Perdomo Reserve Champagne Noir

When a friend suggested that I try this stick, I thought he must be joking. A medium bodied cigar with the word “Champagne” in the name? Definitely not my thing. But, what the hell? Perdomo isn’t known for making junk, maybe this one would have a fighting chance at being good.

Prelight:

At first glance, I was worried that this cigar and I weren’t going to pair well together. The band was very reminiscent of a champagne bottle’s label, with it’s orange-tinted background and gold overlays. It even had a name that sounded like a champagne name, “Perdomo Reserve.” The wrapper leaf did have an inviting color though. If you were to lay the wrapper in a bed of freshly shaved dark chocolate, you would most likely lose sight of it. There were two small holes
toward the foot, but I discounted those once I felt the firmness of the cigar. I did my obligatory “smell test” and my eyes began to open as I breathed in what seemed to be freshly ground espresso. Time to break out the XiKar and go to work.

First impressions:

After toasting, my first impression was a shocker. I expected pure espresso by the prelight smell, but I was wrong. While espresso was there, it was only there as a backup to the cedar that covered my palate like a fall of leaves on an Autumn day. There was another shock when I realized how easy and airy the draw was. It was like breathing in crisp morning air. Maybe, just maybe, we’re going to get along after all. I hate fighting for my smoke, and this cigar was not making me do it one little bit.

20 Minutes In:

I’ve decided that maybe a medium stick isn’t such a bad thing after all. The smoke rolling out of this cigar is crisp and cool, almost having a menthol feel to it. The cedar has buried itself beneath a layer of dark chocolate and rich, robust espresso. My ash decided to go it’s own way at about the one inch mark, but this baby didn’t need a long ash to regulate it’s temperature. As soon as I noticed the uneven burn, it was as if Nick Perdomo himself reached out to correct it with his lighter. The burn leveled out on it’s own, almost as though it wanted to remind me that there may still have been a battle of wills to come.

40 Minutes In:

At what appeared to be the halfway mark, the cigar had found it’s balance between cocoa and espresso with just a hint of peppery spice on the retrohale. The texture of the smoke was as creamy as if I were chasing the smoke with a cold glass of milk. I was starting to lose my battle with myself about not caring for medium smokes. I smiled a bit as I removed the bad without revealing any damage to the delicate wrapper. The ash was consistently falling at around the one inch mark, and the burn had continued on it’s straight path with just enough collaring to let me know that it was still there. The only downside at this point was that my tongue was beginning to get a bit dry from all of the rich flavors. Thankfully, my tea was at hand to solve that problem.

1 Hour Mark:

One hour in and I was grinning a bit. I had set back an hour to try this cigar, knowing I wouldn’t like it and it would have been lucky to make it that long. I was wrong. I found myself wanting more of what had become a perfect blend of light cocoa, espresso and cream with just a hint of cedar peeking its head around the corner. I should have known better than to prejudge anything from the Perdomo family. The ashed end of my cigar burned cool with a perfect collar as if it were sticking it’s tongue out at me and my ego.

1 Hour 20 Minutes:

An hour and twenty minutes in and I knew that the cigar had won the battle of time. I was going to finish it, plans be damned. The rich chocolate flavor had all but disappeared and given way to the cedar. The dominant flavor was still the rich, creamy espresso and the smoke was still as cool as a winter’s morning. The Champagne Noir had proven itself to be a major contender in the battle of wills, and had won this round. I finished it out over the last 20 minutes, never having complaints with draw or flavor, and only a slight one with the burn (which ended up trying to correct itself again).

Final score, Perdomo Reserve Champagne Noir 1 : Big Easy 0.

What you really want to know:

Manufacturer: Perdomo
Price Point: MSRP of $6.50/single
Flavor Profile: Medium bodied, Blend of espresso, cocoa, cedar and cream
Size: Robusto
Country Of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Nicaraguan bourbon-aged Cuban-seed Maduro

My Opinions:

Appearance: 8 The wrapper had two holes in it and I felt the band could have a little more vibrancy in the color scheme
Taste: 9.5 The cigar maintained balance throughout all of its transitions, no flavor ever overpowering
Burn: 9 The burn had two instances of going wild, but both times corrected itself
Value: 9 You’d be hard pressed to find a cigar of this quality in it’s price range
Overall: 9 I have already added more of these to my collection.

For More Info On This And All Perdomo Products

After the FBI indicted members of Gotti’s crew for selling narcotics, Gotti took advantage of growing dissent over the leadership of the crime family. Fearing he and his men would be killed by Gambino crime family Boss Paul Castellano for selling drugs, Gotti organized the murder of Castellano in December 1985 and took over the family shortly thereafter. This left Gotti as the boss of one of the most powerful crime families in America, one that made hundreds of millions of dollars a year from construction, hijacking, loan sharking, gambling, extortion and other criminal activities.

Gotti was one of the most powerful crime bosses during his era and became widely known for his outspoken personality and flamboyant style, which gained him favor with much of the general public. While his peers avoided attracting attention, especially from the media, Gotti became known as the “The Dapper Don” for his expensive clothes and personality in front of news cameras. He was later given the nickname “The Teflon Don” after three high-profile trials in the 1980s resulted in his acquittal, though it was later revealed that the verdicts were the result of jury tampering, juror misconduct and witness intimidation. Law enforcement authorities were not impressed with his style or reputation, however, and they continued gathering evidence against Gotti that helped lead to his downfall.

But, what if he failed? What if his orders were not carried out, or if the hitman missed? That’s where we come in. Have you ever wonder what the mob world would be like if he was never rubbed out? Let’s rewrite history! Gather up your bullets and show the Mafialife world that you have what it takes to be the newest Teflon don of Mafialife. We are starting up round 3 PvP tonight. It’s up to you to complete the event quest, and challenge mobsters to kick their asses, rob their mob cash, disrespect them, and win 3 different types of challenges. Hitman, Hacker, and Jeweler Challenges. 

Keep winning challenges to stay on top of the leader board, and earn some power items to use in future events, and challenges. At the end of the round if your in the 5th, 25th, or 50th percentile of all mobsters in PvP challenges, you will win items such as Don Shoes, Boss Suit, and 5,000 Mob Power. And if your not, you’ll still earn 100k Mob Cash, as long as you a least won 10 challenges. As usual, a chance at random, rare item drops will be earned as you challenge mobsters, win or lose. Some random items you may find in this event are UB Vest, Frankie Boy’s Bat, Dope Pope Cigs, Emily D’s Fur, Rag’s Viking Hat, and the Stugots Puppet. All items have various bonuses when you equip them to use.

CLICK HERE TO PLAY NOW Challenge PvP Event opens 5-8-13 10pm EST. Be ready.

If you miss it, you should play now and join in on the current event. It’s never too late, we do new events almost every month. Your mobster always keeps his level. Just the event changes.

Rocky Patel Winter Collection 2012

Prelight:
As I open my humidor, I have no idea what I want to smoke. I just know it has been an extremely stressful week and I’m looking for something warm and comforting. I see the wrapper of this stick resembling the brown bomber jacket hanging in my closet and know that tonight is the night to smoke it. The tightly capped shoulder is that of an old friend waiting to hear you out over a glass of Scotch. The banding of chrome and royal purple are reminders that persistence throughout life’s trials lead to strength and satisfaction. The two prominent veins serve as a reminder to stay true to my roots. Enough with the stroll down Emotion Trail, it’s time to put this new friend to the test and see if it will eventually become an old friend.

Ignition:
Using my single jet XiKar Flash lighter, I get an even toast on the foot in almost no time. The first few draws bring with them a hint of spice and a comforting abundance of cream topped with just a hint of cinnamon. It may be the first part of May in New Orleans, but it’s a comfortable Autumn sunset in my backyard. The delicate earthy tones overtake my senses. It feels as though I’m walking barefoot through a field of soft grass and freshly fallen leaves.

Twenty Minutes:
I’m roughly one-third of the way into this new found relationship, and I am one happy camper. The smooth draw and warm cream are still a constant, but they’ve brought along a slight taste of red pepper and espresso. The stony grey ash held strong and firm until almost the exact two-inch mark before tumbling off on a journey of it’s own. With my next draw, the flavor of dark cocoa lightly dances on my tongue. I’ve given up the thought of enjoying my beverage for fear of ruining the trip through the seasons.

Forty Minutes:
The winter is beginning to show signs of Spring being just around the corner. Buttery cocoa still lingers with every puff, but there is now a dryness entering the picture. It appears as though Winter is over and Spring is about to begin. Another statuesque ash has come and gone, leaving a burn line sharp enough to carve a diamond. A familiar coolness that has lasted throughout is now beginning to mix with the return of the natural tones from earlier, bringing to mind the first blossoms of a meadow in March. Spring is surely in the air.

One Hour:
The cool Winter chill has subsided and the spice thermometer is moving up slightly. I’m getting paprika with a warm blend of black and red pepper. Maybe I’ll have that beverage now. The burn line is hitting the lower band now, perfectly capable of evenly singeing the bottom edge of silver. The ashes are falling off more frequently (about 1.5 inches), but I’m attributing that to the strong summer breeze coming off the lake. Temperatures are rising steadily, and I know Summer is here with my smoke.

One Hour, Twenty Minutes:
In true Summer fashion, the warmth is well worth basking in. Both bands are removed and the final two inches are bringing me down to reality. The spices are making way for cooler sensations and the creamy cocoa is back. Soon the children will be trick-or-treating on the street and this cigar is showing it’s childish side by tightening up the draw. Puff as I may, there will be no taking this one past the final inch. My new friend’s mind has been made up and it’s time to say our farewells. This may very well be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Ratings:
Flavor: 9.5 This cigar takes you around the flavor world.
Draw: 9 Every draw was perfect until the last bit. The draws became very tight and constricted.
Construction: 9.5 While firm in the hand, there was just enough give to make it a comfortable squeeze
Appearance: 10 The elegant yet macho look of the band design and the dark wrapper make you want to pick this stick up
Price Point: 9.5 Worth every penny
Overall: 9.5 My new best friend.

Size: 6.5 x 52 Box Press
Time in humidor: Three Months
Price point: $8.50
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Manufacturer: Rocky Patel
Strength: Medium

This sizzle reel fell off the truck. It has been said this show is being pitched to the networks in hopes of being picked up for a reality tv series. Would you watch? Leave your comments at the bottom. Buy your own copy of Mob Candy Magazine at http://mobcandymag.com

Most call him Michael Lucado, some call him Big Easy Smoke, or at least we do. From talking to him, and interacting with him in our partnership he has proven to be an intense being. He is intense, yet kind. It’s hard to find such a person with the passion and integrity for what he does. That’s only one of the reasons why when he approached me to be my cigar review person, I did not hesitate to look forward to it.

A family man, and a hard worker who in my opinion is the epidemy of a person who deserves a cigar every chance he gets to relax. I’m not quite sure how many years he has been smoking sticks, but what I am sure of is that he must’ve been paying very close attention to each and every one from beginning to end.

By beginning to end, I mean start to finish. Not only the stick, but the entire environment. Each move, each smell, each vibe off of Everthing around him, from the moment he lit the cigar, to the minute the experience is over. Again, by experience I do not mean the cigar, I mean the whole experience.

As you will learn yourself when you read his reviews here, he will write them in such a way, that you share that experience and feeling with him too. The goal is to try and get the reader to relate to all aspects of the smoke. And it’s all so easy to understand, and relate to. After sharing the experience, and giving every aspect of it a rating from 1-10, you can decide for yourself if the stick is for you or not. That is the goal of our cigar reviews, and we found the perfect man for the job. Big Easy Smoke.

Feel free to contact him on Facebook directly if you have anything to say to him. And, feel free to check around this blog. We hope you will find it all as interesting as the cigar reviews.

-www.mafialifeblog.com

Have you ever noticed how relaxed Tony Soprano seemed to look as he kicked back with a fat cigar? That smirk that said, “Yeah. I’m the boss. Got a problem with that?” always seemed to creep onto his face and you knew that this man was in charge. A good cigar can do that to you, make you feel like you’re the king of the world and nothing can bring you down. Today, I sat under an autographed picture of Mr Soprano himself, James Gandolfini, and tried to recreate this feeling in my own head with a CFNO MAduro Número Dos.

Prelight:

Looking at this cigar, I quickly realized I was looking at someone’s pride. The wrapper looked and smelled of aged leather. When I touched it, it felt as though I was touching an old bomber jacket someone had pridefully worn home from the war. There was an oily sheen hidden just below the surface that said this stick had been aged just right and was begging to be taken out of the box for a smoke. The black band, embossed with a silver Fleur De Lis, was just elegant enough to let you know that this wasn’t some schlep’s cigar. It was time to toast up and see what this baby had to offer.

First Impressions:

From the first draw of this stick, I knew I was in for a treat. The spice of this stick made itself known from the very beginning, only to be rivaled by a soothing earthy undertone. My palate was dancing for joy as this rich, full body of smoke filled my mouth. I felt like Tony as the flavors lingered and I could feel that bossy smirk creep creeping onto my face. It’s a good thing I was sitting in (what I believe to be) the same chair Mr Gandolfini sits in when he visits because, just as I thought I had this cigar figured out, notes of cedar started to make their presence known. As the ash grew, I watched a slight imperfection in the burn line correct itself. I felt myself sit back in the chair, relax and prepare for this ride.

The Heart Of The Matter:

About thirty minutes into the smoke and I was still in Tony mode. (I’m fairly sure the look on my face was more that of Sil, but I digress…) Notes of cocoa had started to edge their way in under the surface and mingle with the peppery spice, but the earth tones were clearly the dominant flavor here. I ashed at around the 1.5″ mark, but it was more out of habit than necessity (it’s hard to be in Tony mode if you’ve got ashes all over your lap).The burn had started to waver a bit, but not enough to warrant correction. Although the burn line was a bit shaky, the collaring beneath the burn was almost impossibly even. The oils were shining just bright enough to entice me into puffing some more. After all, what kind of man would I be if I would have let this beauty go out?

Heartbreak Hotel:

After about five minutes of talking to another customer in the shop, I realized that I hadn’t taken a draw from the stick. I thought this review would be over and I’d have to start again another day, but I gave it a shot anyway. To my surprise, the fire was still burning and I was met with a flavor bomb mouthful of smoke. The spices began to roll back in as the draw stayed steady as a surgeon’s hands. It appeared as though the Numero Dos had decided to show me who was Numero Uno. The pepper rolled across my tongue like a Wise Guy chasing a stooly. I was enjoying the final third of the cigar so much that I didn’t notice how low the nub was getting until I burned my finger. Surprisingly, as hot as it was burning, it still kept a slow pace. I was a little sad to have to put this one down, but all good things must come to an end.

Tying Up Loose Ends:

To sum it all up, this stick is one of the better sticks I’ve had in the last 5 years. It’s a quality stick made right here in the US, and you simply can’t beat the price. There were a few minor issues with the wrapper burning, but nothing that would make me not want to enjoy smoking this cigar. The Maduro Numero Dos is rolled firm, yet has an easy draw that provides a full body of smoke. The flavor profile is very complimentary and rests right on that delicate line between complex and overpowering. You’ll be doing yourself a favor by adding one or more to your humidor.

The Meat And Potatoes:

Cigar name: CFNO Maduro Numero Dos
Manufacturer: Cigar Factory New Orleans
Size: 5.75″ x 52 rg
Wrapper: Maduro
Binder & Filler: Nicaraguan Broadleaf
Strength: Medium-Full
Cost: $8.50/single $56.00/box of 10
Time: 2 hours

Click Here To Buy These Sticks