2020 CA Report: Top 9 Best Rated Perdomo Cigars

THE BEST PERDOMO CIGARS, CHOSEN BY CIGAR SMOKERS LIKE YOU 

If there’s one Cuban-American cigar making family that’s found a formula for success, Perdomo Cigars is one of the finest examples. In 2013, I published The World of Perdomo Cigars, a four-part series that describes the Perdomo cigar making process from seeds to the finished product. Better yet, type ‘Perdomo’ in our search box and you’ll find a virtual library’s worth of information on practically every aspect of the brand. Let’s just say it’s one of the great American success stories.  

The company, which is completely vertically integrated—that’s marketing speak for, they do everything from planting to packaging under one roof—is dedicated to their customer satisfaction. That’s just one of the reasons Perdomo cigars get such high customers ratings; the quality control is first-rate. But Perdomo also has a great relationship with their customers. The Perdomo Cigars website is loaded with great information on each cigar selection, including some great pairings. Their YouTube site also has some great Cigars 101 videos, interviews, and more.  

They’ve also kept their prices reasonable, so you get a lot of cigar for your money. Additionally, Perdomo Cigars is the only cigar manufacturer to completely absorb the punitive SCHIP federal excise tax on all of its brands, and they have no intention of stopping anytime soon.  

The Big 3

When it comes to almost all of their line extensions, Perdomo has kept it simple, and it’s worked extremely well for them. They’ve narrowed their lines to essentially three wrapper varieties: Connecticut, Sun Grown, and Maduro. Practically all of the Connecticut wrappers are grown in Ecuador, but all the other wrappers and core tobaccos are grown on Perdomo’s estate farms in Jalapa, Condega and Estelí. The nice part is there’s a Perdomo cigar for smokers of every experience—so, no excuses. And they’re impressively consistent, too. 

“Nicaragua has 5 things that make it the very best cigar tobacco in the world today,” says Nick Perdomo Jr. “First, it has an abundance of clean water; secondly, it has the most fertile volcanic grounds. During the growing season, we have bright sunshine up to 12 hours a day, which helps not only in plant growth, but in thickness of the leaf. Nicaragua has an infrastructure second to none. And finally, it has three incredibly rich growing regions that are so unique, unlike other countries, and each 50 to 110 miles apart. It also has different climates and grounds. It is so truly special.” 

Famous Customer Picks: Perdomo’s Best Cigars

During my research, I was surprised at how many Perdomo Lot23 and Habano line cigars came up with four to five star reviews. There were also a lot of maduros, and I can see that, since Perdomo’s Cuban seed maduro is one of the richest, sweetest and oiliest. There were also a good number of top-rated cigars with Connecticut wrappers, which continue to be the most popular among cigar smokers. If I had listed them in exact order of rating there would be too many cigars in the same line, so I spread them out to give you a wider range of choices, including a sampler.  

#9. Perdomo 20th Anniversary Maduro Robusto – 4.5 Stars – 7 Customers  

Size: 5” x 56 
Strength: Medium-plus 
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro 
Binder & Filler: Cuban-seed Nicaraguan  

Awarded “Best Cigar Nicaragua 2014” by Cigar Journal, including a 94 rating score, I’m not surprised that this corpulent Robusto made the list. This cigar has so much flavor to offer it’s no wonder they rolled it to a 56 ring. The wrapper is a dark, oil-laden, eight-year old Nicaraguan leaf aged in bourbon barrels for an additional 14 months. The result is a well-balanced banquet of oak, cocoa, and sweet spice on an elegant finish with a hint of espresso. A satisfying selection for cigar smokers of every experience. 

#8. Perdomo Fresco Churchill Connecticut – 4.5 Stars – 7 Customers 

Size: 7” x 50 
Strength: Medium  
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut Shade 
Binder & Filler: Cuban-seed Nicaraguan 

Considered among many to be Perdomo’s best kept secret, Perdomo Fresco hails among the world’s bestselling bundle cigars, bar none. The Churchill Connecticut is deftly handmade, and the price makes them one of the best everyday cigar values you’ll find. More medium in body due to its longer size, the smoke is as smooth and creamy as it gets with well-defined notes of oak, roasted nuts, sweet tobacco, and a smack of cedar on the finish. An affordable intro cigar for those new to Perdomo, newer cigar smokers, or those who can’t get enough of its milder flavor profile. 

#7. Perdomo Limited Cameroon Edition Petit Corona – 5 Stars – 7 Customers   

Size: 4½” x 44 
Strength: Medium 
Wrapper: African Cameroon 
Binder & Filler: Cuban-seed Nicaraguan 

If you’ve got a hankerin’ for genuine African Cameroon wrapper and cigars in this particular format you’ve hit paydirt with this Limited Cameroon Edition Petite Corona. Keyword: “limited.” Once these are gone, they may not be returning. Additionally, the reason why these were done LE is because Perdomo’s Cameroon bales were thin at the time of production. But the quality is Grade-1, and you can taste it. The Nicaraguan core melds wonderfully with the wrapper offering a rich-tasting, naturally sweet smoke imbued with earthiness, cedar, and a well-rounded mix of sweet and peppery spices. Impressively affordable, too. 

#6. Perdomo Cuban Parejo Rothschild Connecticut – 4.5 Stars – 12 Customers

Size: 4¾” x 50 
Strength: Medium-plus  
Wrapper: U.S. Connecticut Shade 
Binder & Filler: Cuban-seed Nicaraguan 

One of the few, if only, Perdomo cigars rolled in a genuine U.S.-grown Connecticut wrapper, the Perdomo Cuban Parejo is a virtual classic offering superb construction and flavor. As one of our former writers suggested, this is a “comfort cigar.” The smoke winds its way into your heart with crisp base flavors of cedar, roasted coffee, some peppery spice, and a thin ribbon of caramel-like sweetness. I’ve often wondered if the reference to “Cuban” has to do with the color of the wrappers, which resemble the patina of Cuban Corojo. But that aside, it’s got great legs and is as equally enjoyable after dinner as it is during the day.  

#5. Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel Aged Epicure Connecticut – 4.5 Stars – 13 Customers 

Size: 6” x 54
Strength: Medium 
Wrapper: Vintage Ecuador Connecticut 
Binder & Filler: Cuban-seed Nicaraguan 

There’s something about the Epicure’s 6×54 dimensions that enable to deliver a smoke of unequalled proportions. Bourbon barrel aging is at the heart of Perdomo’s blending acumen, and it pays-off in spades. For this Connecticut Epicure, the six year-aged Ecuador-grown wrappers are given eight additional months of barrel aging then skillfully rolled around the six year-aged cores. The smoke is dense, uber creamy, and maintains an almond-like nuttiness, oak, and sweet spice that welcomes additional flavors of dark roast coffee at various points. The Epicure Connecticut also reveals a flavor profile similar to the classic Connecticut cigars from an earlier generation. 

#4. Perdomo Habano Barrel Aged Robusto Sun Grown – 4.5 Stars – 22 Customers 

Size: 5” x 54 
Strength: Full 
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Sun Grown 
Binder & Filler: Cuban-seed Nicaraguan 

It just might be a toss-up among Perdomo cigar smokers on whether they prefer Perdomo’s sun grown wrappers or maduro wrappers—they’re both remarkably flavorful. And one of the best examples of their sun grown fare is the Habano Bourbon Barrel Aged Robusto. Handcrafted with the same six-year-aged tobaccos throughout, the sun grown wrappers are barrel-aged for an additional 10 months. Smooth and creamy, as per, this puro reveals a very refined fusion of earth, leather, oak, almonds, coffee, cocoa and sweet spice that orbit in perfect balance. Tailor made for experienced cigar smokers, it may be a little heady for newbs in the last act.  

#3. Perdomo Champagne Epicure (10th Anniversary) – 4.5 Stars – 27 Customers

Size: 6” x 54 
Strength: Medium  
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut Shade 
Binder & Filler: Cuban-seed Nicaraguan 

Based on Perdomo’s award-winning original La Tradición cigars selection, the Perdomo Champagne line was first released in honor of the company’s 10 year anniversary. Continuing its run as one of the highest rated Connecticut cigars in the Perdomo stable, the Champagne Epicure offers Perdomo’s signature creaminess and unpacks a well-balanced cocktail of oak, almonds, cocoa, and coffee with sweet spice on a long finish. Complex is an understatement, and as good as it is with a good bourbon, the Epicure is just as satisfying with a rich cup of coffee. Ideal for cigar smokers who want more from a Connecticut cigar. 

#2. Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Robusto Maduro – 4.5 Stars – 31 Customers 

Size: 5” x 54, box-pressed
Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder & Filler: Cuban-seed Nicaraguan

Recently updated with new, eye-catching packaging, neon blue bands, and a cool box-pressed shape, the Perdomo 10th Anniversary Sun Grown Robusto has only been out a few months and is already sweeping up stars. All of the estate-grown tobaccos in this puro are six years old with the sun grown wrappers getting an additional 14 months of aging in bourbon barrels. Medium body, but more medium to full in strength, Nick says, “We blended these cigars to not only be rich in flavor, but also to be very smooth on the pallet with slight hints of sweetness.” The smoke is ultra-creamy with notes of earth, oak, sweet spices, cocoa and espresso on a lightly peppery finish. Simply put, this is classic Perdomo.

#1. Perdomo Lot 23 Robusto Maduro – 4.5 Stars – 40 Customers   

Size: 5”x50 
Strength: Medium 
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Jalapa Cuban-seed Maduro aged 5 yrs. 
Binder & Filler: Nicaraguan Cuban-seed aged 5 yrs. 

Here it is. . .The highest customer-rated Perdomo cigar at Famous Smoke Shop. With the Robusto coming in at 40 four-to-five star customer reviews, the Perdomo Lot 23 Maduro selection was also awarded the “Best Value Brand Nicaragua” in 2012 by Cigar Journal. Handcrafted with tobaccos grown in a virgin plot of land discovered in 2000 by the late Nicholas Perdomo Sr., today it continues to produce some of the world’s most flavorful tobacco. Not unlike a wine maker’s single vineyard reserve, Perdomo Lot 23 utilizes tobaccos that are grown exclusively on the same plot of land. Starting with a dark, oily Cuban-seed wrapper aged five years, the smoke is magnificently rich, creamy, and complex with distinctive notes of mocha, oakwood, and sweet spices. 

Bonus: Perdomo 10th Anniversary Six Pack Sampler  

Size: 6″x 54 
Strength: Varies 
Wrapper: Varies 
Binder & Filler: Cuban-seed Nicaraguan 

Get the best of all Perdomo wrapper worlds in this Perdomo 10th Anniversary six cigar sampler presented in Epicure-sized pairs. You get the original Champagne Connecticut and Sun Grown vitolas plus a Champagne Noir maduro for a flavorful threesome that captures every smooth, creamy Perdomo flavor profile in the 10th Anniversary Series. And at this time of the year, it makes a good gift idea, too.