Perdomo Legacy Shade Grown Staff Review
This spring, the fellas at Perdomo launched a special new cigar called Perdomo Legacy, and I’m smoking the Shade Grown blend in a 6-by-54 Epicure. The Perdomo Legacy series comes in three different wrappers, like most Perdomo lines, but Nick Perdomo III blended this collection in honor of his father, brand founder Nick Perdomo. The Legacy series has special significance for this father-and-son team, as the Perdomos have run a close-knit, family-oriented company for over thirty years.
Nicholas III began working on the Legacy Series back in 2019. He spent years blending different iterations of binder, filler, and wrapper tobaccos to arrive at the final three blends in the lineup: Legacy Connecticut, Legacy Maduro, and the Legacy Shade Grown I’m smoking today. He chose a new varietal of tobacco the company had not used previously—a Cuban-and-Cameroon-seed hybrid, which is grown under shade in Nicaragua. The Legacy Shade Grown edition showcases this varietal as its wrapper, whereas the other two blends utilize the new hybrid crop for the binder.
When I choose an Epicure from a fresh box of Perdomo Legacy Shade Grown, the cigar beams with an oily, reddish-brown sheen. Perdomo cigars are well known for their consistency, and opening a new box reveals a tidy row of perfectly consistent Epicures dressed in shiny red-and-gold cigar bands with a blue stripe at the bottom. The chunky cigar exhibits excellent density from head to foot when I gently pinch it after removing the cellophane. Vibrant aromas of cedar, dark fruit, and fresh tobacco fill my nasal cavity when I inspect the unlit foot.
Once I slice the cap off and savor the cold draw, rich flavors of cedar and spice mingle with a hint of raisin. Perdomo Legacy Shade Grown offers a solid preview of a complex, well-made cigar. The brand is handcrafted in Estelí, and every cigar is draw-tested before the wrapper is applied to ensure perfect airflow. Perdomo cigars are famous for their quality and value thanks to the meticulous oversight Nick and his son exercise throughout the tobacco-growing and cigar-rolling processes. Perdomo Legacy cigars are no exception.
After toasting the foot for a few minutes, the Epicure introduces a formidable blast of black pepper and cayenne in the nose. Subtle tasting notes of cocoa, caramel, and white pepper linger in the background. The Shade Grown blend offers a toothsome combination of spicy flavor and soft texture as the cigar unfolds. The blend is engaging and slightly aggressive at first. The hybrid crop likely impacts its overall taste. Cuban-seed tobacco is generally earthy and peppery, while Cameroon-seed tobacco offers delicate flavors of nuts, coffee, and baking spices.
Throughout the middle, the Epicure intensifies with robust notes of leather and red pepper. Hints of cinnamon and molasses create balance. Legacy Shade Grown burns smoothly, and the ash stays firm until I’m ready to tap it off. It’s clear the cigar will last over an hour by the time I’ve invested forty-five minutes when I finally peel off the band. A milky finish of leather and pepper reveals hints of rum and syrup as I indulge in the nub.
The Legacy Shade Grown edition is deserving of a 91-point rating. It’s slightly stronger than other Perdomos I’ve enjoyed in the past and is an ideal smoke to pair with a vintage bourbon. I highly recommend adding it to your next purchase when you’re looking for something new to smoke this summer. You won’t regret it.
