Smoked: Caldwell Quick & Dirty (Going Nowhere Fast)

Smoked at: West Chester, Ohio

Caldwell Quick & Dirty (Going Nowhere Fast) is a medium-full bodied, med-full strength smoke from another of Robert Caldwell’s Adventures In Tobacco Discovery. Supposedly, it was originally a Lost & Found that ended up released as simply Quick & Dirty. I still am unable to establish whether the “Going Nowhere Fast” is part of the cigar name, a subseries name or just Caldwell being Caldwell. I’m not losing sleep over it. Let’s fire up this bad boy.

As I inspect the cigar in pre-light, I notice it’s a little wet – even though my humidor is at a consistent 69%, temp 70-72. It likely needs a little time in the humidor. But I’m on a mission and I have 4 more to smoke after this one, so…torch to foot.

This cigar comes charging out of the gate – unapologetically bold with flavors of oak, charred wood, dark roast coffee-espresso, spice, toast and cereal notes and, of course, well aged tobacco. Every flavor in this stick is strong, dark and bold – take no prisoners assault on your palate. Not surprisingly, the retrohale is very harsh. You get a blast of pepper and charred wood like the aroma of dying embers in a fire pit.

Rarely do I characterize a cigar as harsh, but if I had to reduce it to one word that’s the one. Halfway through I’m experiencing early onset parched throat syndrome. I’m drinking water every 5 minutes. The other cigars I would consider harsh are the LFD Double Ligero and Air Bender without the serious nicotine buzz – although there is some strength here. It was a short smoke so I could get through to the nub before guzzling some Gatorade for relief. It was not only a short vitola, but a fast-burning cigar. Smoking time: just short of an hour.

The burn line very was uneven, although it did hold a solid tight ash. No wrapper issues. Fairly generous volume of smoke output. Nice cold draw until the final third.

I found very little exceptional about this cigar, but it was an enjoyable smoke and I will light one up again in the near future. Caldwell’s well aged tobacco blends keep calling me back – like the siren’s song.