Perdomo Lot 23 Maduro Staff Review
Perdomo Lot 23 cigars epitomize value, and today I’m smoking a 6-by-50 Toro in the Lot 23 Maduro blend to tell you why you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck in the $8 ballpark. Brand founder Nick Perdomo unveiled Lot 23 Maduro in cigars in 2007. The Lot 23 line is named for the Nicaraguan farm where the tobaccos are grown, a project near and dear to Nick because he developed the land with his father, Nick Sr., back when they began to expand their operations in 2000.
All of the tobaccos in Lot 23 cigars are cultivated on the Lot 23 farm, including the cigar’s dark and oily wrapper leaf. The binder, filler, and wrapper are grown from Cuban-seed tobaccos, and they’re aged for a minimum of five years after they’re harvested. The cigars are finished in shiny blue-and-brown cigar bands with an image of the Lot 23 farm front and center. Nicaraguan Maduros are distinct from Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrappers in that they tend be earthier and spicier. Still, a good amount of sweetness resonates on the palate in the Lot 23 Maduro wrapper.
When I pull a Toro from a fresh box of Perdomo Lot 23 Maduro cigars, Nick’s signature quality-control measures are apparent. The dark and succulent cigars look completely uniform throughout the box, almost as if they’ve been xeroxed. Like many of the best cigar-makers, Nick Perdomo is fiercely proud of his cigars. They’re unerringly consistent and no corners are cut in the growing, blending, and manufacturing processes. When you buy a Perdomo, you know what you’re getting because Nick will stake his reputation on any cigar you smoke from the Perdomo portfolio.
When I slide the Toro from its cellophane sleeve, its firm and well-made frame shows a few hearty veins without interrupting the complexion. I clip the cap and take in a handful of cold draws which match up well with the cigar’s unlit aroma – coffee bean, cedar, cocoa, and oak. As I toast the foot, a hearty sequence of spices includes notes of white pepper, raw peppercorn, and hints of clove.
Perdomo Lot 23 is chewy and possesses a big foundation you could pair with Bulleit bourbon or something rarer like a Basil Hayden’s 10 year. Never shy away from sipping a beer with Perdomo either. If you’re a lover of basic everyman beer, Lot 23 Maduro fits the bill. Its meaty, woody flavor isn’t overly intricate but it’s also not at all bitter. Big clouds of creamy smoke proliferate a pleasant aroma throughout the room.
Perdomo cigars are known for their larger ring gauges, but this Toro comes in a standard 50 ring, slender by comparison, and that contributes to a nice concentration of taste. The cigar doesn’t burn too hot, though, and after twenty-five minutes of smoking, I’ve tapped a pristine white ash from the end three times. A white ash indicates the tobacco was grown in nutrient-rich soil – not surprising from tobacco that Nick grows himself. He’s a big fan of being vertically integrated so that he’s in complete control of his cigars from the time the seeds are planted until the box is sitting on a retail shelf.
Hints of mesquite and black pepper layer the palate in the second half of the cigar while its initial coffee-bean sweetness sharpens into a profile of espresso and dark chocolate. Perdomo Lot 23 Maduro is medium-bodied, but the finish sneaks up if you’re not smoking it gradually. The Nicaraguan tobaccos Nick grows unleash a kick. Nonetheless, Lot 23 Maduro is universally appealing because its price point is perfect for beginners who are exploring Nicaraguan cigars, and its quality meets the expectations of seasoned smokers. The finish is smoky and dense. Add a few singles to your humidor, or sample Nick’s most popular Maduro cigars in the Perdomo Maduro Connoisseur Collection which includes two Lot 23 Maduros with five other blends in a versatile 12-cigar assortment.
