Wrapper: Dominican Negrito Mejorado
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan, Peruvian
Vitola: 6 x 52 (Drybeggar)
Strength: Medium
<pPurchase Link: Caldwell The King is Dead Escape Plan
CALDWELL ESCAPE PLAN REVIEW – DOM
Summary: On the cold draw there’s a saline sensation. Milk chocolate dominates my first puffs as smoke pours out of this thing. Notes of toast and roasted nuts give the profile some backbone. Holy cow, the burn line abides, dude; I don’t have a protractor on my person, but my naked eye says it’s keeping a 180 degree angle. Call your mom because I’m tasting cardamom (tell her I say hi).
Halfway down, the flavor profile settles on macadamia nut and cocoa powder. A pour of something sweet right now would salve my pairing itch, but it’s currently morning and I’m not a pirate. Risking this review’s credibility, the room note on this smoke is corn on the cob. Yeehaw. A hint of mint refreshes the palate at the finish.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Seafaring cowboys.
Pairing Suggestion: Rum.
Perceived Strength: Medium.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: 5-pack.
CALDWELL ESCAPE PLAN REVIEW – RICH
Summary: This cigar starts with oodles and oodles of chocolate and cocoa. If those are tasting notes you've wanted to find in a cigar but haven't been able to pick out, give this cigar a try - they really stand out. The profile adds hay, cream, oak, and just a touch of pepper on the tongue. There's also this really nice caramel taste that isn't noticeable up-front but lingers on the tongue.
The draw was a touch on the loose side. The burn was great throughout. Awesome flavors and great construction. Go get some.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Puppies, kittens, and everything good in this world
Pairing Suggestion: Coffee.
Perceived Strength: Medium.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box.
CALDWELL ESCAPE PLAN REVIEW – BEN
Summary: Smells good. Looks good; firm wrapper with a pigtail but we're cutting for easy pulling.
Raisin, caramel, white pepper, and a minty sensation on the end of my retro hale. Very nice! Don't let the snow-white ash fool ya, it's flakier and shorter than your average. Definitely not a cigar to smoke near a fan, mist or natural wind; the aloof sweetness picks up and bready notes appear, maybe even toasty almonds.
It's smooth and light on my palate; here comes leather and heat from a green pepper. Quite the dessert stick without an infusion.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Swiss chocolate.
Pairing Suggestion: Chocolate Martini.
Perceived Strength: Medium.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box.
CALDWELL ESCAPE PLAN REVIEW – TED
Summary: Box-pressed and beautiful with a fancy pigtail cap. If you have read any of my past reviews, you know I tend to be a sucker for a box pressed cigar.
Tangy cedar notes with leather, mild floral notes, and some cinnamon. I purposely get a large whiff of the room smoke from this cigar. The smoke is rich and luxuriously smooth. The retro hale smoke is smooth and tangy as well… like a sour apply jolly rancher. I’m getting some peppery heat in the retro hale as well but it is dissipating fast.
Burning towards the middle and the flavors are really good. They haven’t changed a bunch but I’m good with it. Lots of wood notes mixed with leather, and more of that tangy smoke flavor. There’s a hint of mineral in the finish and a dash of pepper as well. This stick is a smooth operator. It combines to create the flavor of slight salty, smoked jerky.
Sadly, I’m finishing this cigar. Wood, leather and the first hint of coffee and dark bread are making a wonderful combo. The performance of this cigar is at an A+. Perfect burn. Tons of great smoke. Perfect draw. It doesn’t get any better. The wood notes remain firmly in the cedar column. The mixture is creamy textured. I do feel like I want to chug a glass of water near the end as it’s drying out my mouth a bit.
If You Like That, You Might Like This: Libraries smelling of rich mahogany filled with leather bound books.
Pairing Suggestion: Diplomatico Rum.
Perceived Strength: Medium.
Purchase Recommendation to a Friend: Box.
Participants in this blind review were completely unaware of the cigar they were evaluating until all submissions were received and processed. Each participant was asked to answer a summary paragraph, an if/than statement, a pairing suggestion, and a purchase suggestion. Cigars were provided by Small Batch with only the expectations of candid responses. All pictures, information, and formatting were completed by a Coordinator outside of the reviewing process.
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