Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel-Aged Connecticut Epicure is medium tan with hints of green and carries some thick, raised veins. The seams are smooth and the head well finished. There are two bands, both with various shades of gold, yellow and brown, while the primary has some white and black and denotes the company and line. The foot denotes the wrapper variation. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of cedar, sweet hay and some earth, while the foot brings cedar, sweet Hawaiian bread and some earth. The pre-light draw brings sweet cedar and some floral and cardboard notes along with a mild spiciness on my lips.

Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel-Aged Connecticut Epicure

First Third

The cigar begins with a mix of toasted cedar and oak, along with some earth, black pepper and cardboard. At a half inch in, the earth and cardboard pair up. The retrohale is toasted cedar and oak, earth and cardboard. At an inch and a half in, the earth and cardboard increase a bit. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar and oak are even up front, with earth and cardboard a bit behind and some black pepper in the background. The strength was mild-medium.

Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel-Aged Connecticut Epicure

Second Third

The second third begins with the black pepper increasing a bit. At a half inch in, the earth and cardboard are now just behind the toasted cedar and oak. The retrohale remains toasted cedar and oak, earth and cardboard. At an inch and a half in, the earth becomes even with the toasted cedar and oak up front while the cardboard remains slightly behind. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar and oak are even with the earth up front, with cardboard just behind and some black pepper in the back half of the profile. The strength bumped up to slightly below medium.

Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel-Aged Connecticut Epicure

Final Third

As the final third begins, the black pepper increases a bit more. At a quarter inch in, the construction paper gains a bit of a burning paper note to it. The retrohale is now toasted cedar and oak, earth and lightly zingy black pepper. At an inch in, the black pepper is now in the middle of the profile. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted cedar and oak are even up front with the earth. The cardboard with a bit of a burning paper note to it is just behind and the black pepper is in the middle of the profile. The strength bumped up to medium.

Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel-Aged Connecticut Epicure

Burn

The burn was straight throughout and the ash held on through each third.

Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel-Aged Connecticut Epicure

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar began with a mix of toasted cedar and oak, along with some earth, black pepper and cardboard. A bit later, the earth and cardboard paired up and then later increased a bit. The second third saw the black pepper increase a bit along with the earth and cardboard. Later, the earth became even with the toasted woods up front, while the cardboard remained a bit behind. The final third saw the black pepper increase to the middle of the profile and the cardboard gained a burning paper note to it. The construction was absolutely perfect. The Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel-Aged Connecticut Epicure had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around the toasted cedar and oak, earth and cardboard. This is one of those “your Grandfathers Connecticut’s” in regards to the classic flavor profile that’s a bit dry with the cardboard/paper note to it. Not really the flavor profile I go for and not a cigar I’d really see myself returning to.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.75

Cost/Point

$2.04

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel-Aged Connecticut Epicure