Perdomo Small batch 2005 Maduro - Cigar Review
Size: 5 x 54 (Belicoso)
Blend: Nicaraguan Puro
Construction: The slightly oily wrapper was almost flawless with barely visible veins, consistent colouration and invisible seams. It was finished neatly with a colour matched cap and was silky smooth to handle. Overall its appearance was impeccable; stylish with ‘showroom’ shine. The pack of the cigar was firm and perfectly consistent from head to foot with no lumps or bumps hidden beneath; sufficient to say the construction had me keen to take this little rocket out for a spin.
Smell: The bouquet offered by the wrapper of this cigar was comprised of a buttery milk chocolate, hay and aged tobacco; the foot, a very obvious aged tobacco hay and boozy rum.
Cold Draw: After only a small cut on the head I was offered with a perfect draw resistance. Flavours on the cold draw consisted of slightly sweet butter, hay, aged tobacco, and smooth coffee beans. There was also a very faint hint of milk chocolate. I found it very interesting to be able to encounter so many flavours from a cold draw.
First Light: Flavours on the first light mimicked those experienced on the cold draw, consisting of sweet milk chocolate, hay, leather and a very timid coffee. Surrounding these flavours was a bitter char from the lighting process. Smoke production at this point was excellent; producing extremely thick clouds of dense but slightly dry white smoke.
Aroma: Aroma from this cigar was leathery with timid hints of coffee and toast.
First 3rd – 10 min
Once the cigar warmed up the smoke seemed to get a little thicker and oilier, depositing only a slight buttery oil onto the palate. Flavours shifted around significantly once the cigar got going. Primary flavours consisted of mocha, coffee and leather with tentative hints of hay. I also identified clove skulking in background. Occasionally the mocha turned to a bitter cacao when the cigar was smoked faster.
The cigar burnt near perfectly with a sharp line around the circumference of the stick. At this stage with along the flavours experienced; the cigar was sitting in medium to full body region. Its primary character was of chocolate/cacao and coffee. Being a maduro junkie myself, I was officially in heaven.
As the first third progressed the finish seemed to draw on for a long time exhibiting flavours of cacao, wood and a slightly bitter tannin similar to that of strong Sri Lankan black tea.
Second 3rd – 34 min
Flavours in the second third remained essentially unchanged from those experienced in the first, with the addition of a very subtle toasty component.
As the second third progressed yet another addition was a very deep woody taste starting to add the flavor profile. The cigar was very smooth and quite complex; an absolute pleasure to smoke.
As the section progressed the tea like tannins drew out of the finish into the smoke itself along with a slight increase in presence in the woody notes.
Final 3rd – 48 min
The final third of the cigar saw the burn degrade slightly showing 10mm of variance from side to side. The wrapper developed some small cracks that looked as if they may get worse. Considering this cigar has travelled three quarters of the way around the planet in the last week, I’m not going to be too critical as it had no time to settle in my humidor.
The strength started to ramp up closer to full in the final third whilst sporting minimal change in the flavours experienced previously. The burn slowly corrected itself and the cracks in the wrapper did not seem to get any worse over time.
I elected to retire the cigar at 1 hour 5 minutes as the cigar was starting to warm up with 25mm remaining.
Summing up: This cigar was absolutely stunning; I’m struggling to find anything negative to say about it. Its impeccably constructed and smoked like a dream with a myriad of flavours; making for both a delicious and complex smoke to keep you interested from start to finish.
If you have the opportunity to procure these cigars, make every effort to do so, they are sure to leave a lasting impression.
Suggested Pairings: This cigar begs to be appreciated with a strong coffee and perhaps a dash of your favourite whisky in the mix.
Thanks for Reading,
The Herf Spot
