Perdomo Reserve Champagne R-5x54

Appearance and Construction (14 of 15 points possible)

A nice golden conneticuit with a silky sheen of oil carressing the surface of this smoke. Construction on this beauty feels solid, the cap is done nicely also. The band has a nice golden Canary color, its nice and sharp without the risk of being to flashy. This cigar has Ambiance.

Flavor (23 of 25 points possible)

A real genuine toastiness hits you right off the bat with spice, wood, and hints of nuts. After the initial tasting I'm picking up a nice Floral creaminess also with hints of black tea, a nice complex smoke so far. After 1/4 way into the smoke it's definetly proven to be a very flavorful and complex cigar for being mild-medium in body. The flavors now consist of toasty wood, black tea, nuts and a creamy floral-ness on the finish. I find myself French inhaling this cigar more than usual, it's a treat so far. At halfway the cigar is still going strong, the flavors are very pronounced and very distinguished. The flavors hit my palate in this order, roasted coffee bean, wood, black tea, nuts and still some of that floral creaminess on the tailend. The toasty wood has now taken on a roasted coffee bean note, its very nice. Approaching the 3/4 mark the cigar is building from mild-medium to a solid medium bodied smoke, still richly balanced and quite complex. At 3/4 a way into this cigar the flavor profile now consists of roasted coffee bean, nuts, black tea and a hearty creaminess (almost a meaty, robust creaminess). Towards the last 1 1/2 inch the cigar finishes up with a solid medium body full of richness, balance and complexity. It has built up nicely towards the end devoid of any bitterness or harsh qualities. I nubbed this baby, it had a sharp clean medium lasting finish.

Smoking Characteristics (24 of 25 points possible)

AHhhhhh! The aroma is pure Nirvana, what a wonderfully smelling cigar. Notes of toast, wood, coffea bean and tobacco resonate though the atmosphere. I dropped the salt and pepper ash at 2 inches, Im sure it would of hung on longer. The texture of the ash was solid but had a fine powdery quality to it also. This cigar produced lots of smoke with a perfect draw, it was a perfect perfomer in this category. The burn was razor sharp from begining to end.

Overall Impression (32 of 35 points possible)

What can I say about the best mild-medium cigar I have ever smoked so far! This cigar was simply amazing for its body, rich, balanced, complex and had well defined flavors. The cigar performed flawlessly without a hitch and the aroma was killer. Something to note is that this cigar had some good settling time to it, 7 months to be exact. If you like Casa Torano, Excaliber Sterling, Padilla Claro Conneticuit, Gispert of other highly flavorful Mild or medium bodied cigars you have to give this one a try but hold it for atleast 6 months before sparking it up. It's worth the time and price to sit on it IMO.

Overall score - 93

You like this better than the Casa? I just had a Casa last night and they've always blown away any Perdomo Champagne I've smoked. I'll have to dig another Champagne out and take it for a spin.

This one was very good El_P, it was also the first I have ever smoked so I cant compare it to a young Champagne. It was very pronounced in flavor and the arome was unreal.

Sorry, I like the Champagnes and all, and have some "R" size in my humidor, but I'll take the Casa Torano over the Champagne, the Champagne, though good for a Connecticut Shade wrapper smoke, is kind of bland for the bucks paid.

Mike

Maybe I just got a good one because this was anything but bland, I'll have to pic up a 5 pack and see if it was just a good sample, fluke or just me. Who know's???

I smoked the champagne from the sampler a few months ago and, while the flavor was decent, it was grossly underfilled. Maybe I'll have to give another a shot one of these days. good review stoge...

I like this cigar a lot too. I thought it was pretty awesome when I first smoked it. Good review stogie. I think these are similar to the casa I had but I would probably take a champagne over the casa. I remember it being more interesting than the casa was.

Yeah, I was very suprised with this too. I think it got a 90 in my review a couple of months ago. Glad to see we have similiar taste in something!

Wow, i think thats the highest rating i've ever seen on a Perdomo here ...hope it doesn't go the same way as that onyx reserve...hehe...

no really, great review stogie, i'm looking forward to smoking one of these also, the reserva line has fired me back up on perdomo, even if the price of these has kept me coooool

quote:

Originally posted by Bluesky5553:
Sorry, I like the Champagnes and all, and have some "R" size in my humidor, but I'll take the Casa Torano over the Champagne, the Champagne, though good for a Connecticut Shade wrapper smoke, is kind of bland for the bucks paid.

Mike

My sentiments exactly. Only Connecticut wrapped cigar I smoke is the Casa. It's sooooooo good.

quote:

Originally posted by pmpimbura:
I like this cigar a lot too. I thought it was pretty awesome when I first smoked it. Good review stogie. I think these are similar to the casa I had but I would probably take a champagne over the casa. I remember it being more interesting than the casa was.

Pmp, I'll dig out some Robbies with a little age for you to sample. Last one I had was in-focking-credible.

Lets not get carried away el prez. Neither these or the casas can touch the ashtons IMO. I don't search out a CS wrapped cigar unless its an ashton. They are truly a cut above.

Smoked the Champagne this afternoon and mine was the same as Idesign's: way too loose a draw. Even biting the end with my teeth and trying to close it down didn't do it!!! Nice taste, but - in my opinion - nothing I would buy a box of.

I know by smoking other Reserve's in the line that these cigars are rather incosistent but this one was right on. The Maduros I reviewed were like day light from darkness, the first one was like smoking air it tunneled so bad and the second was perfect in construction. I agree, for the price there shouldnt be so many inconsistent smokes in the box.

Yeesh, still the same construction issues??