Cigar Geeks - Caldwell Cigar Co. Long Live The Queen Ace Of Hearts

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Caldwell Cigar Co. Long Live The Queen Ace Of Hearts
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Brlesq

85
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Member sponsored Geek Critique generously sponsored by our member BewareDaPenguin (Adam). The cigar provided for this round is the Caldwell Cigar Co. Long Live The Queen Ace Of Hearts.

Boutique brand owner Robert Caldwell is releasing a new line of cigars called Long Live the Queen, a regular production line of smokes that he says has been aging for the better part of a year after rolling. The Ace of Hearts is the limited edition version of this cigar, rolled at the Ventura family's El Maestro factory in the Dominican Republic. It's a four-country blend consisting of a reddish-brown Cameroon cover leaf, a Sumatra binder grown in Indonesia and a mix of Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers.

Caldwell Cigar Co. Long Live The Queen Ace Of Hearts

Brand:: Caldwell Cigar Co.
Name:: Long Live The Queen Ace Of Hearts
Length:: 6
Ring Gauge:: 52
Country of Origin:: Dominican Republic
Filler:: Dominican Republic
Nicaragua
Binder:: Indonesia
Sumatra
Wrapper:: Cameroon
Color:: Colorado
Strength:: Medium-Full
Shape:: Toro
Notes:: https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/caldwell-long-live-the-queen-coming-this-fall

Pre-Light: 10 Points of 10 Possible

This was a nicely box-pressed Toro. The wrapper was milk chocolate in color, very smooth with minimal veins. Sported a nice triple cap. Double-banded, with gold foil highlighting the Queen's jewelry on her portrait. Aroma was sweet tobacco.

Lighting and Burn: 11 Points of 15 Possible

After lighting, this cigar held a steady burn line and never required a touchup or relight. It burned a little hot and fast, and the draw was looser then I would like, but this is usually due to the bunching and box-pressing process. The ash was white and flaky, with the ash holding on about an inch each time. It produced adequate smoke.

Construction: 26 Points of 30 Possible

The cap cut cleanly and was well applied. There were no soft spots detected. Other then the loose draw, there were no problematic construction issues. The tobacco seemed to be a bit underfilled and light-in-hand, and this contributed to the fast burn and loose draw.

Flavor and Aroma: 38 Points of 45 Possible

The cigar began with chocolate notes and hits of Cheyenne pepper, enough pepper to make me sneeze on the beginning retrohales! The spiciness left my tongue burning a bit. It had a dry (and not sweet) smoke to it, even with the chocolate undertones present.

By the halfway point, a touch of sweetness emerged, as well as some meatiness. The profile, especially with the Cheyenne, started to remind me of a Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich! The retrohales were more pleasant here, and I thought that the second half was better then the first half. As it neared the end, some bitter metallic notes emerged, so I decided to put it down.

Medium in strength and body.

Summary

This was an interesting cigar with a unique profile that I have not experienced before, so thanks to Adam for the opportunity to try this one. I enjoyed it, but do not think that it is a cigar for novices. If the burn wasn't so hot and loose, I might have enjoyed it even more.