Puff Cigar Discussion Forums

hsvtoolfool · 05-08-2009, 10:07 PM

I just got back from Perdomo's world premiere of their new "Gran Cru" line at my local store...

This is one awesome cigar! I've only smoked the one Churchill, but all event guests trying it out agreed that it was a great smoke. I liked my in-store smoke enough to invest in a box of Churchills, which came with a free Perdomo table-top lighter and t-shirt (can't have enough cigar "swag"

).

Brand
Perdomo

Name
Gran Cru Corojo

Vitolas
7x50 Parejos (Churchill)

Price
$6-ish for the Churchill. Other vitolas were $5-ish

Construction - (10/10)
Excellent on all vitolas I examined.

Pre-light aroma/draw
The wrapper smells of sweet, aged tobacco (one of my favorite odors) without spice or pepper. I picked up a very distant trace of ammonia. Although no ammonia was evident while smoking, I'll let the box I purchased age about 6 months to see what happens.

The pre-light draw was the same sweet tobacco without spice or pepper.

Flavor - (9/10)
The cigar begins very mild and reminded me of Tatuaje Unicos with muted flavors in the distance. But before I could get bored, a moderate pepper-spice built slowly with licorice following each puff. A perfect soft leather finish remains on the palette throughout the smoke. The pepper stays on your tongue, rather than nagging the back of your throat.

Flavor was never complex, but the pepper and strength builds linearly until you discover the last third to be quite full-flavored without any harshness. This is a medium-to-full bodied smoke. Like Perdomo's "Champagne" line, this cigar is smooth enough so that the power sneaks up on you.

Burn - (8.5/10)
Straight and self-correcting until the last third, when a re-light was required. Probably my fault because I was talking too much. But my buddy also needed a minor wrapper touch-up about half-way through.

Overall - (90/100)
I enjoyed every inch down to the nub. I place this cigar among my favorites: Ashton VSG, Oliva V, La Flor Coronado, etc. Not quite in the same league as PAM or Opus. Just a wonderful way to spend 1.5 hours on a sunny Friday afternoon. Well worth trying for on $5 to $6. Highly recommended.

I can't fuss with cameras while I'm relaxing with a cigar, and I can't see how folks here produce such sharp closeup photos, but here's my attempt at a centerfold...