Smoked: Caldwell Crafted & Curated Girls Guns Gold

Smoked at: West Chester, Ohio

Sometimes with Caldwell you’re never sure if a series is really a Lost & Found. Girls Guns Gold is marketed as such on some sites. It is part of the Crafted & Curated series. The tobacco is from several countries. The cigar is draped in a smooth, light tan Ecuador Connecticut wrapper. You can barely see the tiny veins.

Wood, cashews, some creaminess (could be some lemon in there) , mild spice, hints of chili pepper that’s very pronounced on the retrohale, earth, leather, minerals and slightly steely – a metallic taste of a few puffs. That metallic taste turns to a lead aroma on the retrohale along with a blast of serious pepper. During the second third I’m tasting cereal like Rice Krispies. Am I tasting ravioli (without the sauce) because it’s a flavor note in the tobacco or because my brain remembers the taste from dinner last night?

I’m perplexed on the issue of balance. Generally the flavors work together, but some conflict – like the hot chili pepper and metallic notes in a medium to medium-mild bodied Connecticut. Quite unusual. Yet, I’m enjoying the flavors in this cigar.

The construction on this bad boy is spot on near perfect – good open draw, sharp even burn line and a solid volume of smoke and not one touchup from torching to nub. This is rarely my experience with a lancero – the only vitola offered for Girls Guns Gold I believe.

I have to give Caldwell’s Crafted & Curated Girls Guns Gold 5s across the board, which surprises me. I went into this with no expectations. This is one of Robert Caldwell’s hidden gems. If you’re into Caldwells, give this a try.