I haven’t been a regular Perdomo smoker through the years. Not that I have anything against the brand or recall any particularly bad experiences. It’s just not one of the smokes I frequently reach for in my routine.

The other day, though, I noticed a six-inch Grand Cru Toro and was impressed by the deep, oily Cuban-seed Corojo wrapper. The price point, $6.50 for a single, was compelling as well.

The cigar exceeded my expectations. The burn and the draw were nearly perfect, and the taste was complex and balanced. It’s billed as big on taste—“a bold, full-flavored smoking experience,” according to Perdomo marketing materials—and I found it to live up to that hype.

Kicking off with pepper that leveled off about a third of the way in, the Nicaraguan puro also presented tastes of coffee, chocolate, and leather. There are changes and variations in strength throughout.

I’ve smoked a few of the cigars in this line, which are available in three sizes in addition to the 50-ring gauge Toro: Robusto (5 x 50), Churchill (7 x 50), and Torpedo (6 x 54). So far I’ve liked the Toro best, with the Robusto a close second. Perdomo also offers a Grand Cru Maduro line that I have yet to sample.

One complaint is Perdomo’s lack of information on its website. The Grand Cru isn’t even listed among its brands. You’ve got to check past press releases to find the May 5 introduction announcement, which notes that the tobaccos are from the 2004 crop on Perdomo’s Nicaraguan farms.

Notwithstanding that minor setback, this cigar is definitely worth checking out, especially given its reasonable price. I rate the Perdomo Grand Cru Corojo Toro four stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

-George E

photo credit: Tabacalera Perdomo