This new years eve, after a wonderful dinner, we wandered off to St James Park to witness the London firework display in the flesh.
Upon arriving, it seemed we were not alone in our thinking (how odd); we were greeted by a sea of people for as far as the eye could see.
Naturally, I had but one thought, abort mission...
I waltzed back up the stairs towards Florence Nightingale (her statue that is) and the bronze memorial commemorating the Crimean War (unveiled in 1861 for the historians amongst us).
I had successfully escaped the crowd and found a quieter far less cramped space to welcome the new year in.
As I stood outside the steps of the Atheneum club I placed my hand into my pocket and pulled out a Perdomo 20th Anniversary cigar.
For those unfamiliar, the Perdomo 20th Anniversary cigar comes in three variants. The Connecticut, the Sun Grown and the Maduro.
If you desire to know the detailed differences between the three versions, Perdomo did a beautiful post on exactly this, you can check it out here.
Alternatively, below is a structured summary of their differences:
Feature | Connecticut | Sun Grown | Maduro |
|---|---|---|---|
Wrapper Type | Ecuadorian Connecticut | Nicaraguan Sun Grown | Nicaraguan Maduro |
Body/Strength | Mild → Medium | Medium → Medium-Full | Medium-Full → Full |
Primary Character | Creamy, cedar, honey | Earthy, spice, cedar | Sweet chocolate/espresso, earth |
Best For | Easy, elegant, subtle | Balanced complexity | Rich, bold, dessert-like notes |
Pairings | Coffee, lighter beer | Scotch, bourbon | Cabernet, dark rum / whisky |
My weapon of choice, was the Maduro. There is something about the Maduro that speaks to me, the richness, the coffee and chocolate undertones, it may be the soulmate of my palette.
Don’t get me wrong, they all have their place. If I desire a more creamy, less complex smoke, I will certainly lean to the light coloured wrapper of the Connecticut.
But it was New Years eve and my soul called for a bold cigar of complexity.
So there I was, Maduro in hand (I had already given the cigar a straight cut before venturing out), all that was left was to toast and burn the end to perfection.
Ahead of the countdown, I began the ritual.
I took out my jet flame and did the deed.
As I drew on the cigar, the gates of heaven flooded open. It hit precisely the spot, a clean draw, notes of spiced chocolate coffee seeped out of the cigar and settled in my mouth…
I held the smoke for some time before releasing it back into the new years air.
I felt its punch merge with me as I stepped into 2026. I felt it would be reflective of the year to come, one of spice and strength, that flows but is unforgiving to the milder moods.
I can honestly say that for me, and perhaps for most of the Cigar Letters community, cigars inhabit a special place in the timeline of our lives.
The slow, quiet reflection… Emboldening us with strength and fortitude. As our mind quietens, even meditative monks look upon us and learn.
I hope your first cigar of 2026 will be/was reflective of your year to come - choose wisely!
To my fellow cigar lovers, I wish you a healthy and prosperous 2026, with exceptional memories and cigars.
If you must know, the Perdomo 20th Anniversary Maduro was close to perfect…
Yours truly,
The Cigar Lover
Cigar Letters
Letter No. 7
What cigar did you enter the new year with? Let me know. I am but one email away.
P.S. I’m putting together a chapter which explores the physiological effects of cigars; on both mind and body. To be shared with you in time.