Last year, Perdomo Cigars unveiled its latest offering that would break a few norms. The first being this was the first cigar that was blended and created almost exclusively by the next generation, Nicholas Perdomo III. It was also the first cigar in a long time that didn’t come out with the standard Connecticut, Sun Grown and Maduro wrapper releases. This time, Perdomo used a new variety that Nick Perdomo had being working on for quite some time called the Nicaraguan Shade Grown.
The Nicaraguan Shade Grown was used as a wrapper in place of the Sun Grown but also as a binder in all three blends. The Nicaraguan Shade Grown is a hybrid tobacco, a mix of Cuban-seed and Cameroon-seed. It is grown on the company’s Finca Natalie farm in Estelí, Nicaragua. The Nicaraguan Shade Grown Epicure went on to our #1 Cigar of the Year in 2025, the Connecticut Belicoso was our #3 Cigar of the Year and the Maduro Epicure was our #11 Cigar of the Year.
Under the Lid
- Origin: Nicaragua
- Factory: Tabacalera Perdomo S.A.
- Wrapper: Ecuador
- Binder: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Vitola: Gran Belicoso (6 x 60)
- MSRP: $16.29
- Release: May 2025
Pre Light
The wrapper has a dry texture to it and is overall mostly smooth. There aren’t many raised or bumpy veins on the wrapper giving it that “perfect paper” look you expect on an ultra-premium cigar. After cutting the cigar, I take a nice long cold draw through it to discover that the draw is perfect. Plenty of airflow giving me floral and peppery notes all at once.
First Third
After lighting, the first few notes I taste are a light amount of white pepper upfront and a slight yet welcomed bitterness such as something you might find on a dry white wine like a Chardonnay I think that a palate of appreciation would find quite nice. There is plenty of smoke production which and the cigar is breathing and burning very well. So far the burn line is near perfect and about as even as it could be. When the first few puffs mellow out, I notice notes of cherry, fig and leather begin to make their way in, letting the pepper take a back seat but not leave the dance altogether.
Second Third
The second third transition is smooth where there is a little bit more earth. For starters, there is a strong oaky flavor that joins this complex blend of flavors, yet it all stays nice and clean. The cigar still has an overall dry flavor profile with it being dry on the tongue yet still making my mouth water for more. Smoking this cigar just feels effortless, it is just perfect. It’s got great flavor, great balance, and it’s just so easy and enjoyable to smoke. By the end of the second third, a new lemon zest takes over for a slight sourness, with nutmeg, walnut, and oak all marrying together.
Final Third
The final third almost sneaks up on me, with a nutty, buttery and salty mix of flavors that hide beneath a darker heavier leather and dark roast coffee bean texture. I smoke the cigar to just past the top of the band before I am finished. Might I also add how easy it was to remove the band which on about half the cigars I smoke, is not the same reality to put it lightly. From start to finish this cigar was flawless, with there being very little to critique.
Just before I finished the cigar did start to get a little hotter and burnt on all three samples, slightly darkening the flavor a bit past my liking. I even smoked the last one a little slower to try and prevent that but it did not help much. As I finish this cigar, I look back and think this is a mild-plus to medium cigar overall. Nothing too heavy that almost any smoker can enjoy but complex and with enough body to really keep even the experienced smoker engaged.
Smoking Experience
As I said above, this cigar was great and there is little to complain about. One thing I was slightly disappointed by was the ash wasn’t as firm and strong as I would have hoped and this cigar was a little messy for my liking at times. Also the heat on the final third was a little warmed than I wanted but only in the final few puffs. I was hoping to savor just a little more clean flavor but I can’t complain too much because 99% of the cigar was great. Again this is all small peanuts but needs to be shared for honesty.
This is a cigar that I would recommend for all occasions as it smokes like an ultra-premium cigar you might pay $30 – $100 dollars for. I have smoked much worse for much more. Yet at the $16 price point, it is easily approachable by most people where you could smoke this cigar daily; just hanging around, in the car, on the golf course but just as easily roll it out at a a wedding or other major celebration with grand allure. That is cigar that to me, is one you keep a box of at all times.
Smokin Facts
- This cigar was our #3 Cigar of the Year in 2025
- Perdomo Cigars advertises with Smokin Tabacco
- This cigar was one of the first to sell out at its launch at Two Guys Cigars
- Cigars were purchased by Smokin Tabacco
Purchase recommendation: Multiple Box Buy
Smokin Wrap
Cigars Smoked for the Review: Three
Average smoking time: One Hour and Fifty-Five Minutes
