This Nicaraguan puro comes dressed in oily maduro wrapper that's seen more aging than most college freshmen - 12 years to be exact. The robusto format (5"x56) feels substantial between fingers with textbook construction. At $221.40 per box of 24, it's priced like a special occasion stick that secretly wants to be your daily driver.
The cold draw serves wet earth and molasses. Initial puffs deliver bourbon-barrel sweetness - think charred oak and vanilla extract. Smoke output stays moderate, requiring deliberate draws to wake up those double-aged leaves.
Espresso grounds dominate as the burn line passes the band. Retrohales reveal black pepper that's been mellowed by age. The 56 ring gauge doesn't feel bulky thanks to open draw, though novices might find nicotine buildup creeping up by this stage.
Dark chocolate bitterness emerges, balanced by lingering sweetness in the nostrils. Ash holds firm in 1" segments. Last inch turns leathery with mineral notes - classic Jalapa valley terroir saying goodbye.
The Jalapa-grown wrapper spends a decade in bales before getting stuffed into bourbon barrels - Perdomo's signature double-aging trick. Binder/filler leaves from Estelí add that characteristic Nicaraguan punch. Final assembly happens in their Miami facility where tropical humidity helps marry the flavors.
