- Churchill (7 x 54 ) MSRP $9.00 (Corona Cigars)
For this review I sampled the Perdomo Barrel Aged Maduro Epicure, which I received at the Smoke Inn, 2020 Great Smoke festival.
Pre-Light Examination
The Perdomo Barrel Aged Maduro is a dark and slightly veiny cigar that has a decent oily sheen. The wrapper has a fine amount of toothy grit. It is well packed and feels fairly solid from head to foot. A simple cap finishes the cigar nicely.
There are two bands that adorn the cigar. The primary band boldly displays the Perdomo Cigars logo and identifies it as the “Habano”. Further clarification can be seen on the footer band that declares it as the “Maduro”
Running the cigar across the nose, I picked up a fragrant floral note along the barrel and a butter cracker note off the foot.
With the visual and aroma evaluation out of the way, I used my double blade cutter to slice the cap straight and took in some cold puffs that were perfectly restricted and offered notes of malt, citrus, and a light peppery sensation on the lips and tip of the tongue.
Using my trusty Perdomo lighter, I warmed the foot to a fine orange glow and took in the first puffs of pepper and bright citrus notes. Follow along as I turn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- First light – pepper to the nose and a bright citrus on the palate
- Cedar joins the citrus early in the burn
- White ash develops on a thin wavy char line
- Malt enters after an inch of burn
- Touch of cream
- Ash is holding solid
- Fruit aroma
- Into the second third flavors are consistent with just an added spice component
- Dry fruit enters midway
- Extreme ash finally fell with a perfect burn cone
- Malt re-emerges deep in the final
- Medium strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 40 minutes down to the nub
Overall, the Perdomo Barrel Aged Maduro was a well constructed cigar that carried an amazingly long ash before falling. The flavors, though not overly complex, were enjoyable and well balanced with enticing notes like malt, dry-fruit, cream and citrus. I find this a box worthy cigar, so go get some and enjoy a Perdomo Cigars journey. I rate this a solid 95.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wave in Burn;
Bonus Points: (+1) Extreme Ash; (+1) Buy a Box
