Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Perdomo Double Aged 12-Year Vintage Connecticut Epicure is medium tan with some lightly raised veins, The seams are a bit raised and the top cap has a few wrinkles to it. The band is black, gold, orange, red and white. The upper portion carries the company logo while the lower section denotes the line and gives information around the barrel aging. The aroma from the wrapper is smoky wood and hay, while the foot brings a mellow mix of cedar, earth and stone fruit sweetness. The pre-light draw brings creamy cedar and light earth.

Perdomo Double Aged 12-Year Vintage Connecticut Epicure

First Third

The cigar begins with a very interesting toasted oak along with bold black pepper. At a quarter inch in, a light creaminess joins the profile. The retrohale is creamy toasted oak and lightly zingy black pepper. At an inch in, some light, dry earth joins the profile. At an inch and a half in, the earth increases a bit. As the third comers to a close, the toasted oak is a bit ahead of the black pepper, with dry earth just behind the middle of the profile and some creaminess in the background. The strength was right at medium.

Perdomo Double Aged 12-Year Vintage Connecticut Epicure

Second Third

As the second third begins, the black pepper mellows a bit and the overall profile becomes a bit dry. At a quarter inch in, construction paper joins in, even with the dry earth. The retrohale is now toasted oak, earth, construction paper and lightly zingy black pepper. At an inch in, the earth picks up a bit more. At an inch and a half in, the construction paper increases to become even with the earth again and the overall profile becomes a bit more dry. As the third comes to a close, the toasted oak is up front, with dry earth and construction paper just ahead of the middle of the profile, black pepper just behind the middle and some creaminess in the background. The strength remained at medium.

Perdomo Double Aged 12-Year Vintage Connecticut Epicure

Final Third

As the final third begins, some wood bitterness joins the profile. The retrohale remains toasted oak, earth, construction paper and lightly zingy black pepper. At an inch and a quarter, the creaminess increases a bit, which lessens the overall dryness of the profile. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted oak is up front, with dry earth and construction paper just ahead of the middle of the profile, black pepper and creaminess just behind the middle and some wood bitterness in the background. The strength remained at medium.

Perdomo Double Aged 12-Year Vintage Connecticut Epicure

Burn

The burn was straight throughout, and the ash held on in inch and three quarter increments.

Perdomo Double Aged 12-Year Vintage Connecticut Epicure

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with a very interesting toasted oak along with bold black pepper. Some light creaminess joined in pretty quickly. Some dry earth then joined in and later increased a bit. The second third saw the pepper mellow a bit. Then some construction paper joined in. Later, the earth increased some more and then the construction paper matched it. The final third saw some wood bitterness join in. Later, the creaminess increased a bit, lowering the overall dryness of the profile. The construction was absolutely perfect. The Perdomo Double Aged 12-Year Vintage Connecticut Epicure had an average flavor profile throughout, with the toasted oak being the main driver. The supporting notes didn’t elevate the profile as they contributed to a dryness that kept the enjoyment level down. Unfortunately, I didn’t really detect any barrel aging influence, other than the unique toasted oak profile early on. Also, the dryness and construction paper that can be an attribute of Connecticut shade offerings played too large of a role. Not a cigar I’d see myself coming back to.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.75

Cost/Point

$2.35

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Perdomo Double Aged 12-Year Vintage Connecticut Epicure