Smoked: Caldwell Long Live The King My Style Is Jalapeno

Smoked at: West Chester, Ohio

Caldwell Long Live The King My Style Is Jalapeno is, in the wild, wacky world of Caldwell Cigars, the name of the series’ panatela/lancero. Hey, I could have chosen their Double Wide Short Churchill. Sounds like something from a Monty Python sketch: “The Minister of Silly Walks was seen sauntering down Fleet Street puffing a Double Wide Short Churchill” – or it could be the name of an upscale gated trailer park on the outskirts of London. I guess if you were new money and couldn’t afford a place in Hampstead.

Long Live The King uses Dominican, Nicaraguan and Peruvian filler, a Dominican binder and a smooth, oily sheen, toothy light brown Dominican wrapper with small veins to spare. There’s a pig tail – and you know my feelings about those things. V-cut it and we’re ready for flame to meet foot.

When I first discovered this cigar, I was skeptical about the intentions of the blender. Did Caldwell actually adjust the blend saying, “close…but it needs a little extra kick…what if I throw a jalapeno in there for a serious shot of pepper.”

What I DID get on the opening salvo of this cigar was spice, cashews & hazelnuts, and a citrus sweetness. There’s also a combination wood, earth, salty taste that gets serious on the retrohale – as serious as the pepper that joins the flavors on the palate as well. The wood becomes identifiable as cedar by the second third. You can add coffee, a floral note and a buttery flavor to the mix by this point. Balance, transitions, complexity – can you ask much more from a cigar? The body and strength are medium – classic Caldwell.

Excellent draw start to nub, a burn line that never required one touch up – unusual for this vitola, smoke is pouring out like a chimney, and the ash holds reasonably well.

I admit I am biased. I’ve been a Caldwell fan for years. Caldwell Long Live The King My Style Is Jalapeno is a top-notch enjoyable smoke. The judges give it a 5 across the board.