Stogie Reviews: Perdomo ESV 1991 Vintage Regente
25 May 2009
On the heels of its successful Perdomo Reserve line, which later evolved into the 10th Anniversary Reserve line, Perdomo released the highly-anticipated Perdomo ESV 1991 Vintage line in 2005. ESV stands for “Estate Selección Vintage,” and the line was an extension of the regular Perdomo Estate Selección line, which is no longer in regular production.
This Perdomo ESV Vintage is comprised of vintage 1991 Nicaraguan fillers purchased by the late Nick Perdomo, Sr. in 1995. According to the Perdomo website, the tobacco was “stored in a bodega on the outskirts of EstelÔ and “the existence of these rare tobaccos was discovered after Nick, Sr. passed away on July 2, 2004.” It’s far more believable than most of the stories of suddenly found caches of wonderful aged tobacco.
Around the vintage Nicaraguan filler is a Nicaraguan binder and a U.S.-grown Connecticut shade wrapper. The thick 5 inch by 54 ring gauge Regente has a flawless, slightly pale, cinnamon-colored wrapper that is remarkably vein-free and velvety to the touch.
I find the cigar naturally gives off subtle coffee flavors. After clipping, I notice a perfectly easy draw that will continue throughout the smoke, which lights up easily with just a few matches. I’d also encounter similary impressive construction with an attentively even burn and a solid ash.
The Regente has a complex profile that combines dry wood, leather, and roasted  coffee beans. Underneath there is a bit of cinnamon that provides subtle spicy sweetness. The dryness of the finish dominates the back end of the cigar’s flavors.
Overall, the Perdomo ESV has great balance and complexity until the finish kicks in, which is so singly woody and dry that it distracts from the great flavors this cigar has to offer.
Still, it’s a nice medium-bodied cigar with the excellent construction you’d expect from a stick that sells for $9-10 apiece. That combination earns the Perdomo ESV 1991 Vintage Regente a rating of three and a half stogies out of five.
[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here. Cigars for this review were provided by Cigars Direct. You can purchase Perdomo cigars from Cigars Direct here.]
photo credit: Stogie Guys
Patrick Ashby
Co-Founder & Editor in Chief
Patrick Semmens
Co-Founder & Publisher
George Edmonson
Tampa Bureau Chief
Sounds kinda nice, I'll look for that. I like a larger gauge 5-inch as well, it's a good size for an introductory smoke. And I'd believe their story about the filler as compared to some others I've heard, some of which are pretty sublime. Today, being Memorial Day, let's smoke for the folks who served our country. If any are reading, I appreciate your service. Those who gave all will be dearly remembered.
Where do I find Perdomo Vintage CSV 1991 Cigars to buy today