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

Size:             54 x 5.00  Box press

Country:          Nicaragua

Wrapper:          Nic or ECSU?

Binder:           Nic

Filler:           Nic

Flavor Strength:  Medium

NicotineStength:  Medium

Date Received:    2004-07-15

Suspected Age:    4.5 months or more

Vendor/Price:     JR Cigar  $3.75

Beverage(s):      Pyramid Snow Cap Ale, Water

Smoke time:       1:45

Date:             2004-11-27

Posted to ASC:    2004-11-28

Overall:    A good cigar.  Starts very peppery, then gives way to coffee/cocoa, then adds aromatic wood.  Bit of a nicotine buzz.  somewhat sweet finish.  Pleasant, but not a box purchase.  Good smoke volume, poor burn.  Again, I ask, why do manufacturers insult perfectly good cigars with heavy box presses?

Ambience:   My living room.  Little woman is off on a sewing retreat.  Worked the day.  Rented a couple of movies.  Drank beer and ate Thanksgiving leftovers.  Smoked while plotting courses to Bend, OR and New Orleans, LA.

Construction:     Very nice looking.  Heavy box press.  Dark, oily maduro wrapper set off by a large blood red band.  Long triple cap.  One medium vein. 

Cut & Prelight:   Coffee and chocolate wrapper aroma.  Cut well.  Lip tingle with pepper on the palate draw flavor.  Good draw - some resistance.

First third:      Initially very peppery with cocoa/coffee finish.  The burn on one "corner" of the box press is lagging.  Good smoke volume and nice draw.  Nice white ash.  Flavor rather mild-med in the coffee/cocoa profile with similar finish.  Pepper has largely worked itself out of the flavor, and it is sweetening.  Quite pleasant.  Ashed itself at 1".  Ragged burn that must be constantly attended - spit and fire.

Second third:     Now a bit of aromatic wood.  Finish sweeter. 

Third third:      More wood and cocoa.  Burn was problematic throughout.  Bit of a nicotine buzz.