Caldwell 22 Minutes To Midnight Criollo – if the band states “11:38” it’s collaborator Tony Bellato’s signature but has the Caldwell logo on it. The first time I smoked this cigar I was in awe of just how good it was. I have not had that lightning in a bottle reaction to the cigar since. However, it remains one of my favorites.

This is a rather complex medium body cigar. You’ll taste an array of spice, including a touch of pepper that sometimes blasts through but doesn’t overwhelm, some sweet notes with a backdrop of charred oak, espresso, creaminess, a few moments of cocoa, leather. earth that includes a mineral – steel/slate taste to it. I kind of like that. Similar to the slate you might taste in some red wine. The aged tobacco is probably responsible for the mineral earthy notes. Whatever the reason, I like the flavors of this cigar a lot.

The construction is remakrtable: generous smoke output, perfect open draw, firmly stacked white ash that holds tight, and a spot-on even burn line. You can’t ask for any more than that.

All four cigars in the Caldwell 22 Minutes To Midnight line are excellent. The Criollo is a very enjoyable smoke paired with almost any drink. Hey, everything pairs well with Talisker.

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