Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
Filler: Dominican Piloto Cubano, Criollo 98, Corojo 99, San Vicente, Cotuí
Size: 6 x 52 Toro
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $20.00
Quantity: 450 boxes of 10
Aged: 2 Years after rolling
Factory: Kelner Cigars, S.A.S.

My cigars received 2 months of naked humidor time.

BACKGROUND:
“Exclusively crafted by a single, dedicated pair of rollers for the utmost consistency, Higher Calling is limited to 450 boxes worldwide. It holds historical significance as one of the very first blends produced by Kelner Cigars, S.A.S.—predating even the ongoing production Vow series—and marked the genesis of a cherished partnership.

‘One of my favorite things about Avowed Cigars is that each of us are Fathers,” explains Dave West. “Most of the year is spent laboring to provide a better childhood for our kids, but on Father’s Day we slow down to take stock of where we are, how we got here, and where we’re going. Expect Avowed to release something truly special each year worthy of a Father’s Day celebration.”

‘Andrew Considine continues, “We often talk about the future and the legacy we’re building for our children. They are the driving force behind everything we do and our Higher Calling. As Fathers, we recognize the incredible value of time and wanted our first Father’s Day release to be aged to perfection.”

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
This is the stylish blend that has become ultra cool for the 2020’s. It is by far my favorite recipe on the menu of choices that I smoke every day. Old age is just as ultra great as you can smoke as many cigars as you want while laughing in the face of your doctors who secretly smoke cigarettes…and die at 61.

Ecuadorian and Dominican leaves shmooshed together by a Kelner. It doesn’t get better than this. Years ago, I predicted that this type of blend would be the flavor of the month in the coming millennia. Casdagli and Fuente were on top of the world with their blends and then the wind changed. Those winds favored us faithful to the era because we love having a broad spectrum of varietal choices from established blenders and upstarts alike. Now, the market is flooded with clones. We must be vigilant as it has become an everyday occurrence for $85-$100 fivers to be put in front of us like candy in front of children.

How often, when you put nose to wrapper, do you get to smell caramel? Bit-O-Honey is right alongside the gooey bronzeosity. Lovely floral notes dismiss any hints of barnyard. And in the wings are solid notes of chocolate, fresh fruit, Devonshire on the Thames clotted cream, and baking spices.

Sometimes you just know that the thing in your hands will react to heat like a wiener schnitzel on Labor Day. Construction is solid.

My PerfecPunch lunges and parries. I dodge its evil intent. Sucking the cap silently, it makes a perfect blow hole in my cigar. The resistance is money. Or fresh. Or straight fire. Or maybe I’m delulu.

The cold draw tastes of a cinnamon, creamy honey, white and milk chocolate chips, spicy hot red peppers, hazelnut, and smoky lager.

So, I begin the cre-marrying process. The art of wedding your cigar while burning it to the ground.

A slam dunk start. Big fatty notes of caramel, apple strudel with vanilla ice cream, fresh French bread, milk chocolate, mild black pepper, and frootsie tootsie.

Balance is immediate. This little mutter futter wastes no time.

Intensity is present, which is not often seen this early in blends of this breed. It tastes packed. Packed with what? I’m not sure yet, but it smacks.

My early prediction was correct. The cigar becomes a hefty toad of a road flare.

The ash is delicate like a morning bowl of steaming Malt-O-Meal and bananas. In reality, my morning begins with 7 cups of coffee and a Twinkie.

The burn is sharp. Like me 29 years ago.

I’m not afraid of the language police. You shouldn’t be either. Reviewing cigars is not a high art. If you want to connect to readers, talk like they talk. And being occasionally entertaining would be a nice addition.

Hal Blaine worked for me incessantly in the 80’s. Word got out amongst the Long Beach elite that if I thought a project was worthy, I could deliver them one of the greatest session drummers of all time. But there was equal pressure on me as well. Hal didn’t screw around in the studio. He drank…but never during a session. And small talk was not his thing. The bands had to have their shit strung tight. Blaine could breeze through 4 songs in an hour…never having heard the songs before, and just killing it. He would listen and furiously write his part as well as how the song was structured. The man was a sight reader. It never failed to blow away every musician that had the pleasure, and honor, of working with the man. Hal insisted that he be paid upfront in cash before each session. In my private office, I’d hand him the dough. I never took a cut. I was thrilled just working with the man. I made sure to mention to the client that they should tip Hal handsomely when the session ended. After 4 hours, Blaine would walk away with, in 2025 dollars, $3,500. With an 8-hour session, he got overtime with hard cash of $8,000. Hal always returned my calls.

Flavors begin to morph towards chocolate covered malt balls, lemon frizze’, banana chips, pecans, and a slight peat note. Covering the savory portion of the menu are slices of green tea, ginger shavings, and aged oak.

The blend is a fine example of what sophisticated smokers enjoy. It begins with mild vibrancy. And then increases its refinement with amusing transitional changes. There is a charming mouth feel and long finish dripping with sweet and savory notes. The creaminess refuses to stop.

There is max breadiness. It feels homey and cozy. There is floral honey in play. Strength found a home at medium in the first half of the cigar. My favorite way to wake up. Now as the second half begins, I can feel the cigar powering up.

While construction is excellent, the ash is gentle. My lap looks like Vesuvius Day 2.

1995. Bill Clinton ruins a perfectly good dress. The Motion Picture Academy rejects Rodney Dangerfield for membership. Michael Jordan returns to the Chicago Bulls. Mike Tyson is released from prison. Andrew Considine celebrates his 73rd birthday. His grandchildren learn to smoke cigars at age 4.

Richness is nuts. Complexity is nuttier. Balance is the double album deluxe edition.
While my review cigars have only 2 months of home humidor time (2 years of aging post rolling), they have performed admirably. Most cigars in the category of Kelner blends need at least 3-4 months before you can really see what the blender accomplished. The nice thing about Higher Calling is that when you smoke a couple too early, there is a magic act of what’s to come. If you’re a fan of Casdagli, Fuente, and Kelner, you’ll grasp the accomplishment by Andrew Considine and Dave West.

The second half is more of everything. Intensity begins. But those last couple of inches can deal a blow if the blenders did not get it right.

Creaminess, honey, caramel, baked bread, vanilla, aged oak, white pepper, malt, milk chocolate, baking spices, fresh banana, and a bit of sweet citrus. Until I began typing the flavors, I did not realize that this might be a flavor bomb. But the flavors are subtle rather than flogging about. And if not for the art of the critique, I may not have honed in. The banana becomes very strong during Inch #4. This has become a great cigar. I cannot wait for my sticks to hit 4-5 months in my humidor. This review is merely a prelude and slight pulling back of the curtain. I am very pleased. The boys did a noble thing. There is nothing more angst ridden than reviewing the produce of your patron. If the cigar had turned out to be less than stellar, I would have shown them respect by not posting a review. Hypocrisy, sure. Thankfully, I found this blend to be an astral projection.

I ran into a record producer I knew from my London days. He told me a story. He was working a David Bowie session. Ziggy was in the studio doing his vocals. Most of the tracks had already been recorded. The Thin Duke’s efforts on this day brought up some emotions. By the end of the tune, he was sobbing. My friend told a production assistant to get the man some tissues. The PA opened the door to the studio and flung a roll of toilet paper hitting Bowie right in the head. That assistant is now a guard at HM Prison Brixton. If the kid had been American, he would have made first draft for the Dodgers.

I am now in the truth telling portion of any cigar. If it becomes harsh, or flavors falter, then it’s all over. Let’s see…

The last third is slurpy with fierce flavorness. The balance of sweet v. savory is 50/50. My favorite outcome. Savory counters the landslide of sweetness with notes of aged oak, fresh sourdough bread, peat, black tea, white pepper, and pine nuts. Beautiful.

The blend pulls it off. Zero harshness in the last 2”. I’m reviewing this cigar on an empty stomach and I’m not seeing my life pass before me as expected with strong cigars. The strength moves slowly throughout the two hours. No sudden jerks. A perfect morning cigar with your coffee. And so I have successfully cre-married this luscious cigar.

4500 cigars is not a lot of cigars in today’s market. Once word gets out, these cigars should fly off the shelves. I’m going to buy a couple of boxes and shove them in my long-term humidor. I recommend you do the same.

Starting on June 13, 2025, you can purchase Avowed Cigars The Vow: Higher Calling from sponsor Small Batch Cigar.

UPDATE JUNE 13, 2025:
Higher Calling is now live. Go to Small Batch Cigar.

RATING: 97

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS

Tags: andrew considine, avowed cigars, cigar reviews, cigar reviews by the katman, cigars, dave west, katman, klaas kelner, phil kohn, PRE-RELEASE: Avowed Cigars The Vow: Higher Calling | Cigar Reviews by the Katman, small batch cigar