Even though I'm a big fan of Manuel Quesada's Fonseca and Cubita lines, I initially ignored this cigar since there didn't seem to be much fanfare when these were released some time ago. When CA rated the Perfecto an 83 -- an unusually low score these days -- I wrote it off as a waste of $12.95.
Lucky thing then that URiah hepped me to this because it's wonderful. Yes, it's expensive. No, it's not an Opus X killer, either. What it is, though, is a lovely, mild- to medium-bodied smoke along the lines of Altadis' Jose Seijas. Like the Seijas, I could enjoy it any time of day: it's mild enough for mornings, yet complex and satisfying enough for an after-dinner smoke.
The Perfecto is wrapped in a oily, dark, mottled Dominican wrapper that conceals a filler blend from the DR and Nicaragua, held tight with a Honduran binder. The cigar was perfectly rolled with a curious twist: it needs to be clipped at both ends because the head and the foot are capped.
Once I got it snipped and lit, however, it immediately impressed me with the taste of very well-aged and blended tobaccos. Fans of the Diamond Crown Maximus and aforementioned Seijas will appreciate the complete lack of harshness. There's very little waiting for this cigar to warm up, either. Right off the bat, it delivered an earthy, woody flavor that took on notes of leather as it went on. The balance of flavors was about perfect and the cigar held a perfect ash well past the halfway point. I smoked it past the band until it got too hot to enjoy: over 1 hour, 15 minutes of enjoyment.
A real treat, though I'd prefer the 6.5 x 52 Toro size. One suggestion: smoke it slow, puff a minute max. Like any milder cigar, if you heat it up, it will get harsh.
If you like Seijas and Maximus, these will be right up your alley.
******************* "If I had taken my doctor's advice and quit smoking when he advised me to, I wouldn't have lived to go to his funeral." -George burns at age 98
