|
|
|
| VINTAGE, BUT ALSO "OLD SCHOOL" |
|
|
|
Page 1 of 2  Tasting and grading the Perdomo ESV ‘91 plus Marshall Holman’s Old School and Randello!Los Angeles, June 20 – Way back in 2000, Nick Perdomo wanted to create a cigar using vintage leaf that was as good as he could make it, even if there wasn’t enough leaf to make that many. The result was the Estate Seleccion Vintage 1991, now known as the ESV ‘91. Originally introduced with a Connecticut natural-shade wrapper or a Nicaraguan-grown maduro wrapper, a third style with a Cameroon wrapper that is offered in tubes appeared in 2005. We tried all three to see how this cigar stacked up against the other Perdomo offerings. Since the baseball season is now in full swing, we also had to try boutique cigarmaker Marshall Holman’s tribute to the Brooklyn Dodgers, called “Old School” and his flagship brand, Randello. Perdomo ESV ‘91 – Natural wrapper: [Nicaragua: available in 5 sizes] The ESV ‘91 was a sensation when it was introduced in 2000, combining a Connecticut wrapper with five-year-aged Nicaraguan-grown binder and filler leaves in a series of hefty sizes, mostly of 54 ring gauge. Although designed to be medium in body, we found the natural-wrapped editions to be mouth-fillers and full-bodied. Very well made, the ESV ‘91s burned evenly and had a spicy and toasty aroma. The flavor isn’t bold, but rather demure with a creamy taste accented by a spicy finish that stays on the tongue. It’s never harsh or aggressive, but nicely balanced. The spicy aspects become more tangy in the second half and for those who enjoy a spicy smoke, this is an interesting cigar, but it’s not for everyone. The five sizes have retail prices of $7.00 to $11.00 each before local sales or tobacco taxes and are presented in elegant Spanish Cedar boxes of 20. Overall grade: B+: Very Good. Perdomo ESV ‘91 – Maduro wrapper: [Nicaragua: available in 5 sizes] The maduro-wrapped version of the ESV ‘91 uses a Nicaraguan-grown leaf in an all-Nicaraguan blend. It also has a spicy aroma and is medium-to-full in body. There’s the expected sweet taste that you get from a maduro wrapper plus a spicy charge from the binder and fillers. While never overpowering, the spicy aspects of the blend make for an interesting balance with the maduro wrapper. This taste remains fairly consistent throughout; it’s not a bold cigar, but one which has nuances in taste that are quite agreeable and even surprising in their subtlety. Like the natural-wrapped version, retail prices range from $7.00 to $11.00 before local sales and tobacco taxes. All sizes are offered in boxes of 20. Overall grade: A-: Excellent. |
| < Following Column | Previous Column > |
|---|
 |
 |
Did you know?
“Bauza is not only a premium Dominican brand, but still made in Cuba for domestic consumption only.
