Pre-light Experience

The Perla del Mar Maduro Double Toro has a rectangle press with a wrapper that is dark brown with thick but well pressed veins and sparkles when viewed in the right light. The seams are smooth and the caps have some slightly lifting edges. The band is the new design for the brand and is gold and matte black and designates the brand, wrapper and company. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of wood and cocoa while the foot brings sweetness that is in between stone fruit and tropical along with some light earth and sharp spice. The pre-light draw brings cedar along with a mid-level spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with dark earth, toasted cedar and baking spice. The retrohale is toasted cedar, earth and a zingy baking spice. At an inch in, the baking spice mellows a bit. At an inch and a quarter, the earth now has a slight lead over the toasted cedar. As the third comes to a close, the profile is dark earth slightly ahead of the toasted cedar and baking spice a bit further behind. The strength was slightly above medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the baking spice transitions to a mellow black pepper. At a half inch in, the cedar transitions to oak. The retrohale is now dry earth and toasted oak. As the third comes to a close, the profile is dry earth and toasted oak even up front with black pepper in the background. The strength remained at slightly above medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, a light mustiness joins the profile. The retrohale is now toasted oak and dry earth with mustiness right behind. At an inch in, the toast level increases. As the cigar wraps up, the heavily toasted oak is slightly ahead of the dry earth with mustiness and black pepper in the background. The strength in this third bumped up to medium-full.

Burn

The burn line was a bit wavy at times, but never needed any intervention. The ash held on through each third.

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar began with dark earth, toasted cedar and baking spice. The second third saw the baking spice transition to black pepper and the cedar transitioned to oak. The final third saw some mustiness join in and the toast level became fairly heavy. The Perla del Mar Maduro Double Toro had an average flavor profile with a few transitions, but nothing too exciting. For a cigar of this price point, you get a long smoking time, so if you like the profile described and tend to go for cigars on the lower end of the price spectrum, this would be one to seek out. For me, I wouldn’t see it as a cigar I’d come back to all that often, but it would be a good match for when you want something that performs well while you’re not completely focused on it.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.65

Cost/Point

$1.35

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Perla del Mar Maduro Double Toro