Manufactured at Tabacalera Perdomo in Nicaragua, the Perdomo 20th Anniversary Sun Grown, like the Maduro, is a Nicaraguan puro utilizing tobacco grown on their own farms in Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa Valley. The wrapper is not only aged over 6 years, it is fermented for an additional 14 months in bourbon barrels. Available vitolas include: Corona Gorda (6 1/2 by 48) Robusto (5 by 56), Torpedo (6 1/2 by 54),  Epicure (6 by 56), Gordo (6 by 60), Pyramid (61/2 by 60), and Churchill (7 by 56).

You can purchase the Perdomo 20th Anniversary Sun Grown from our good friends at Fox Cigar.

THE FACTS

Price: $8.25
Vitola: Semi Box-Pressed Robusto
Size: 5 by 56
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 5 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

Draped in a medium brown wrapper that has its fair share of veins and bumps. The flexes between my fingers as I inspect it for soft spots. The wrapper has a smooth feel and a nice oily sheen.

As I bring the cigar to my nose, I find chocolate covered cherries on the wrapper and big notes of chocolate on the foot. The chocolate and cherry, along with cedar, carry over to the dry draw that has the perfect amount of resistance. 

FIRST THIRD

Once lit, the smoke production on the Perdomo 20th Anniversary Sun Grown is unbelievable. Thick clouds of smoke pour of the foot and copious amounts of smoke fill my mouth with each small draw.  A pepper spice is front and center followed by medium to full flavors of cedar, dirt, sweet chocolate, and yeast. The burn line is thin with only a minor wave as a white ash forms. Darker flavors of coffee and pepper are accentuated on the retro-hale as the chocolate lingers on the finish of the smoke.

MIDDLE THIRD

More savory flavors hit my palate as I transition into the second third of the Perdomo 20th Anniversary Sun Grown. There is a combination of salt and pepper going on followed by dirt and chocolate. The flavors are balanced and easy on the palate and have settled into medium.  While the burn is not straight, it is far from causing any concern. 

FINAL THIRD

A small crack has formed near the burn line, but results in no future issue. The spice warmth has picked up, which hangs around for some time and the sweetness diminishes as the savory flavors gain even more ground. The burn is jagged, but,with so little left. a touch-up won’t be necessary. The draw seems to be a bit too free as I near the end of the cigar requiring some effort to pass a mouthful of smoke. 

WRAP-UP

The Perdomo 20th Anniversary Sun Grown is another solid cigar coming out of Tabacalera Perdomo. While I noted some similarities between the Sun Grown and Maduro, they remain easily distinguishable. I found the larger ring gauge comfortable in my mouth from the semi box-pressed format and my palate took a liking to the flavors the cigar presented, but only wish the sweetness stayed around until the end. And I have no complaints with the performance. With all that said, the Maduro version has the upper hand between the two as it offers a more complex smoking experience.

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Produced at Tabacalera Oliva S.A., the Inferno Singe is a Nicaraguan puro like the Melt and is available in three vitolas: Robusto (5 by 50), Toro (6 by 50), and Churchill (7 by 50).  The Singe comes packaged in 20 count humi-jars and will run you between $90.99 to $99.99 or $7.95 to $8.75 per single stick. You can find other Inferno reviews below:

• Inferno 3rd Degree
• Inferno Flashpoint
• Inferno Melt
• Inferno Scorch

You can purchase the Inferno Singe from our site sponsor Famous Smoke Shop. Make sure to use coupon code “CASASAVINGS” for $15 off orders over $100.

THE FACTS

Price: $7.95
Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5 by 50
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 25 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

Inferno Singe wears a medium brown oily wrapper. Small veins can be seen criss-crossing down the leaf with only one or two veins medium in size. Oils, an extremely fine tooth and scattered bumps can be felt underneath my fingertips as I examine the cigar for soft spots. There are no soft spots found and the cigar is evenly filled.

An aroma of barnyard, salt and lime come across on the wrapper. The salt and lime combo is just like the Limón Mexican candy packets. Dirt and wood are on the foot. A quick cut through the double cap opens up a good draw. The cold draw flavors are faint with some cedar and light cinnamon spice.

FIRST THIRD

The Inferno Singe begins creamy in the mouth with notes of bright pepper, yeast, wood, and sweetness. There is a sourness to the smoke, but unlike the sour quality of the Scorch that was lighter on the palate, it has an edge to it. The spice is warming my mouth as the cigar burns evenly with a salt and pepper ash being left behind. 

MIDDLE THIRD

Medium flavors and medium strength characterize the Inferno Singe as I make my way into the second third. The smoke production is amazing as the flavors turn to the darker end of the spectrum with dirt and leather matching up with sour flavor. As I slow my pace, the natural tobacco sweetness pulls through and rounds out the profile, along with an added touch of cocoa. While the burn is no longer even, it is of no concern either. 

FINAL THIRD

The earlier wood has made a comeback, but the dirt, leather and cocoa are holding strong. As I pass the smoke through my sinuses, the pepper spice is front and center. With the Inferno Singe winding down, a buttery toast flavor joins in and the dirt is heavy on the finish of the smoke. 

WRAP-UP

Marketed as a full bodied, full flavored cigar, I would describe the Inferno Singe more in the medium realm with flavors pushing to the full side only on occasion. From first light, the Singe evolved from sweet and spicy to dark and spicy with more nuanced flavors moving in and out throughout the experience. And I really don’t have any complaints on the performance. While the burn had a slight wave beginning in the second third, there were no major issues to address. Now to the moment you have all bee waiting for in great anticipation. How do I rank the latest cigars in the Inferno line? Here you have it:

#3 – Inferno Scorch – There were a lot of good qualities to this smoke and some intriguing flavors, but the linear flavor profile lost my interest even in the robusto size. But in no way it is a bad smoke. I recommend trying a couple out to see if it fits your wheelhouse.

#2 – Inferno Singe – See review notes above I recommend a 5-pack.

#1 – Inferno Melt – Rich, spicy and full flavor goodness in a box-pressed format! Doesn’t get much better than that for the price. Grab yourself an entire jar of these.

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-Tony

Since I slacked off the other day and missed my Wednesday slot, I was fortunate that Jeremy filled in.  So, here I am to take his place for Friday, while he is off fishing for walleye.

Last year, Perdomo revamped their Habano line, giving the new blend wrappers aged in bourbon barrels, and well-aged fillers from Nicaragua.  The three wrappers – Connecticut, Maduro, and Sun Grown (which replaces the Corojo blend) – all surround the same filler material, and come in five sizes:  Robusto 5 x 54, Epicure 6 x 54, Torpedo 6 ½ x 54, Churchill 7 x 54, and Gordo 6 x 60.  Prices run from $7 to $8.50.  The other sizes that previously existed in the line have been discontinued due to slower sales and a desire to concentrate on the core vitolas.  Thanks to Ken Kuhr from Perdomo for confirming that info.

Having a longtime fondness for the old Habano Maduro, I decided to pick some Sun Growns up from the good folks over at Cuenca Cigars.

The Basics:

Wrapper:  Nicaraguan Sun Grown 6 years old, aged in bourbon barrels for 10 months
Binder:  Nicaraguan
Filler:  Nicaraguan Condega seco aged 4 years, Jalapa viso aged 5 years, Esteli ligero aged 6      years
Size:  Epicure 6 x 54
Price:  $7.50
Smoking time:  One hour, forty-five minutes
Pairing:  Black Raven Brewing Second Sight Scotch Ale (ABV 6.9%)

Pre-light:

The Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel Aged Sun Grown is draped in a yellow tinged milk chocolate brown wrapper with light to medium veins, a slight oily sheen, and a firm pack down to the foot, where there is some softness.  The roll is nearly seamless, and it is finished off with a nice deep double cap and ornate banding featuring a color scheme of various shades of brown plus white, black and shiny copper, with the foot band designating it as Sun Grown.  The wrapper gives off a bright, tart barnyard scent with a bit of woodiness, while the foot shows rich tobacco and earth.  An easy clip of the cap reveals an ideal draw, but the unlit flavors are pretty fain, showing not much more than tobacco and leaving some spicy tingle and a bit of saltiness on my lips.

First third:

Note to self: Remember to remove the foot band, dummy!  Fortunately, I realized that before the flame hit the stick.

The Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel Aged Sun Grown immediately starts off giving up a copious amount of smoke on the draw, showing that rich tobacco, earth, and oak, with a sweet spice playing in the background.  An initial hit of pepper on the tongue quickly died off, resulting in a very smooth entry, but it is definitely there to scald your sinuses on the retrohale if you’re not careful.  The burn line has started out a little thick and uneven and the ash has unexpectedly dropped on me after a little more than a half-inch in, which is something that did not happen with either of the two that I had smoke previously.  I suspect that the slight underpacking of the foot has something to with that.  The oak has gained a nice smokiness to it, and I am really enjoying the way the increased sweetness hits my tongue on the entry, while the pepper has returned as a flavor component rather than a bitey sensation.  The Habano Bourbon Barrel Aged Sun Grown finishes off its initial third at a solid medium in body with no nicotine strength.

Middle third:

The sweetness of the first third has backed off in the center portion of the cigar, but the other components remain, while picking up a bit of coffee bitterness.  Yeasty bread notes also begin to show, and the ash continues to be rather weak and soft.

Final third:

In the final third of the Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel Aged Sun Grown, the pepper has resurfaced, mostly on the lips and aftertaste and the smokiness of the oak has turned to a bit of char.  Although the sweetness has receded, there is still enough of it there to be noticeable on the palate.  The body has ramped up to nearly medium-full and there is an emergence of nicotine strength into the medium range as the cigar smokes down to the last inch, finishing cool and firm.

Final thoughts:

I really wish that the final third of the Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel Aged Sun Grown had been in keeping with the first two sections of the cigar, but it wasn’t a deal killer at all.   While I did have to give it several touch-ups, they didn’t impact the flavors and in some cases actually helped, but the first two cigars I smoked leading up to this review didn’t have the burn issues that I experienced with this one.  Overall, I found the construction to be very good and the flavors enjoyable, with the price being in line with the quality of the cigar.  I look forward to picking up on and trying the other two blends of this line in the future, particularly the maduro version.

Pairing:

The Second Sight Scotch Ale from Redmond, WA brewer Black Raven is a somewhat lighter version of the breed, with a light mouthfeel showcasing a medium sweetness surrounding faint chocolate, prune, and caramel, with a wisp of smoky peat.  While it’s not my favorite style of Scotch ale, its overall profile actually matched up damned well with this cigar.  A sweet rum would also be a great way to go with it.

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According to Perdomo Cigars:

This unique double-aging process ensures the perfect color, texture, aroma, and flavor in these tobaccos, making each cigar a well-balanced and full-flavored smoking experience.

Produced in Esteli, Nicaragua at Tabacalera Perdomo, the Double Aged 12 Year Vintage is offered in five vitolas: Robutso (5 by 56), Epicure (6 by 56), Churchill (7 by 56), Gordo Extra (6 ½ by 60), and Salomon (6 ⅛ by 50/60). Prices range from $10 for the Robusto to $12 for the Salomon with a total production of 260,000 cigars per wrapper option.

Perdomo Cigars are available from our good friends at Famous Smoke Shop.

The Facts

Samples Provided by Famous Smoke Shop
MSRP: $10.00
Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5 by 56
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 35 Minutes
Drink: Water

Pre-light

The presentation of the Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Maduro is impressive to say the least. The gold and red on the single, large band pops against the dark brown Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper leaf. The wrapper leaf is consistent in its almost oscuro appearance and appears quite oily as the light glistens off the leaf. The veins are rather small, while the bumps are abundant. An aroma of manure and unsweetened cocoa are found on the wrapper, with just a hint of pepper.

Bringing the foot of the cigar to my nose, an earthiness and cayenne pepper greet me. A shallow cut through the neatly applied double cap reveals a draw that has a tad more resistance than preferred. If the cigar doesn’t open up, I have a lot of cap left to clip away if needed. The dry draw is straightforward in its medium flavor of rich cedar and natural tobacco sweetness.

First Third

After patiently toasting the foot of this 56 ring gauge cigar to get an even light, the Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Maduro is underway. An abundant amount of silky smooth smoke fills my mouth with each small draw. It appears that a second cut will be unnecessary. The flavors are already pushing medium/full with a pleasant amount of spice that is warming my mouth. Notes of sweet tobacco, grass, and earth make up the introductory profile of the Double Aged 12 Year Vintage. The finish contains dark flavors of black coffee and earth. The cigar is burning lopsided requiring a touch-up. About an inch in, the flavors transition with a dry pencil-shaving flavor arriving, along with more sweetness and richness.  

Middle Third

The pepper is playing a more dominant role in the profile, the sweetness seems to be tied with a cocoa flavors now, and the Double Aged 12 Year Vintage is gaining in richness and strength. While not overwhelming, the strength is putting me in a relaxed state of mind. The black coffee is holding strong on the finish, accompanied by sweet tobacco and a vegetal flavor. Even with the full, rich flavors, the smoke is easy on the palate.

Final Third

The flavors continually evolve in the Double Aged Maduro. The combination of coffee and cocoa are satisfying and rich. The pencil shaving flavor has transitioned to more of an oak. Burning down to the last two inches, a toasty quality joins in. From the beginning, the ash has been dark gray and flaky. The appearance of it is deceiving as the ash is difficult to knock off even after an inch of burn. 

Wrap-up

I have been on a roll of smoking fabulous cigars as of late from super-premium to budget friendly, and the Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Maduro is another cigar to add to the growing list. Deep, satisfying, and rich flavors are showcased throughout the cigar, while easily noticeable change-ups are experienced in each third and sometime multiple times in each third. A satisfying amount of velvety smooth smoke poured out with each draw. However, a few points did get knocked off of my nonexistent scoring system due to few touch-ups needed. The Double Aged 12 Year Vintage by Perdomo Cigars is a worthy smoke. Taking price into consideration, a five-pack purchase would be my final recommendation of the Double Aged 12 Year Vintage.

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