Perdomo ESV 1991 Imperio maduro Review

[Jason Love III]

Note: I was going to submit this for Klugs's contest, and then half-way through realized it was 8:40 CST. Congrats Croatan!

I went to a "rolling event" at one of the local tobacco shops for a Perdomo tasting yesterday. They were promoting these new ESV's and had a torcedor from the factory in Miami rolling Perdomo cigars. Very cool experience, as the closest I have been to seeing cigars rolled "live" is pictures here on Club Stogie. If you bought 3 Perdomo's you got a free "freshly-rolled" cigar from the table. I chose the Imperio maduro (5x44) for about $7 bucks as one of my Perdomo purchases and decided to fire it up tonight. It was a unique smoke and assaulted my palate, but in a great way!
The first few puffs and half-inch started off with a nutty, sunflower-seed taste and progressed into a fuller, thick, leathery richness. But at the halfway point, MAN - it kicked into another dimension...some kind of aged dimension that I don't experience too much...
It started to take on (and this is where I'm pulling my hair out) a kind of deeply rich spice-cake layered with....red wine??? Or is it dark chocolate cake made with...purple grapes?? I don't know, but it was RICH. I also have to make a point in saying that it had one of the most unique aroma's I've smelled in awhile; it drove me crazy trying to figure it out and the best way I can think of to describe it is just sublimely aged cigar aroma, like a fine wine.
I nubbed this thing as I couldn't put it down and as I type this, I feel like my monitor is laying on the floor face up and I'm somehow floating above it, facing down, typing. Yeah....I'm wasted with nicotine! Definitely a full-bodied smoke - perfect draw, straight burn. If you guys can get some of these, get a couple, and let us know what you think; and tell me what that damn flavor and aroma is!

[SeanGAR]

Nice review.

My local only has the nats for some reason ... I'm going to have to find a few of these as well.

[Jason Love III]

I had no clue that the shop was promoting these, and realized about an hour ago that you had reviewed one of the naturals. LOL. I said in your thread that I hadn't smoked any Perdomo's that gave me that "wow" feeling. Well this absolutely made up for any/all Perdomo's I've smoked. And THEN some. I'm still kinda queasy which is pretty rare these days!

[Andyman]

Went to the Perdomo tasting tonight.. Bought two ESV Maduro's and received a free ESV Natural and also a free reserve cabinet selection.. Anyway.. I had the maduro robusto ESV at the shop. Started out spicy turned to a very dark coffee with a lot of spice.. I mean a lot! it moved towards the nutty side but stayed strong. The armoma of the smoke as I breathed in through my nose was incredible. Draw was easy but about half way it had a bit of trouble with the burn. Got it going again after it cooled down the spice let up just enough to realy enjoy the rest of the cigar. this one is a litter stonger than I like but all in all it is a very nice smoke. I was also trying to nail down the flavors I was tasting and couldn't really pin it. it is nuttty and choclaty but almost lke unsweetend coacoa.. Again the aroma was awesome.. If this had a little more finesse I would have liked it more. in the price range of the padron 64 and Ashton VSG this cigar has a lot to prove. If you like em strong it may live up to it.

[palm55]

You realize, of course, that this is why I've added a slobber-shield to my key board!

Perdomo (IMHO) is clearly a dichotomous maker... Some of their stuff resides in my tabletop, and I love every inch of them! Some of their stuff lives in my Barferdor, in the hope that they may improve sometime around 2010.

But it appears you've hit on a winner!!!

(I'm taking notes)

[txdyna65]

Has anyone smoked any of these lately? My local B&M is running the ESV Maduros on sale, they look good, and for the price even better.

[donp]

Grea review Jason. Yet another stick I've gotta try.