Caldwell Eastern Standard & Long Live The King
In fairness to Robert Caldwell, I'm posting two reviews from opposite ends of the spectrum. Today's smoke was an Eastern Standard Corretto. A bit of a loose draw at first which tighten up a bit by the second third. Good amount of thick smoke and a fairly even burn througout. The flavor profile was rather lackluster. It did have the creamy, peppery, nutty (perhaps walnuts), wood (cedar maybe). It just wasn't anything special which I have come to expect from a Caldwell. Now I know a lot of smokers like the Eastern Standard but cigars are a matter of personal taste. I rate it somewhere between it's OK and alright - just a degree above plus-or-minus zero. I thought a Charter Oak Connecticut or Macanudo Inspirado White would edge it out in a photo finish. Hey! But that's me. I'll give it this. It had a somewhat even burn, a good amount of ash and a nice nutty, peppery retrohale, but not overly peppery. I finished almost to the nub so it wasn't a bad cigar. Maybe I just wanted to get my money's worth. Waste not. Want not. Perhaps I should try a Pacific Standard. I may be smoking in the wrong time zone.
That said, earlier this week I experienced a Caldwell Long Live The King for the first time in a lancero - or a Jalapeno being Caldwell's Style. It is a SUPERB smoke. Paired with a dram of Port Charlotte 10. '
Very complex flavor profile. So much going on it's hard to identify all the notes. Woodsy, clearly cedar, but maybe some oak in there too. Creamy, sweet (tough to clearly identify the sweetness, maybe maple syrup, vanilla) nutty (walnuts, maybe a hint of cashews, more like reaching into a can of mixed nuts, for a puff or two thought I got a hint of coffee, mingled with an array of spices, pepper on the retrohale, not overwhelming.
One of the best smokes I have experienced recently. The flavor was like turning up the volume on the cigar. Kind of like listening to Van Halen, Led Zepplin, Guns N Roses. Best heard LOUD. I gave the attributes that to the vitola. If only ALL lanceros had that construction. I toasted the head and never even reached for my torch start to finish, down to the nub. Perfectly even burn, no touch ups, perfect draw. I can't say enough about the cigar. Kudos, Mr. Caldwell on a terrific smoke!
Next up: the maduro, cigar budget permitting.
Comments
64 Bear On The Air
(9 months ago)I stand by my review of the Caldwell Eastern Standard comparison to the Charter Oak Connecticut. Smoked a Charter Oak with coffee this morning. The Eastern Standard flavor profile was similar. Perhaps a bit more amplified but not that different. The Charter Oak is about half the price. 73 ... and out!
64 Bear On The Air
(9 months ago)Chipc73, today's technology would allow you to somewhat fulfill that DJ dream. Invest in a USB mic and voice track shows from your home studio. It's how most of what you hear on all platforms of audio (and in some cases video) media are done. Podcasts, VTs for streaming channels, apps, radio (what's left of it) are all at your computer.
100 chipc73
(9 months ago)This is an excellent review, Bear On The Air. Thank you for doing it. Just curious, where does your "On The Air" come from? Are you a radio hobby guy like myself? Or a professional radio announcer?
64 Bear On The Air
(9 months ago)Long career in media, mostly radio including work on the "assembly line," disc jockey. Glad you enjoy the reviews. I try to give an honest appraisal while injecting some levity, humor, clever commentary. Long Live The King is a terrific smoke. If you haven't already, pick one up. I highly recommend the lancero.
100 chipc73
(9 months ago)Thanks for the info. I'm envious. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be an on-air personality as a disc jockey with my love of music. I got my Amateur Radio license when I was 15 (68 now), so I've been O-T-A for many years in that realm. As we say in ham radio, "73," meaning "best regards."
64 Bear On The Air
(9 months ago)I must be getting too old in the mind to review. Obviously, I meant I toasted the foot. Maybe I also toasted my head, which would explain the glaring error in the review. My bad! Bear On The Air
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