Caldwell Long Live The King My Style Is Jalapeno

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.

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