Meet the Perdomo Habano Bourbon Barrel-Aged Maduro Epicure - a Nicaraguan powerhouse dressed in oily maduro wrapper aged in bourbon barrels. This 6"x54 Toro comes in boxes of 24, priced around $8.78 per stick. Expect medium-full strength with serious nicotine punch that creeps up on you.
The initial puffs blast vanilla bean and caramelized sugar notes from the bourbon-cured wrapper. White pepper tickles the nostrils while thick smoke coats the tongue. Burn line stays razor-sharp through this phase.
As the burn crosses the midpoint, dark chocolate and espresso flavors take over. The Nicaraguan fillers show their teeth with leather undertones and cedar wood smokiness. Watch that nicotine content - it starts building noticeable warmth in the chest.
The last act brings black pepper explosions and volcanic soil minerality. The maduro sweetness battles earthy tones in a satisfying tug-of-war. Expect some tar buildup by the nub - better quit before the 1.5-inch mark.
Grown in Esteli's volcanic soil, the Cuban-seed tobacco undergoes six years of aging before getting that extra bourbon barrel treatment. The maduro wrapper spends 14 months absorbing whiskey residues in oak casks - creating that signature vanilla-sweet bark texture.
