Match M42 closed Group G after Fuente Fuente OpusX Angel's Share and Tatuaje Black Petite Lancero had already secured the advancement positions. Perdomo 30th Anniversary Box-Pressed Sun Grown entered at 0-2, while Aladino Cameroon also sought its first victory after losses to both Boutique Masters qualifiers.
The finale paired Perdomo's 6 x 54 box-pressed Epicure with Aladino's 6 x 52 Super Toro. Perdomo used 15-year-aged Cuban-seed Nicaraguan tobacco and a bourbon-barrel-aged Sun Grown wrapper. Aladino combined a Honduran-grown Cameroon wrapper with Honduran Corojo binder and filler for an aromatic, naturally sweet profile.
Draw, burn, flavor complexity, balance and finish all tied at 4.5. Perdomo earned the scorecard's only perfect 5.0 for construction against Aladino's Outstanding 4.5. That single half-point produced a 27.5 to 27.0 victory, third place in Group G and a winning conclusion to the Perdomo campaign.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | Perdomo 30th Anniversary Sun Grown | Aladino Cameroon |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Perdomo | Aladino / JRE Tobacco Co. |
| Origin | Nicaragua | Honduras |
| Wrapper | 15-year bourbon barrel-aged Nicaraguan Sun Grown | Honduran-grown Cameroon |
| Binder | 15-year Cuban-seed Nicaraguan | Honduran Corojo |
| Filler | 15-year Cuban-seed Nicaraguan | Honduran Corojo |
| Factory | Tabacalera Perdomo, Estelí | Fábrica de Puros Aladino S.A., Jamastrán |
| Vitola | Box-pressed Epicure, 6 x 54 | Super Toro, 6 x 52 |
| Strength | Medium-Full | Medium |
| Ashology score | 27.5/30 - Superior | 27.0/30 - Premium |
| M42 result | Winner | Loss |
Perdomo began with cedar, cocoa, coffee and light sweetness. Toasted cedar, smooth pepper, cocoa and roasted nuts established a polished opening. Espresso, caramel and oak enriched the middle before coffee and pepper strengthened while cocoa carried through a smooth, moderately long finish.
Aladino opened with cedar, hay, pepper and natural sweetness. Sweet cedar, baking spice, light pepper and toasted grain displayed classic Cameroon character. Roasted nuts, coffee and subtle floral notes added depth before cedar, spice and mild cocoa formed a sweetly woody conclusion.
Both cigars used cedar, pepper, roasted nuts, coffee and sweetness, yet their styles remained distinct. Perdomo was richer and darker, adding cocoa, espresso, caramel and oak. Aladino stayed more aromatic and traditional, building its Cameroon identity through hay, toasted grain, baking spice and floral accents.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
Draw and burn tied at 4.5 to 4.5. Perdomo's easy airflow and even combustion matched Aladino's smooth draw and dependable performance. Flavor complexity also tied at 4.5, as each cigar developed a complete progression despite taking different routes through the smoke.
Perdomo won one category; Aladino won none; five categories tied.
Balance and finish produced the fourth and fifth ties at 4.5. Perdomo integrated caramel and cocoa with coffee, pepper and oak, while Aladino combined natural sweetness with cedar, spice, nuts and floral character. Their conclusions differed in weight but remained equal in official quality.
Construction settled the finale. Perdomo earned a perfect 5.0 against Aladino's 4.5 through precise box pressing, strong smoke production and dependable physical performance. With five categories canceled by ties, that single exceptional mark created the entire 0.5-point margin.
Official Result: Perdomo 30th Anniversary Sun Grown Wins Match M42
Perdomo 30th Anniversary Box-Pressed Sun Grown defeated Aladino Cameroon 27.5 to 27.0 and completed Group G at 1-2. The victory secured third place in Boutique Masters behind advancing cigars Fuente Fuente OpusX Angel's Share and Tatuaje Black Petite Lancero.
Perdomo did not advance, but its Superior evaluation, perfect construction score and competitive half-point loss to Tatuaje demonstrated the quality of its tournament. The celebratory 15-year-aged blend left the Official 32 with a victory and one of Group G's most dependable technical performances.
Aladino finished Group G at 0-3 and placed fourth. Its record did not erase the consistency of its Premium 27.0 evaluation: all six categories scored 4.5, and the finale again showed how closely it could compete when only one perfect mark separated the cigars.
Final Ashology Verdict
Aladino Cameroon delivered classic Honduran-grown Cameroon character through sweet cedar, hay, toasted grain, baking spice, roasted nuts, coffee, floral notes and cocoa. Five ties proved that it matched Perdomo in airflow, combustion, flavor development, balance and finish.
Perdomo 30th Anniversary Box-Pressed Sun Grown won through exceptional craftsmanship. Its aged Nicaraguan tobacco created cedar, cocoa, coffee, nuts, caramel, espresso, oak and pepper, while perfect construction supplied the only advantage on an otherwise even scorecard. One half-point closed Group G and gave Perdomo a deserved tournament victory.
Tasting notes reflect the cigars and vitolas evaluated during the 2026 competition. Flavor, strength and burn performance may vary based on storage, age, vitola and individual palate. Tobacco products are intended only for adults of legal smoking age.