I couldn't find any discussion about this cigar by using the search, so forgive me if this has already been around the block.

Just smoked this cigar and it was a bit of an enigma. At first I was struck by it's rather unique flavor and Cuban like "twang". It really had something very satisfying about it. Then it started to burn "crooked". After some cigar surgery, I got it burning straght and continued my enjoyable smoke. Then I noticed something I had never seen in a cigar...the ash that appeared to be from the binder was black. Charcoal black. The wrapper burned white, as did the filler, but there was a distinct ring of black ash just under the wrapper. These cigars are supposed to be from the same tobacco field (with the exception of the wrapper) and this runs contrary to the very different ash colors. The cigar then started to burn crooked again and although the taste was quite satisfying, I don't think I would buy more of these simply because they were so much work to smoke. Have any other readers experienced this with the Lot 23?

I bought 3 boxes of Lot 23's just prior to deploying out here; they are resting in my humidor back in the world right now. I smoked several singles from my local B&M before purchasing in box quanities, and didn't have any of the burn problems you described.

I enjoy this cigar very much, and probably would have only purchsed one box, until I started reading the information provided on the inside of the box. The Lot 23 field was planted and harvested in 2000. That's the same year my twins (boy / girl) were born. I'd been looking for some cigars to stash away in my big cabinet humidor for the kids...thought it would be cool to pull some out for future significant events like HS Graduation, weddings, grandchildren and such. I know they are only 6 years old now, but I like to plan for the future and thought having nicely aged cigars that share a connection with their birth year would be kinda' neat. So, I got 3 boxes...one for me, and one for each of them...just hope they like cigars when the time comes, or I'm gonna' be stuck with two extra boxes of Lot 23's aged for 18 years

Aren't cigars great. It's nice that you will commemorate great events with cigars you really enjoy and have a special connection with. I have a few more 23s in my hummie and look forward to giving them another try. I'm glad to hear you have had no burn problems with them. They really have a unique flavor and it'd be nice if other cigar comapanies took the Lot 23 approach and made cigars from a single field. It's like a single malt scotch compared to blended. They would each have their own singular quality. I really like the flavor of the 23 and am drawn to smoke another soon. I'm still curious about the black ring.

I smoked a little torpedo Lot 23 a few weeks ago. There is definitely some "twang" when you first light it up but for me, it was marked by an unpleasantly perfumey aroma that went away after a few puffs. Not a bad cigar at all, just nothing I'd buy again. The whole Perdomo line holds no interest for me anymore; from time to time I try their new stuff but always come away underwhelmed. I smoked an ESV yesterday that I got at Cigarfest and if I paid $11 for this I would have thrown it at Nick Perdomo, which I hate to say because he's a really nice guy and his cigars are high quality, they're just a little...I don't know...

Individual taste in cigars is, well...individual. I have a group of regulars back home with whom I share cigars, and too much of my money at the poker table. They seem to be split half and half on the Lot 23. There again, individual taste. I happen to like the entire Perdomo line. The Lot 23 is a little different from the rest, but given that all the filler comes from the same piece of dirt, that's bound to be the case. To me the Lot 23 is an interesting experiment, and a fine cigar that I enjoy smoking....matter of fact, I just won a 5-pack of Toros on CBid...should make their way out here next week

quote:

I smoked an ESV yesterday that I got at Cigarfest and if I paid $11 for this I would have thrown it at Nick Perdomo, which I hate to say because he's a really nice guy and his cigars are high quality, they're just a little...I don't know...

Well EC, I might have a solution for you. I'm a huge Perdomo fan but I admit that I always let his cigars rest a few months in the humi before I smoke them. I said this to Nick's right hand man at Cigarfest last weekend and he seemed a little stumped. I swear his cigars have an ammonia smell when you open the box...but it goes away in a month or so and they are my favorite smokes. I bought 4 of his samplers at the event and am thrilled there were at least 6 ESVs in each one. I love them and recommend you smoke the smaller ring gages after they air out a bit. Back on point tho...Lot 23 is a great cigar. I have a few boxes of them too. I prefer the smaller ring gages in ESV and Lot 23...and the Bs and Ps in the Cabinet Series. Just great stuff!

Oh, EC...I was the fat dude in the salmon colored CI shirt smoking that damn CAO Maduro to get my CAO Black lol. 8)

Smoked a toro today and it was my first lot 23. I enjoyed the unusual taste if you will. It was a perfectly rolled cigar. No soft spots, firm to the touch and perfect draw. Lots of leather and what I thought was a touch of orange peel and black pepper. The finnish was short. I also was intrigued by the black ring. The ash started as a lite gray then became white.
All and all a good bang for the buck. Would enjoy again.

Yeah, why the black ring?

Had some friends over and passed out cigars. The one that got the Lot 23 loved it, and sitting next to him I noticed his cigar had a wonderfully unique aroma compared to the others. Just as aroma can reveal who is smoking a Cuban, the Lot 23 has that similar "thing" that makes it a truely Cuban-like smoke.

I just finished a 5-pack of the these, and I like 'em. While i'm still pretty new to cigars, I can definitely say they had a unique flavor and aroma to them. Probably going to buy a box of the robustos next week!

Smoked my second Lot Toro yesterday and absolutlely loved it. I don't understand why there isn't more of a buzz about this cigar. It is one of the most satisfying smokes around. I'm box bound after I finish the few I have left.

I thought black rings were supposed to be bad? Any opinions on this? Either way the owner of the B&M I go to has mentioned the Lot 23 really enthusiastically a few times since he ordered them recently but I havent tried them yet.

That's what makes this cigar an enigma. The black band. If this cigar is so good, and it is, why the black band? That's associated with tobacco grown in inferior soil. Additionally, the Lot 23 has filler and binder grown in the same soil. White ash and black ash from the same soil? Another inexplicable componant of the puzzle.

I've smoked a large variety of brands, from Cuban Monticristo to Padron and everything in between, and there's something about the Lot 23 cigars that I crave. I think because they have a unique character, there will always be lovers and haters. These are the only Connecticut Shade style cigar that I like. Just ordered a box and really looking forward to the Maduro 23.

I enjoyed the lot 23 I had a week ago. like robustojoe, it is one of the only conn. shade cigars that I have enjoyed.

Robustojoe: Have you tried out the Maduro yet? Just wondering how they are.

I bought a 5er of the Robusto's and after a couple of weeks in the humidor I lit one up Friday night.

I enjoyed the cigar, but like Robusto Joe I too had a lot of problems with the burn.

This was the 1st time I ever had anything from the Perdomo line, so
I'm going to take Howma's advice and let them sit until September or so before trying another.........

I will be ordering a five pack of maduros soon. I'm very curious. I recently smoked a selection of other Perdomo Reserve cigars and found them to be very good. It seems like smoothness is Perdomo's stock and trade. All were smooth and the only one that I didn't like was the Sun Grown. The Cameroon was particularly good. But still, it's the Lot 23 that stands out as the exceptional smoke. There's really something special about it.

I smoked a 23 maddie over the weekend. I love the natural and loved the maddie even more. Like everyone else on the various boards that like them, I can't really tell you why, but they are very satisfying. Maybe mine have been the exception, but my burns have been fantastic (no touch-ups needed at all with a cool burn). I've got a box of naturals and a box of maddies resting. I landed both boxes at ridiculous prices on cbid. Of course, the other 50% of BOTLs hate these. To each his/her own.

I have finally gotten around to smoking a 23 maduro (Churchill) and I was a bit disappointed. As posted earlier, the 23 natural is my favorite cigar, but the maduro was lacking the great character that I crave in the natural. Although enjoyable, the maduro tasted bland compared to the natural. Perhaps the maduro needs to age a few years. The naturals were rolled and stored for years before boxing and I assume that because the maduro is a new addition, that it was not aged as much, if at all. I'm going to let my other four maddies sit for a while and give them another chance in a few months. I don't think I can wait years though, they look too delicious. They are chocolate brown and perfectly rolled. Too tempting to resist.