Topshelf14
Very Active Member
Registered: March 2007
Location: Old Hickory, TN
Posts: 505
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Review Date: Tue August 21, 2007
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Would you recommend this to someone? Yes |
Price you paid? In US$: $5.50
| Rating: 8
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Pros:
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Flavor, construction, price
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Cons:
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The Perdomo Habano is the latest release from Tabacalera Perdomo and is inspired by Nick Perdomo's dream of one day making cigars in Cuba. The cigar is a special blend of Cuban-seed tobaccos grown on each of Perdomo's three farms in three different regions of Nicaragua: Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa. The artwork on the bands (yes, another double-banded cigar) and the box are reminiscent of early 1900's Cuban cigar artwork and the hand-stained Spanish cedar boxes hold 20 cigars. The Perdomo Habano (which continues the trend of large ring-gauge cigars) comes in five sizes and is available with a Cuban-seed Corojo or triple-fermented Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper.
Robusto (5 x 52)
Toro (5 1/2 x 54)
Torpedo (6 1/2 x 54)
Gordo (6 x 60)
Presidente (7 x 56)
The Perdomo Habano that I sampled was the Corojo-wrapped Robusto that I picked up from a local B&M. I was drawn to the cigar not only because it was a new release but also because it was a visually beautiful cigar. While I'm not necessarily a fan of large cigar bands, the main band on the Habano is a real work of art and is perfectly complemented by the smaller band at the foot (which Perdomo says protects the cigar when the cellophane is removed.)
Close inspection of the cigar reveals what I consider the classic "Perdomo smell." (I don't know exactly what it is, but Perdomo cigars have, to me anyway, a distinct aroma.) The Corojo wrapper is smooth and has a light sheen of oils and the cigar is neatly capped. The cigar is perfectly straight, the foot is cut perfectly square, and it feels firm along the entire length. This is a very well constructed cigar.
I clip the cap and take a pre-light draw. The draw offers just enough resistance and rewards me with an earthy taste with quite a bit of black pepper that leaves my lips and tongue tingling. Upon lighting, my impressions are of more pepper and spice along with the traditional bold, earthy Nicaraguan flavor profile. The initial strength of the cigar is in the medium-full range.
About 3/4 of an inch in the pepper flavors diminish a bit and I pick up notes of wood and leather. The cigar mellows slightly yet still provides a wonderful Corojo spiciness. Tons of white, creamy smoke leaves a medium length, spicy taste on the palate.
Half-way in I start to pick up on very subtle hints of an undefined sweetness - almost like a mild maduro - and I start to feel a slight nicotine kick. The burn is still consistent and the smoke cool and creamy.
The flavor remains essentially the same throughout the rest of the cigar. Not wanting to set the Habano down, by the time I detect a slight bitterness, I've nubbed the cigar.
While I've had some not-so-favorable Perdomo experiences in the past, Tabacalera Perdomo has bounced back from their quality problems of several years ago in a big way. I was extremely impressed by the quality of this cigar and I will definitely be buying more.
8.3 on the ICRS scale.
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Joe
Nashville Cigar Club
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