Blind Cigar Review: Perdomo | Reserve 10th Anniversary Box-Pressed Sun Grown Epicure

Cigar Info

Last year, Perdomo gave their 10th Anniversary line a fresh look, new blends, and new sizes. Prior to 2020, the Maduro and Sun Grown blends were under the Champagne line, now those are simply under the 10th Anniversary brand, with the core Champaign (Connecticut wrapper) staying. The two lines are now simply known as Reserve 10th Anniversary Box-Pressed Sun Grown, and Reserve 10th Anniversary Box-Pressed Maduro. The 10th Anniversary line has been around since 2004 was actually more than ten years after forming the company in 1992.

The Perdomo Reserve 10th Anniversary Box-Pressed Sun Grown has been reblended and uses a six-year-old Cuban-Seed Sun Grown Nicaraguan wrapper that has also spend 10 months spent aging in bourbon barrels. The binder and filler also have six years of age but not barrel-aging. The line also has some new sizes and is entirely box-pressed including: Figurado (4 3/4 x 56) – $7.25, Robusto (5 x 54) – $8.25, Epicure (6 x 54) – $8.75, Churchill (7 x 54) – $9.25, Torpedo (7 x 54) – $9.50, Super Toro (6 x 60) – $9.75.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaragua Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera Perdomo S.A.
Blender: Nick Perdomo
Number of reviewers: 4 – Sean F. (fullermaine) Kevin J. (maninblack77) Kevin A. (Kevin A.) Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)
Price: $8.75
Age: 6 Months
Release Date: July 2020
Contributed by: Blind Man’s Puff

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 93

“The box press on this toro sized cigar is very well done. Not an extreme press. The wrapper is a beautiful cinnamon color with a velvet feel to it. Seamless appearance.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

Aroma: 91

“Barnyard, fresh ground coffee, and a little bit of cocoa powder are coming from the foot. The wrapper itself has mostly a coffee note to it. The aroma from the freshly cut cap is predominately damp earth. Prelight draw, which is a little loose, has hints of almonds and cedar, with an overall mild bitterness.” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)

First Third

Flavor: 94
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“Toasted the foot completely and was met with a lot of baking spices and nutmeg to go along with cinnamon graham cracker flavors. Very good start to this smoke. Nice creamy smoke output. Definitely mild to medium in body but enjoying it thus far. The burn is very even. The draw is a tad tighter than I prefer but the flavors are definitely there. Ash holds on for a good inch before I tapped it off. Let’s see how it transitions from here. ” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

“The cigar starts off with a molasses sweetness, along with coffee, barnyard, cocoa powder, and hay. The molasses adds an overall creaminess to the flavor profile and really makes this cigar come out of the gate swinging for the fences. The retrohale also has the molasses sweetness to it, with just enough black pepper to give it a zing, without overdoing it or killing the sweet creaminess. The draw is a little on the loose side, and the burn is a little off, but in no need of correction at this point. Smoke output is thick and heavy, and the ash is dark grey and fairly tight. ” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)

Second Third

Flavor: 94
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“Construction going into the second third has been great overall, with a smooth draw, straight burn line, and copious amounts of smoke production. A mineral component has joined the mint and now mild spice on the retrohale and the draw is still primarily French Roast coffee with just a touch of woodsy cedar on the back end. So far the transitions and interesting presentation with this cigar is all through the nose. ” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)

“Oak notes are still coming forth. A nice mix of sweet and spice. Notes of maple and vanilla with a hint of cinnamon.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)

Final Third

Flavor: 94
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“Heading into the home stretch, the flavors remain mostly unchanged. Baking spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, and leather make up the majority of the flavors that I’m getting from it. Burn gets a tad off but I touch it up and it doesn’t create any big issues. Nice ending to an enjoyable cigar. Solid smoking experience.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

“Floral notes are flirting with the palate as the final third begins, complementing the citrus note that is still present from the lemon zest. The retrohale has become more cabinet spice and white pepper, with the sweetness in the first two-thirds of the cigar departing. The draw is still loose, but the burn is on point.” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 93

“On the loose side but not overly so. The cigar still smokes well and delivered good flavors.” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)

Burn: 95

“Burn started strong and only needed a couple of touchups due to the cracked wrapper about 4 inches in.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

Construction: 95

“Construction was excellent with a consistently smooth draw, straight burn line, and beautiful smoke production.” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)

Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Experience Overall: 94

“As a fan of box-pressed cigars, this one I’d want in my humidor. Great oak notes with subtle hints of sweetness and spice. Even burn from beginning to end. A well-crafted stick!” –Sean F. (fullermaine)

“From start to finish the flavors were predominantly the baking spices, cinnamon, and nutmeg but they created an enjoyable smoking experience. While it didn’t wow me, it was a great overall cigar that I’d try again.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)

“Overall this was a pretty enjoyable cigar. I really loved the sweet earthy flavors present at the beginning more so than the floral citrusy notes at the end, but those were still good, just not in my wheelhouse. The wrapper was pretty beat up when I received the sample for review, so I was concerned it would affect the smokeability of the cigar. That was totally not the case, as it burned like a star all the way through the damaged areas. The strength crept up a little at the end, but not overly so, and it can easily be enjoyed by smokers of all experience levels. Looking forward to finding out what cigar this is!” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)

“I highly enjoyed this cigar! If you’re not blowing smoke out of your nose you’ll probably have a more boring experience. While the French Roast coffee note on the draw is nice ALL the retrohale flavors of mineral, mint, and spice steal the show. Combine that experience with great construction and this cigar is a winner.” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 92

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Blind Cigar Review: Perdomo | Reserve 10th Anniversary Box-Pressed Sun Grown Epicure