GROUP C - MODERN VALUE LEADERS
Winner: Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne Purito
Match M18 closed Group C with Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne Purito and ACID Blondie both seeking their first victory. The Value 16 positions were already settled, but the final matchup determined third and fourth place and gave two very different sweet-leaning profiles one direct comparison.
Perdomo entered with a 4 x 38 bourbon barrel-aged Ecuadorian Connecticut over six-year-aged Cuban-seed Nicaraguan binder and filler. ACID entered as the standard 4 x 38 ACID Blue Blondie, built around Drew Estate's proprietary curing and blending methods and a smooth aromatic identity.
Perdomo won the approved M18 matchup 27.5 to 27.0. Its controlled construction, refined balance, and smoother transition from sweetness into natural tobacco created the half-point edge. Perdomo finished 1-2; ACID completed the group 0-3.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne Purito | ACID Blondie |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Perdomo Cigars - Reserve 10th Anniversary | Drew Estate - ACID Blue |
| Origin | Nicaragua | Nicaragua |
| Wrapper | Ecuadorian Connecticut, bourbon barrel-aged | Connecticut Shade in the approved tournament profile |
| Binder | Cuban-seed Nicaraguan | Proprietary; leaf details not published |
| Filler | Cuban-seed Nicaraguan | Proprietary; leaf details not published |
| Factory | Tabacalera Perdomo S.A., Estelí | La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, Estelí |
| Vitola | Purito, 4 x 38 | Blondie, 4 x 38 |
| Strength | Mild to medium | Mild in the approved tournament profile |
| Qualifying price | $5.50 in the approved tournament profile | Below $9 in the approved tournament profile |
| Profile score | 27.0/30 - Very Good | 27.0/30 - Very Good |
Official M18 score
27.5/30 - Winner
27.0/30 - Loss
Refined Sweetness vs. Aromatic Sweetness
Perdomo opened with cream, honey, cedar, and almond before oak and white pepper added structure. Toasted almond and light coffee deepened the center, while creamy sweetness stayed integrated with cedar, oak, and mild pepper through a clean medium-length finish.
ACID opened with aromatic sweetness, herbs, floral spice, and an easy draw. Sweet cream and gentle spice led into floral, herbal, and toasted tobacco notes. The infusion remained the dominant feature through an aromatic, sweet, and persistent close.
The cigars shared sweetness, cream, cedar, and gentle spice, but handled those elements differently. ACID kept the aromatic treatment in front. Perdomo moved from cream and honey toward oak, almond, coffee, cedar, and pepper, creating the more controlled transition into natural tobacco.
Where Match M18 Was Decided
The standing profiles rate Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne Purito at 27.0/30 - Very Good. All six standing profile categories are 4.5. ACID Blondie is rated 27.0/30 - Very Good. All six standing profile categories are 4.5.
Official M18 score: Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne Purito 27.5, ACID Blondie 27.0.
The standing profiles score both cigars at 27.0, but the official M18 result lifts Perdomo to 27.5 for this head-to-head smoke. The approved archive does not identify the match-specific half-point category, so that margin is not assigned or reverse-engineered.
Both standing cards show even 4.5 performance across all six categories. M18 was therefore decided by the approved match-specific total and verified smoking comparison: Perdomo delivered the more controlled, refined, and naturally progressive compact performance.
Official Result: Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne Purito Wins M18
Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne Purito defeated ACID Blondie 27.5 to 27.0 and finished Group C at 1-2 in third place. The victory gave the distributor sales-qualified entry official group-stage recognition, although it did not advance to the Value 16.
ACID Blondie completed group play at 0-3 in fourth place. Its distinctive aromatic identity, national recognition, and dependable construction justified its place in the field, but the traditional competitors produced stronger balance or natural tobacco progression in each matchup.
Final Ashology Verdict
ACID Blondie delivered sweet cream, herbs, floral aroma, cedar, toasted tobacco, and mild spice through a dependable compact draw. It remained highly distinctive even when the scoring system favored traditional development.
Perdomo Champagne Purito delivered the more refined closing performance. Cream, honey, cedar, oak, toasted almond, coffee, and white pepper moved through a smoother natural progression, securing M18 and third place in Group C.
Tasting notes reflect the exact cigars and vitolas evaluated for the 2026 Value Cigar Championship. Current product specifications were checked against official manufacturer information. Flavor, strength, draw, and burn may vary with storage, age, production variation, and individual palate. Tobacco products are intended only for adults of legal smoking age.
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