My First Cigar Review.

Cigar:            Perdomo.La.Tradicion.Cabinet. Series. Reserve (Red Label)

Size:             54 x 5.00  / Medium box press

Country:          Nicaragua

Wrapper:          Nic or ECSU?

Binder:           Nic

Filler:           Nic

Flavor Strength:   Medium

Nicotine Strength: Medium to Full

Date Received:    2004-07-20

Suspected Age:    4.5-6 months 

Vendor/Price:     JR Cigar  $3.75

Beverage(s):      Dead Guys Ale, Water

Smoke Time:       5:00 PM

Date:             2004-12-09

Humidity:         65%. Then 74% for last week.

Overall:    A good cigar.  Firm. Tight wrapper well bound.  Heavy. Attractive  appearance.  Distinct chocolate and hint of raspberry. Chocolate flavor builds to the      end as raspberry fades after second third, replaced with some aromatic wood. Medium nicotine buzz from the beginning.  Good smoke volume, yet burns slow, lots of tobacco packed in this cigar, and the weight I presume would further support this. 

Ambience:   Daniels with D.  Festive xmas decorations. Camille. Sweet Sara showed up around 5:30, nice to see her.  A couple seated to the north of us complained about our smoking, we were visited by the manager and asked to keep a low profile.  Couple      turns down multiple invitations to eat in the dinning room.  D smoke's with defiant abandonment. They did not complain further.  Approached by Lee Ann's twin.  Miss Shurgaurd asked us to provide cigar expertise.  After around 30 minutes, I can take it

no longer and abandon my friend and bail on the evening leaving him to provide a desperately needed ear to Miss Shurgard.  D reports later that Miss Shurgaurd was interested in more that his ear.  D finally escapes 1 hour later.  Recommendation: D and I decide to create an escape code.

Construction:     Very nice looking.  Medium box press.  Dark, oily maduro wrapper with large red contrasting band. 

Cut & Prelight: Strong chocolate wrapper aroma.  Cut well.  Good draw.

First third:      Initial chocolate/raspberry flavors.  Good smoke volume and nice    medium draw. D remembers nice white ash.             

Second third:     Chocolate/raspberry flavors intensifying.  A bit of aromatic wood. 

Third third:      More wood and chocolate, raspberry flavor nearly gone.  A hint of cherry, licorice and beginning to detect some pepper flavors.  Burn becoming quite uneven nearly .5 inch on one side.  Sweet at the very end, with strong artichoke and grain feed beef favors developing - or it could have been the apps.  Nice nicotine buzz and another fine evening.

Jary