Sweet Surprises: Perdomo Legacy Father & Son Maduro and Old Elk 10 Year

I must be getting impatient. After a period spent smoking cigars that had been in my humidor for many months, or even years, I’ve turned to some newer acquisitions of late. Recently, I lit up a Perdomo Legacy Father & Son Maduro that had been in the humidor for just seven weeks.

The Perdomo Legacy Father & Son line, available in Maduro, Sun Grown, and Connecticut versions, began shipping to retailers nationwide in August, and I grabbed a few of each right away. The cigars sold out at many retailers within days of their arrival. Although I picked up individual sticks, the limited-edition cigars were packaged in boxes of 50. I wonder how many truly serious aficionados purchased full boxes. 

The Perdomo Legacy Father & Son Maduro features a Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper, with Nicaraguan filler tobaccos from Condega, Estelí, and Jalapa. Perdomo claims the fillers are all from the 2011-2016 harvests. That's some significant age.

Another interesting aspect of the Father & Son is its unusual shape. It’s a box-pressed Gran Figurado, with the ring gauge expanding dramatically through the middle. The listed dimensions are 6 x 48/60/52. The Father & Son lineup is a collaboration between Nick Perdomo Jr. and Nicholas Perdomo III, with Nicholas Perdomo III responsible for blending the Maduro.

After a few minutes spent admiring the cigar’s appearance, I cut the cap and put flame to the foot. The draw was spot-on. The flavors started with creamy earth and cedar, supported by a medium-bodied profile. Medium-roast coffee and pepper soon joined the mix, while a mild sweetness lingered in the background. The character of the well-aged tobacco came through nicely in the smooth, integrated profile.

To complement the aged tobaccos in the cigar, a 10-year-old bourbon seemed like an appropriate choice.

Like the cigar, Old Elk 10-Year Straight Bourbon is an also a new release. Bottled at 105 proof, the bourbon’s mash bill has a high malted barley content, consisting of 51% corn, 34% malted barley, and 15% rye. That high malted-barley content provides an interesting sweet biscuit aspect to the profile.

After getting a feel for the opening notes of the Father & Son Legacy Maduro, I began taking sips of the bourbon between puffs. I found that the cigar brought out an unexpected sweetness in the Old Elk 10 Year. Rather than a simple sugary note, I got an impression of sweet, toasted caramel. The cigar’s darker tobacco character seemed to accentuate that combination of sweetness and roast, making for a particularly enjoyable pairing.

I was struck by the interaction, especially since it differed markedly from my earlier impressions of the Old Elk 10 Year. This is one of the things I most enjoy about exploring cigar and beverage pairings. The perceived flavors of each can be influenced, sometimes dramatically, by the other. Cigars, whiskey, and even food can all make different impressions on the palate as they interact. It makes for some fun and interesting explorations.

Just the other day, I was joking with a friend that there are a few special bourbons I enjoy so much that I’m hesitant to alter the experience by pairing them with a cigar. Hesitant, not resistant.

Despite having spent “only” seven weeks in the humidor, the Perdomo Legacy Father & Son Maduro performed flawlessly. I found the interaction between the cigar and the Old Elk 10-Year Straight Bourbon particularly interesting. I enjoyed the pairing, but I’m now intrigued by the prospect of trying the cigar with some bolder bourbons. Alas, I have only a few of these cigars on hand, so I’ll likely pace myself. The same goes for the Perdomo Legacy Father & Son Sun Grown waiting in the humidor.

Cheers!