Wrapper: Honduran Habano
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran
Size: 6 x 54 Toro Figurado
Strength: Medium
Price: $25.00
BACKGROUND:
Only 225 boxes of 10 sticks were released.
The cigar is also called a Pregnant Toro.
From Caldwell Cigars:
“Caldwell’s Crafted and Curated series acts as a creative outlet for Robert Caldwell, offering unique blending and sizing experimentation to discerning connoisseurs. Some Crafted and Curated cigars tweak existing Caldwell blends with different components or process, while others are entirely distinctive blends. However, all are extremely limited in production and represent Robert’s personal tastes and artistry.”
From Luxury Cigar Club:
“Caldwell is well known in the industry for his no nonsense approach to the blending process. The brand as a whole is vastly different from anything else you can find out there today.
“Long Live the King is a wildly popular release that has seen limited edition spin-offs, and a line Caldwell holds near and dear to his heart.
“Robert blended the 11/07 to commemorate his 40th birthday, and went back to his roots to do so. Choosing to use all Honduran tobacco, this beautiful puro wears a habano wrapper, and corojo insides.”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
There is zero information on this cigar. Not even the Caldwell site acknowledges this blend. No press releases. No cigar industry announcements. It was released sometime in 2022 as it was Caldwell’s 40th birthday year…Most probably at the PCA of 2022…but I’m guessing. So, the cigars have some humidor time on them.
Only 250 boxes of 10 sticks were released a year ago. And they are still around.
I found a total of four online stores that carry them. Two of those stores are Small Batch Cigar and Luxury Cigar Club. Not immediately selling out a limited-edition Caldwell is not a particularly good sign. There is either something going on I am not aware of…or the cigar is a dud. But even so, 2500 cigars are insufficient a number to get word out that passing on the blend is a good idea. Let alone who knows how many are still for sale…a mystery suitable for Inspector Clouseau.
I can’t crib flavor notes from anyone as I found not a single review. Yikes. What is a hack to do?
Let us begin with aromas…big fat notes of floral, baking spices, graham cracker, cinnamon, clove, milk chocolate, espresso, lime, assorted generic nuttiness, malt, and cedar.
I use the 8mmØ punch…the smallest of the three on my PerfecPunch. The cap is only 3/8” in diameter. Meanwhile, the pregnant portion poofs out to 7/8”. By the time the cigar reconfigures, it is only 5/8” at the foot.
The draw is excellent. Great construction. A solid cigar.
No punch to the gut after flame to foot is accomplished. Stillwater. An immediate richness that comes from aged tobacco is an immediate head turner. Creaminess, baking spices, potent black pepper, a light black licorice influence gives the, otherwise savory, blend a nice touch of sweetness. Before I can go back and edit that sentence, sweet notes of black cherry, caramel, and key lime pie hit the kid’s pool to really deliver an early balance.
Strength is a low-key medium.
The char line needs a touch up at ¾” burned. Not a big deal…yet.
Red pepper tingles my tongue while the black pepper is felt in the back of my mouth.
I expected a bit more complexity by now. It is a special cigar as described by Caldwell…I guess. But for $25, it should be doing the worm. Maybe the reason no info could be found on the Caldwell website for this blend is sheer embarrassment of an experiment that failed. Maybe.
1” burned. 12 minutes.
The char line has redeemed itself.
Unless things turn around toot suite, I can prognosticate that this ain’t a great blend. It’s OK. I like the aged tobacco intensity and the influence of the baking spices…but the early richness and balance is stuck in mud.
I reviewed the $15.00 Caldwell Long Live the Queen in January and loved the cigar. I reviewed the $15.00 Caldwell The King is Dead Escape Plan and liked the cigar very much. So…what’s up Robert?
All the hype for the Crafted and Curated Series, and this blend, face plants.
It is an ordinary Caldwell blend that can be had for $10.
1-3/4” burned. 20 minutes. 4-1/4” to go. I had high hopes that I had found a unicorn worthy of your hard-earned dough. Heavy sigh.
I begin the pregnant part of the cigar. I don’t want to jinx it, but I do believe I detect improvement. Could there be a love fetus in the middle?
A tadpole of complexity finally makes its way past my palate and into my attenuated brain. C’mon, baby…give it to daddy. I’ll settle for faux excellence that starts at a delayed starting line. Real reviewer pros know how to handle this type of situation. Me? I mope. Yeah, I’m documenting a cigar experience that might be useful long after my demise…but it’s no fun. Fun is the only reason I spew reviews. That and the hundreds of thousands of dollars I’m paid by sponsors.
What I experience now should have been my first encounter after lighting the cigar. This is the problem with cigar industry hype. You can’t believe any of it. As smokers, we have been bombarded by bullshit to the point that we have become immune to the stroking of our penises. Unless you are in your twenties…you just can’t enough stroking. I don’t know about you, but back then I had a perpetual boner. Just stating the facts of Darwinian survival.
2-1/2” burned. 30 minutes.
The cigar is putting all its shit in one bag now. Flavors previously described get needed gusto. The flavor profile fans out. Complexity finally begins at a rate that is acceptable and long overdue. The depth of the blend creates a beautiful finish on my palate that is rich and delicate. Subtleties and nuances start their journey towards home.
Strength suddenly makes its move and goes from a wilting medium to medium/full…with panache.
The spiciness is nicely contained. Much better.
A sledgehammer nails the sweet spot. This is the true blender’s intent. The big fuck up is that it should have introduced itself nearly 3” ago.
What is and what should never be. Or what is and what it should have been. With apologies to Led Zep.
A total transformation occurs. A feral cat turns into a cheetah.
My ass is now being kicked by the strength and nicotine. Now we’re having fun.
Remember, this is just one idiot’s opinion. “Be open minded, but not so open minded that your brains fall out.” ~ Groucho Marx.
Why the tobacco waited to kick into gear at the pregnant belly is unknown.
My vision mysteriously returns. I can see, momma…I can see!
The halfway point arrives at 40 minutes.
One hypothesis is that this blend requires an inordinate amount of humidor time. It has a year on it but it ain’t enough, McGee. That could be the reason for a total lack of reviews or selling out in the first month. Maybe?
If what I taste now had done its curtsy earlier, I might have heaped high praise.
Creaminess, citrus, baking spices, cinnamon, red pepper, black pepper, graham cracker, malt, black licorice, black cherry, and earthy tobacco.
Ha. The Temptations. “Ball of Confusion.” The perfect accompaniment supplied by Amazon Music.
Birds are singing. Big flowers perform an aria from “The Little Shop of Horrors.”
Sammy the Cat stares at Audrey II. “An insatiable, heartless and egotistical plant who relies on manipulating Seymour to grow large enough to move around and eat humans on its own.” This has always been my mantra.
I’ve only known one Seymour in my life. The kid took a lot of shit in school.
Construction remains impeccable.
I see that I’m way past my word usage limit so I shall kickback and listen to music.
Another 6 months of naked humi time might be the quixotic answer. A year of hard work has already done its job.
Smokey. “Tears of a Clown.” The man is 83 and I saw him perform live on a morning show recently and the guy still has it. He even has a new album. I want his DNA.
The cigar finishes out at 90 minutes. A delicious blend once you get past the detritus of a poor start.
This cigar, while it lasts, can be purchased at sponsors, Small Batch Cigar (10% off with promo code ‘katman’) and Luxury Cigar Club (15% off with promo code ‘katman’).
RATING: 90
Discover more from Cigar Reviews by the Katman
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
