Smoked: Caldwell 22 Minutes to Midnight Habano de Oro

Smoked at: Sharonville, Ohio

Caldwell 22 Minutes to Midnight Habano de Oro is one of two Caldwell signature “23:38” banded cigars in the 22 Minutes 4 cigar series. Robert Caldwell and Tony Bellatto teamed up on this series named after the time noted on a text sent between the two giving the thumbs up to the blends being tested for the series.

The Caldwells in the series are the Connecticut Randiante and the Habano de Oro each with a cigar band reading the military/24 hour “23:38.” The Bellatto bands read the 12 hour “11:38.” This series may or may not be part of the Lost & Founds depending upon what you read. It may have been originally intended for the Lost & Founds. The Habano band is gold on white.

As is usually the case with Caldwells, the filler and binder tobacco is “not disclosed” – or a secret to which only MI-6 may have access. We do know the wrapper is Habano.

Flavors: Spice, pepper, roasted nuts (in the realm of cashews and peanuts), toast, cream, caramel and a buttery flavor. Hints of honey or maybe honey graham crackers, Honey Nut Cheerios or gingerbread – something in that vein – and orchard fruit notes appear on occasion. Am I tasting Clove Gum again or is that just stuck in my mind from a few cigars ago?

This thing is silky smooth, a subtle delight on the palate. If this be balance and complexity, Shakespeare would hath penned a passage in a play regarding such. “I bear a charmed life” to quote from King Lear. Or, to quote from the Bear on the Air, “This is a hell of a smoke.”

Copious amounts of smoke get points in my book. This has it to spare. The draw is dead perfect as is the burn line through most of the smoke – one touchup required midway.

I’ve now smoked the 22 Minutes Criollo, Connecticut Radiante and the Habano de Oro. Caldwell & Bellatto are 3 for 3. This series is impressive. I give all 3 5s across the board.