Caldwell Pacific Standard

Smoked: Caldwell Pacific Standard

Smoked at: West Chester, Ohio

Found a cigar in the humidor today I haven't smoked in over a year. Caldwell Pacific Standard Double Robusto is a medium-mild bodied, medium strength cigar produced as a “thank you” to West Coast fans and retailers of the Eastern Standard. The cigar band has the same face as the Eastern Standard. The only way to know it’s the Pacific Standard is the wording on the side of the band. The Pacific is draped in a toothy Ecuador corojo wrapper, although some stats claim it is a hybrid corojo and shade.

The cigar starts off with and maintains a very good draw, a sharp even burn line , a generous amount of smoke production and the grey-white ash held on tightly, defying gravity and a 38 Special hit from the 80s. The smoke output increases during the final third.

There is quite an array of flavors, including aged tobacco, dark roast coffee, chocolate, cream, nuts, earth, leather, dried fruit (raisins perhaps), cereal notes, spice, some pepper. During the second third, hints of hay, cedar, vanilla and muted spice take over with the chocolate and fruit moving to the back row. The flavors have quite the sweet and savory balance. The earth and leather rule the retrohale with the requisite pepper. It suggests a** more subdued, laid back **version of the Eastern Standard. The Pacific Standard should have a more West Coast relaxed vibe.

Good draw, solid white ash that held to an inch and a half, tapped off cleanly on command, solid smoke output and even burn line – impressive construction.

The Caldwell Pacific Standard is a much more mild smoke than I anticipated. I did pair it with coffee and I’m glad I did. This is a very creamy, medium-mild coffee pairing cigar as well as a very approachable smoke for a cigar newbie