Originally published at Tiki Bar Online
Epicure, 6” x 54 ring gauge / SRP ~$7
The “Champagne” designation was introduced several years ago by Perdomo as part of the 10th Anniversary Reserve line, and if I’m not mistaken, it was simply designating that it used a Connecticut Shade wrapper, as the cigar also came in other wrapper varieties like almost everything else in the Perdomo catalog. A while later, the “Champagne Noir” was introduced, using the same filler and binder, but in this case using a Maduro wrapper. I’m still unclear on how the Champagne Noir differs from the 10th Anniversary Reserve Maduro, but presumably they use different Maduro wrappers. From my own personal experience I know that while I didn’t care much for the original Champagne, I did very much enjoy the Noir. It seems that the “Champagne” designation really resonated with people because this year Perdomo opted to release another variant, using the same filler and binder of the original Champagne (which was all Nicaraguan), but this time wrapper in a Nicaraguan Sungrown leaf. It was released in 7 sizes and I was handed this particular stick by Perdomo’s National Director of Sales, Chris Harper, while he was in town for the Chattanooga Tweet-Up. This is my first sample of this blend.
As always, the gold-on-gold-and-black Reserve Champagne banding looks good, although I think it looked best against the darker Maduro leaf on the Noir. The coloration of this wrapper is just slightly darker than what I would expect in the Connecticut Shade variation, a medium tan color, with slight mottling, and a hint of red in certain light. It was oily under my fingertips and smelled of earth, leather and natural tobacco. The filler at the foot had a earthy mixture of wet forest floor and barnyard. The cold draw was easy and tasted of earth with a touch of cedar.
I lit up the Champagne Sungrown and found an initial cedar flavor that was strong, but not overwhelming. There were touches of earth and pepper spice mixed in as well. The retrohale had a strong pepper spice that seared the inside of my nose. As the first third progressed, the flavor turned more earthy with far less cedar influence. There was a slow pepper burn at the back of the palate and a nice nuttiness, too.
In the second third, the cigar got more tart. There were notes of citrus and grass mingling with the earth and cedar; the pepper spice stayed about the same as before. Construction was typical for Perdomo, which is to say, it was excellent. I experience a very good draw, solid ash, and very even burn line.
In the final third the Champagne Sungrown exhibited more earthy and grassy flavors, as well as just a rich natural tobacco flavor. The pepper spice stayed about the same, a nice slow burn. The smoke was medium bodied with medium-plus nicotine strength. I enjoyed this iteration of the Champagne more than the original but less than the Noir. Fans of Sungrown wrapper might find this very much in their flavor range.
Body: 5/10
Strength: 6/10
Complexity: 6/10
AFP Scale
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 3.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.5/10
