For a cigar company to celebrate a 30th anniversary is a major milestone. Looking back to where Nick started the company, it is hard to believe he and his wife Janine started the company, Nick’s Cigars back in 1992 in their garage while Nick worked a full-time job as an air traffic controller. After a brief stint in Ybor City, Perdomo, the late 90’s saw the birth of the Perdomo Factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. To celebrate this milestone, the Perdomo 30th Anniversary line was announced at the 2023 PCA tradeshow in Las Vegas. The cigars feature a 15-year-old bourbon barrel-aged wrapper over a binder and fillers from Nicaragua. Perdomo Cigars states, “The Perdomo 30th Anniversary encapsulates not only the essence of our team’s dedication to the finest quality and craftsmanship, but it also represents our longstanding commitment to our cherished patrons. This seems like a win/win for the consumer as well as the manufacturer, as we aficionados get to join in the 30-year celebration with the Perdomo family
Under the lid
Perdomo’s packing is unmistakable. Bold, vibrant graphics adorn the glossy boxes, with lines identified in bold text. This is one brand that easily draws consumers in on initial appearance alone. The 30th Anniversary line is no exception. The three wrappers are identified by color, with the 30th Anniversary Connecticut line being gold. The shield covering the majority of the lid
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
- Binder: Cuban seed Nicaragua
- Filler: Cuban seed Nicaragua
- Vitola Reviewed: Epicure 6 X 54
- Factory: Tabacalera Perdomo
- Release Date: November 2023
- Number of cigars released: Regular Production
- MSRP: $12.50 (Box of 30 $375)
- Additional vitolas
- Robusto 6 X 54 MSRP: $12.00 (Box of 30, $360)
- Churchill 7 X 54 MSRP: $13 (Box of 30, $390)
- Gordo 6 X 60 MSRP: $13.50 (Box of 30, $405)
- Torpedo 7 X 54 MSPR $14 (box of 30, $420)
The cigar has a gorgeous, oily, golden-brown wrapper that is very smooth and has very little tooth. The seams are expertly done, giving the cigar a seamless appearance. The box press on the cigar is very well done, with its shape giving it a rather portly appearance. The cigars sampled were all firm from foot to cap, with no apparent soft spots. The highly graphic bands, emblazoned with red and gold, give the cigar a touch of elegance, with the prismatic 30th Anniversary letters glistening like a gold necklace along the bottom.
The aromas from the foot have a fair level of complexity, with hints of honey, oak, natural tobacco, and walnut shells. Interestingly, a strong note of bourbon is coming from the foot. I have smoked all of the previous Perdomo cigars featuring bourbon barrel-aged tobacco, and this is the first time I have noticed that distinct aroma coming from the cigar.
The cigar’s body has the same bourbon note, slightly stronger than coming from the foot, along with oak, honey, and a faint mineral note in the background.
Prelight draw, which is almost perfect on all samples, has hints of caramel, honey, oak, and bourbon.
Performance Notes:
First third: The cigar starts with a fair amount of sweetness, with caramel, honey, and sweet cream starting things out. Getting slightly farther in, white pepper, brown butter, and oak enter the profile. The retrohale has a heavy bourbon note, charred oak, walnut shells and white pepper. A honey butter note with a long finish on the palate adds an interesting dimension to the profile. Burn and draw are perfect early on, with a heavy amount of thick, white smoke. Strength is mild to medium, while body is medium, with complexity in the medium-full range.
Second third: The mid-section of the cigar begins with more of the same, albeit the brown butter note has increased significantly in intensity, while the oak is replaced by more of a damp cedar note. A little further into the mid-section, peanut brittle notes develop on the finish, countering the bourbon notes with some additional sweetness while not overpowering. When the band is removed, the retrohale still has the primary notes from earlier but now has cocoa powder as a contributor, making for a very interesting experience. Burn and draw continue to perform well, with one sample requiring a light touchup to even out the burn line. Strength has crept into the medium range, while body and complexity have attained medium-full.
Final third: The final section of the cigar carries over the sweetness and core notes from earlier but introduces some heavier, bitter notes. Fresh ground dark coffee beans, baker’s chocolate, anise, damp earth, and leather all appear and fight for dominance in the final third. The retrohale has gained the mineral notes detected in the prelight inspection. Unlike earlier in the cigar, while flavorful, these notes do not enhance what my tongue is tasting. Burn and draw continued to perform through the end, with no additional touchups required, showing the quality one can expect from Perdomo. Strength ends solidly medium, with body and complexity finishing in the medium-full range.
Core flavors: Bourbon, oak, brown butter, peanut brittle.
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium-Full
Complexity: Medium-Full
Smokin Experience: I have been a major fan of the Perdomo lines using the bourbon barrel aging process for their tobacco. They always seem to enhance the expected flavors of the leaf while adding just a few more flavor elements that may not otherwise be present. As mentioned above, this is the first time I smoked any Perdomo where this aging process is used where I could detect the bourbon. I will be interested in trying the other two cigars in the 30th Anniversary lineup to see if those notes are also present or if the shade-grown wrapper’s mild nature lets it shine through here.
Purchase Recommendation: Like most of Perdomo’s line, buy a box. You won’t be sorry.
Smokin Facts:
- The other bourbon barrel-aged cigars from Perdomo are the 10th and 20th Anniversary lines as well as the 12 year double aged, and Habano Bourbon Barrel aged lines
- To ensure quality control, the release was limited to 75 key retailers.
- Nick’s Cigar produced less than 10,000 cigars in its first year of operation, which has expanded to over 10 million cigars produced by Perdomo today.
Smokin Wrap
Cigars smoked for the review: Three
Average smoking time: 1 Hour 43 Minutes
Score: 89
Kevin Acuff
Senior Reviewer & Editor
Kevin Acuff was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. Growing up in a rural area, he was able to indulge in some very exciting life experiences at a young age. He acquired his private pilot license before he had a driver’s license, spent several years on the competitive bass fishing tournament trail, and even spent a couple of seasons racing motorcycles. In 2001, he relocated to Las Vegas, spending the better part of the past 20 years working in the sign industry.
It was one of those industry trips, back in 2014 that changed his life for good. His boss handed him a Siglo V and an instantaneous bond was formed. He has spent countless hours since then learning as much about cigars as time would allow. This has resulted in a private collection of cigars that would rival some smaller retailers. Being inquisitive and not afraid to ask questions resulted in being blessed with several opportunities to experience the industry from all angles. Kevin is a regular attendee at the trade shows, has some firsthand experience on the media side, and is a familiar face to many at consumer events throughout the country.
He is married to Barbara, who shares an equal love of the leaf. When they are not in their private lounge enjoying a cigar, they are either in the backyard playing with their fur kids or out exploring the desert and mountains in their Jeep Gladiator.
