AshMap
Overview
There is a quiet rebellion in the Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Sun Grown Churchill. In a lineup where the Maduro gets the spotlight and the marketing budget, this Sun Grown is the introvert at the party—the one who waits until the room settles before speaking, and when it does, everyone stops to listen. Nick Perdomo has built a reputation on discipline, but this cigar is less about control and more about the confidence that comes from letting Nicaraguan leaf sit in cedar-lined silence for over a decade. The Jalapa wrapper is the first clue: a Colorado-hued skin with a golden undertone and a fine tooth that promises texture before the flame ever touches it. The pre-light draw offers sweet cedar and a faint raisin note, a whisper of what is to come, but the true narrative begins at ignition.
The first third unfolds like a slow morning. Toasted almonds arrive first, warm and nutty, followed by a sweet cedar that feels less like lumber and more like the inside of an antique chest. The surprise is the dried apricot—a fruit note that is neither tart nor candy-sweet, but concentrated and slightly tangy, as if the sun had been left on it too long. The retrohale is a gentle lift of white pepper and cinnamon, a spice that tickles rather than bites. What anchors all of this is the mouthfeel: a creamy, buttery texture that coats the palate and signals the deep aging of the leaf. This is not a cigar that rushes; it opens with a measured, confident stride.
By the second third, the conversation deepens. The apricot fades into the background, replaced by a roasted coffee note that is dark and slightly bitter, balanced by a dark caramel sweetness that has shifted from fruit-forward to a molasses-like richness. A distinct leather note emerges—not the raw, saddle-leather of young cigars, but the supple, worn-in feel of a well-loved jacket. The retrohale now carries dried red pepper, a slow-building warmth that lingers alongside the cedar. The strength has crept up to a solid medium, but it never feels aggressive; it is the kind of build that sneaks up on you, making you realize you have been leaning back in your chair for the past twenty minutes without noticing.
The final third is where the cigar earns its keep. Cocoa powder dusts the palate, followed by oak that is dry and structured, and then a mineral earthiness that evokes wet stone after a summer rain. The strength settles into a confident medium-full, but the complexity does not fade—it sharpens. The finish is long, with espresso and toasted tobacco lingering on the tongue long after the smoke has cleared. The burn has been razor-even throughout, the ash holding firm in salt-and-pepper columns past the two-inch mark. This is a cigar that demands ninety minutes of your time and rewards every second of it. It is not a cigar for rushing, nor is it one for saving. It is a cigar for the moment you decide to stop checking your phone and start paying attention.
Cigar Specifications
| Wrapper | Nicaraguan Sun Grown (Jalapa Valley) — Colorado |
|---|---|
| Binder | Nicaraguan (Estelí) |
| Filler | Nicaraguan long-filler blend from Estelí, Jalapa, and Condega, aged a minimum of 12 years in cedar and Spanish cedar-lin |
| Country of Origin | Estelí, Nicaragua — Perdomo's Fabrica de Tabacos factory |
| Vitola / Shape | Churchill |
| Size | 7 x 54 |
| Strength | Medium-Full |
| Price | $16–$20 per cigar |
| Tier | Premium |
| Aging | All tobaccos double-aged a minimum of 12 years before rolling; finished cigars further rested in the box |
Tasting Notes & Flavor Progression
First Third
Opens with toasted almonds and sweet cedar, quickly layering in dried apricot and a creamy, buttery mouthfeel that signals the deep aging of the leaf. A gentle spice on the retrohale — white pepper and a touch of cinnamon — provides lift without aggression.
Second Third
The profile deepens considerably: roasted coffee, dark caramel, and a distinct leather note emerge. The sweetness transitions from fruit-forward to a molasses-like richness, and the retrohale spice becomes more pronounced — dried red pepper alongside the lingering cedar.
Final Third
The final third delivers cocoa powder, oak, and a mineral earthiness reminiscent of wet stone. Strength builds to a confident medium-full with a long, satisfying finish of espresso and toasted tobacco. Complexity increases rather than diminishing, a hallmark of well-aged Nicaraguan leaf.
Construction, Burn & Draw
Construction is exemplary — a hallmark of Perdomo's factory discipline. The draw is open and effortless, producing dense, voluminous smoke; the burn line is razor-even with a firm, salt-and-pepper ash that holds reliably past two inches.
Pairing Recommendations
Spirit
Ron Zacapa 23 Solera rum or a Speyside single malt such as Glenfiddich 18 Year — the caramel and oak notes in both spirits harmonize beautifully with the molasses sweetness of the Sun Grown wrapper
Wine
A Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon with some age (e.g., Jordan Winery Alexander Valley) or a Priorat — the structured tannins and dark fruit complement the leather and cocoa core of the cigar
Non-Alcoholic
A full-bodied Guatemala Antigua single-origin coffee, black, with a slight coarse grind for maximum oil expression — mirrors the roasted, earthy notes in the second third perfectly
Who Should Smoke This?
This is for the smoker who has already walked the Maduro path and found it too easy. You are the one who keeps a notebook of tasting notes, who can identify a Jalapa wrapper blindfolded, and who has grown tired of cigars that promise age but deliver only smoke. You are sitting on a porch in late October, the light low and golden, with a glass of Ron Zacapa 23 sweating on the armrest. You have smoked the Lot 23s, you have respected the Maduros, but you have been looking for something that rewards patience without demanding a special occasion. This is the cigar you reach for on a Tuesday evening when the work email is still buzzing in your pocket, and you need ninety minutes of silence to remind yourself why you fell in love with this hobby in the first place. It will not knock you over with strength, but it will leave you thinking about the second third long after the ash has been tapped.
Bottom Line
The Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Sun Grown Churchill is the sleeper hit of the lineup—a cigar that outclasses its price point and embarrasses blends costing twice as much. If you have been ignoring the Sun Grown in favor of the Maduro, you have been missing the point. Buy a box, smoke one now, and hide the rest for a rainy day.
Similar Cigars
Explore all Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage cigars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Sun Grown Churchill a strong cigar?
It is rated Medium-Full (4/5), which means it has a noticeable nicotine presence that builds gradually through the smoke. The first third is approachable, but by the final third you will feel a confident warmth at the back of the throat and a slight buzz if you are not a daily smoker. It is not a nicotine bomb, but it is not a morning cigar either.
What does Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Sun Grown Churchill taste like?
The first third opens with toasted almonds, sweet cedar, and dried apricot with a creamy mouthfeel and white pepper on the retrohale. The second third shifts to roasted coffee, dark caramel, and supple leather with dried red pepper spice. The final third delivers cocoa powder, dry oak, and a wet stone mineral earthiness, finishing with espresso and toasted tobacco.
How long does Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Sun Grown Churchill take to smoke?
As a Churchill at 7 x 54, expect a 90 to 100 minute smoke if you are puffing at a relaxed, contemplative pace. If you tend to smoke faster, you might finish in 75 minutes, but this cigar rewards slow, deliberate draws to fully register the aged leaf's nuances.
What is the best pairing for Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Sun Grown Churchill?
Ron Zacapa 23 Solera rum is the ideal match—its caramel and oak notes mirror the molasses sweetness and leather core of the cigar's second third. If you prefer whisky, a Speyside single malt like Glenfiddich 18 Year works beautifully, as its vanilla and dried fruit character harmonizes with the Sun Grown wrapper's golden undertones.
Is Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Sun Grown Churchill good for beginners?
Not really. The Medium-Full strength can overwhelm a novice palate, and the price point of $16–$20 per cigar is steep for someone still exploring. The flavors are also subtle enough that a beginner might miss the dried apricot or wet stone notes that make this blend special. Start with milder, cheaper cigars before stepping up to this one.
Where can I buy Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Sun Grown Churchill?
This is a premium-tier release, so your best bet is a well-stocked brick-and-mortar tobacconist that carries Perdomo's full lineup. Online retailers like Cigars International, Famous Smoke Shop, or Neptune Cigars typically stock it, but availability can vary by batch. If you have a local shop that specializes in Nicaraguan cigars, ask them to special order it if it is not on the shelf.
What is the price of Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Sun Grown Churchill?
Expect to pay $16 to $20 per cigar, depending on your local tax rate and the retailer. At that price, it sits in the premium tier but undercuts many ultra-aged blends that charge $30 or more for similar leaf age. A 24-count box will run you roughly $384 to $480.
Is Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Sun Grown Churchill worth aging?
The tobaccos are already aged a minimum of 12 years before rolling, and the finished cigars are rested in the box before shipping, so this cigar is essentially ready to smoke upon purchase. That said, the Sun Grown wrapper has enough structure to benefit from another 1–2 years in a humidor at 65% RH, which will soften the white pepper and deepen the molasses sweetness. Beyond that, you risk flattening the brighter notes.
What wrapper does Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Sun Grown Churchill use?
It uses a Nicaraguan Sun Grown wrapper from the Jalapa Valley, which is a Colorado-shade leaf with a medium-brown color, silky texture, and subtle golden undertone. Jalapa sun-grown tobacco is known for its balance of sweetness and spice, and in this case it contributes the toasted almond, cedar, and dried apricot notes that define the first third.
Where is Perdomo Double Aged 12 Year Vintage Sun Grown Churchill made?
It is hand-rolled at Perdomo's Fabrica de Tabacos factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, with a triple cap and presented in 24-count boxes. The binder is Nicaraguan from Estelí, and the filler is a long-filler blend from Estelí, Jalapa, and Condega—all aged in cedar and Spanish cedar-lined rooms for over a decade before rolling.