Smoked: Caldwell Anastasia Caspia (Yellow Band)

Smoked at: West Chester, Ohio

Caldwell Anastasia Caspia (Yellow Band) is a tribute to Princess Anastasia, the daughter of the last Tzar of Russia, Nicbolas II. The cigar is cloaked in a Habano wrapper with the remaining tobacco a closely guarded secret, rolled in a classified location as part of a clandestine operation, often the case with Caldwell. All we know is the cigars are made somewhere in the Dominican Republic. However, in this case, it probably should be secret. This is the follow up to Caldwell’s The Last Tsar. And the story of Nicholas and Anastasia was a historic state secret filled with intrigue for over 70 years.

The wrapper is a dark chocolate color of undisclosed tobacco – a couple of large veins, a bit dry and coarse to the touch. A little squeeze and you get some oils out and just enough sponginess to assure me the wrapper is Goldilocks – not too hard, not too soft, no soft spots. (Not sure the soft spots were part of the fairy tale)

Aged tobacco is immediately apparent along with nuttiness, cedar, cream, pepper, earth, spice (mostly like baking spice, maybe a little nutmeg), a smidge of mint and a fruit sweetness. I taste lemon drops. There’s a touch of leather and something that tastes like beer hops or bread dough on a few puffs.

The transitions and complexity abound. The spices even change from a nutmeg to cinnamon to allspice. The pepper intensifies then hides in the background. During the second third, I’m tasting a mineral note, coffee, cocoa, toffee and something like apple tart. Even the wood changes to a charred flavor/aroma – like a freshly lit fire pit. The transitions remind of the changes you taste drinking a first growth Bordeaux – a Lafite or Margaux. This cigar is a flavor adventure.

Excellent cold draw with just enough resistance, a generous amount of smoke production, solid ash, and a decent even burn line – a little wavy at times but nothing to dock points over. A few minor touchups were necessary, but mostly cosmetic. I like a razor-sharp burn line. The construction on the Anastasia is exceptional.

The retrohale includes the bread/hoppy notes along with charred wood and the requisite pepper, although it was somewhat subdued/mild as retrohales go. This is a medium body and strength cigar all the way.

I wasn’t sure when I chose to pair it with coffee, but this is a very good morning coffee smoke. It works quite well, although you could pair it with a Highland, Island or Speyside scotch with fine results.

The Anastasia may not be the absolute best Caldwell I have smoked, but it’s right up there. Well done, Mr. Caldwell. This cigar gets 5s across the board!