PERDOMO 30th ANNIVERSARY CONNECTICUT EPICURE

MY THOUGHTS ON ONE OF 2023’S MOST ANTICIPATED CIGARS.

If you are taking the time to read this article, then I am going to assume that the Perdomo name needs no introduction. To celebrate their 30^th year in the premium cigar industry, owner Nick Perdomo blended three cigars, a Maduro, a Sungrown and the Connecticut being reviewed below. I can assure you that the moment I first heard about this project I knew I had to try these cigars and I waited… and waited. Last November, I finally received the email I had be waiting for from the team at 2guyscigars and immediately ordered one of each blend in the Perdomo famous Epicure (Toro) Vitola.

The 30^th Connecticut is rolled in Nicaragua at the Tabacalara Perdomo, the cigar’s components were aged for 15 years in bourbon barrels prior to being bunched and rolled.  The Epicure I smoke measured 6 x 54, is a very soft box pressed Vitola, and featured an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper over Nicaraguan binders and fillers.

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PRELIGHT

These anniversary cigars are stunning side by side but the CT is a sight to behold in its Perdomo regalia and 30^th anniversary badge that appears to be a separate band at first, but I realized later was all one piece. The wrapper was a smooth, light caramel color with little to no veins and tightly rolled with invisible seams. The cigar was firm, and I could not find any soft spots as I examined the cigar. I forgot to weight it for this review, but I am almost certain this stick would be on the heavier side for a toro, excuse me, an epicure.

Smelling the cigar and foot before lighting reminded me of sweet butter and a faint cedar scent. After opening the cap with a perfect cut, a cold draw provided a faint sweet bourbon, a taste that reminded me of the smell of construction paper and a little pepper on the palate. The draw was effortless, maybe a tinge on the overly open side. I prepared to light and experience the new 30^th Connecticut.

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SMOKING EXPERIENCE

The entire smoking time was an hour and thirty-eight minutes start to finish. The cigar felt comfortable for a 54-ring gauge, possibly due to the soft box press. The smoke remained cool till the end and the burn was seldom razor sharp but never ran wild. The burn line reined in nicely as I approached the final few minutes. The smoke production was good and provided a nice mouthful with a single pull, but the smoke felt anemic and failed to make itself heavy in the mouth. The body was light to medium although I did feel the final third offered an increased presence in flavor and texture. A tad on the lighter side for strength, this cigar still managed to make my senses tingle a bit.

The flavor was linear throughout the smoking experience and the cigar did not offer up much complexity. The overall theme was light molasses, sweet fruit smoothness that carried a slight pepper on a very clean finish. The retro hale let you know that it was there with a little irritation on the sinus, but it was not a tear inducing burn. There was a slight bread like note on the retro which I likened to pancake batter in the second third in my notes. The final third did introduce some aggravation to the throat but with the slight change mentioned above in the final third I continued to smoke so I could see where Mr. Perdomo was taking me.

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A beautiful cigar with excellent draw and construction, the grey ash fell off in measured half inch chunks. The cigar never went out or needed a touch up. My only issue is it just wasn’t dynamic enough to keep me engaged and the flavors were too muted. Was that due to the 15 years of aging? Will that also affect the other two blends? I rated the Perdomo 30^th Anniversary Connecticut in the low 80s, it is a great cigar and did not offer up the usual CT flavor notes of old, but for the price there are other Connecticut cigars that I felt were more engaging and could be experienced at easier price points.

Stay tuned as I write my thoughts on the Maduro and Sungrown from the 30th Anniversary line. Both of these blends are my favorites in the 10^th Anniversary Reserva line. I am curious to see how the extra aging on the leaf play into the experience with the two remaining 30th blends.