Perdomo Alabao Toro

Let me get right to the point: The Rev is a HUGE fan of Nick Perdomo’s work, so I was thrilled when I received some of the new and exclusive Alabao cigars from Famous Smoke Shop to test drive.

The Alabao Toro is a gorgeous cigar wrapped in a cocoa-colored Criollo wrapper. The cigar feels solid in my hand and produces a rich, toasty cold draw with just a hint of the spice to come. Of course, I had to use my trusty Perdomo Vector Thundra lighter to start the proceedings and the stick accepted the flame readily.

For the first couple of draws, the cigar released a very substantial spiciness coupled with a solid undertone of cocoa. The first third also had a fairly toasty character, which is definitely to my liking. The cigar had a perfect draw for my preference – just the slightest bit of resistance but not enough to restrict the flow of smoke – and a white grey ash that held up well to the wind I experienced on the back deck. The smoke was thick and abundant as I worked my way through the section.

The character of the cigar changed dramatically in the middle third with some cocoa essence remaining, but the spice was replaced by an interesting black currant essence and an aspect of cedar. The complexity of the favors was far beyond what I expected from a house brand. The burn thus far was perfect requiring little effort to keep it even.

The final third saw the flavors turn heavily to charred oak, reminding me of the aroma of a bourbon distillery aging room. The finish on the palate was long and satisfying.

The Alabao Toro can also stand up to any strong spirit with ease. I enjoyed a high-end Bourbon on the rocks during my evening with it, but a good port or sherry would also accompany this cigar equally well.

In the final analysis, this cigar delivered the goods. I found Alabao not just a fine house brand, but a superior cigar by any standard, and exactly what I’d expect from Nick Perdomo and Famous.