One of the pioneers in the large ring gauge movement was Perdomo Cigars. It was back in the early 2000s when Nick Perdomo introduced a line called the Perdomo Inmenso. It was a line well ahead of its time, as it featured some very large ring gauge cigars. Over the past decade, large ring gauges cigars have earned a seat at the table in the cigar marketplace. 60-ring gauge cigars are a staple for many lines, and it’s not uncommon to see 70-ring gauge lines. Last year, Perdomo Cigars announced the return of the Perdomo Inmenso. It’s now being dubbed the Perdomo Inmenso Seventy because it’s a line that features all 70-ring gauge offerings. The Perdomo Inmenso Seventy also has a revamped blend and an all-new look. It’s being featured in two wrappers – Sun Grown and Maduro. Today we take a closer look a the Perdomo Inmenso Seventy Maduro in the Epicure (6 x 70) size.

Over the past three years, Perdomo has been on a roll in terms of products it has brought to market. These have been highlighted by the ESV Box Pressed, 10th Anniversary extensions, and now the Inmenso Seventy. In each of these three scenarios, Perdomo has used a formula where it has extended or revamped an existing blend. Judging by the results, Perdomo has been quite successful in using this strategy and it has shown in the quality of the end products as well as the sales at its retailers.

Without further ado, let’s break down the Perdomo Inmenso Seventy Maduro Epicure and see what this cigar brings to the table.

SPECIFICATIONS

Blend and Origin

The Perdomo Inmenso Seventy Maduro is a 100% Nicaraguan puro. According to Perdomo Cigars that cigar uses five year-aged Cuban-seed wrapper, binder, and fillers from its farm.s

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan Cuban Seed
Filler: Nicaraguan Cuban Seed
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera Perdomo

Vitolas Offered

The Perdomo Inmenso Seventy Maduro is offered in three sizes. Each is presented in 16-count boxes. The Inmenso Seventy Sun Grown is also offered in the same three sizes and box counts.

Robusto: 5 x 70
Epicure: 6 x 70
Churchill: 7 x 70

Appearance

The Nicaraguan wrapper of the Perdomo Inmenso Seventy Maduro Epicure had a dark chocolate color. This wasn’t an oily wrapper. The wrapper was sturdy and yet still had a silky complexion to it. There were some thin veins and thin wrapper seams.

The band of the Perdomo Inmenso Seventy Maduro has mostly a gold, red, and black color scheme. On the center of the band is a thick red stripe with the text “INMENSO” in gold. The stripe sits in the middle of a gold and black oval. Above the red stripe is the text “PERDOMO” in gold font on a black background, while below the red stripe is the text “SEVENTY” – also in gold on a black background. A thick gold ring surrounds the oval with white and black trim around it. The left and right side of the band has black, gold, red, and white stripes. The red stripe is in the middle. On the left side of the band is the text “HAND MADE” in gold font on the red stripe while the right side has the text “NICARAGUA” – also in gold font on the gold stripe.

PERFORMANCE

Pre-Light Draw

One thing I recommend with any 60+ ring gauge cigar is to use a cutter that can handle a big ring gauge. In the case of the Perdomo Inmenso Seventy Maduro Epicure, I used a cutter geared for a 70-ring gauge cigar. Once the cap was clipped, it was on to commence with the pre-light draw. The cold draw delivered notes of cocoa, cedar, and a slight amount of dried fruit. This was a satisfactory pre-light draw. At this point, it was time to begin the toasting process and move into the smoking phase.

Tasting Notes

The Perdomo Inmenso Seventy Maduro Epicure opened up with notes of coffee, cedar, earth, cocoa, and dried fruit. Early on the coffee notes moved into the forefront. The cedar, earth, cocoa, and fruit notes settled in the background. As the cigar burned through the first third, some black pepper notes surfaced. On the retro-hale was an additional layer of cedar.

As the Perdomo Inmenso Seventy Maduro Epicure moved into the second third, the cedar notes increased and joined the coffee notes in the forefront. The earth, pepper, fruit, and coffee notes remained in the background, but complemented the coffee and cedar very nicely. At the same time, the black pepper notes joined the cedar on the retro-hale.

During the last third, the coffee and cedar notes remained grounded in the forefront. There was an increase in the pepper notes which became the most prominent of the secondary notes. Meanwhile cocoa, fruit, and earth notes were more distant but still rounded out the flavor profile nicely. This is the way the Perdomo Inmenso Seventy Maduro Epicure came to a close. The resulting nub was firm to the touch and cool in temperature.

Burn

The Perdomo Inmenso Seventy Maduro Epicure did require several touch-ups along the way to maintain a straight burn line and straight burn path. The number of touch-ups led to this being a higher maintenance burn than I prefer. At the same time, the touch-ups did the trick. The resulting ash was slightly loose. This was an ash that had a salt and pepper complexion. Meanwhile, the burn rate and burn temperature both maintained ideal levels.

Draw

The draw to the Perdomo Inmenso Seventy Maduro Epicure was ideal. It had a touch of resistance – which is something I like. Sometimes on a 70-ring gauge, it can be tricky to reach that optimum level, but with this cigar, that level was reached. At the same time; throughout the smoking experience, there was a nice volume of smoke produced.

Strength and Body

The Perdomo Inmenso Seventy Maduro Epicure started out at a medium level for both strength and body. Near the end of the second third, there was a slight uptick in both the strength and body, pushing both attributes into medium to full territory. Both the strength and body balanced each other nicely throughout the smoking experience.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

Size matters, and it’s always key that a cigar is blended to a size – especially with a big ring gauge. With the Perdomo Inmenso Seventy Maduro Epicure, I’ll infer this is exactly why this cigar scores well in my book. This cigar is going to deliver on the most important attribute – flavor. While I’m not sure the Inmenso Seventy Maduro Epicure will convert someone into a 70-ring gauge cigar enthusiast, I am quite confident this will satisfy the 70-ring gauge enthusiast. At the same time, if one has an open mind, I’d highly encourage lighting this cigar up. Finally, at $7.50, you simply cannot go wrong with this cigar.

This is a cigar I’d recommend to a more seasoned cigar enthusiast – namely because of the size. As for myself, this is a cigar that I’d smoke again – and at its price point certainly garners box worthy consideration. Coming it 90 points, the Perdomo Inmenso Seventy Maduro Epicure earns the Cigar Coop Standard of Excellence.

Summary

Key Flavors: Coffee, Cedar, Earth, Cocoa, Dried Fruit, Pepper
Burn: Very Good
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium (1st 2/3), Medium to Full (Remainder)
Body: Medium (1st 2/3), Medium to Full (Remainder)
Finish: Very Good