Yes, TV and movies in colour are enjoyable and entertaining, but there is something about black-and-white film that sparks intrigue – especially the genre known as film noir.
In my opinion, the acting in these films was perfect. You didn’t have to endure a team of B-list actors, cheesy plots, or special effects gone wrong.
The film noir classics were well-scripted, well-acted and well made.
When it comes to cigar mogul Nick Perdomo, I think he wanted to capture the essence of the genre in a cigar called Champagne Noir.
A few months ago, I reviewed Noir’s cousin, Champagne. It had a creamy base, but gradually gravitated towards spice.
Noir is much darker and, instead of a light Connecticut shade wrapper, it has a blackish-brown wrapper(and filler) from Nicaragua.
In the cigar world, it’s a common trend for companies to make light and dark versions of cigars. Usually they share the same name, with “maduro” or “natural” tacked on at the end.
In Perdomo’s case, I find the Noir to be very mysterious and classy. He chose the word Noir for a reason. He could have gone with black label, like Partagas or CAO. Instead, this cigar perfectionist went with Noir.
So, let’s see how this Noir stacks up. The smell has notes of roasted espresso and dark chocolate. I always like to smell them first – gives you an idea of what you are getting yourself into.
To go with it, I will be having a glass of Glenfiddich Malt Master’s Edition. This particular blend is double matured in oak and sherry caskets to give it an extra silky taste.
I enjoy a few sips before starting Noir. Very nice flavour notes – vanilla, dark toffee, and a hint of chocolate. Very smooth. If you didn’t know any better, you would think you were having a 21-yearold scotch.
I start my journey with Noir. A bitter espresso taste to start. If you are a bold coffee lover like myself, you will enjoy this. If you take your coffee with cream and sugar, this may be a bit harsh to enjoy.
After the espresso taste wears off, there is a chocolate/ wood taste. It is indeed a strong flavour, and pairs very nicely with the scotch.
Into the second third, there is a taste of black licorice and coffee grinds. At this point the flavour is stronger. If you are new to cigars, you may want to slow down and take it easy.
As for me, I’m already pouring a second glass of scotch – yes it is that good. Like cigars, scotch comes in many flavour tiers. For those who don’t like fruit or smokiness in their drink, Malt Master’s is a winner.
The last third of Noir combines earth, espresso, and licorice. It is a tad bit bitter, but still enjoyable.
What I liked most is that this cigar has very precise flavours. It’s not complex; you can taste each fl avour transition. It has an almost organic taste in the sense that it tastes as if the tobacco has just been pulled from the ground.
To summarize: yes, Noir takes things to the next level. Yes it is very black and white in terms of how the fl avours merge. Yes, it is a classic.
However, only try it if you want to go to the next level. Otherwise, live in the land of colour with Champagne – the original.
