Caldwell Long Live the King Jalapeño Review

Long Live the King
Made by: Caldwell
Country: Dominican Republic
Vitola: 7 1/4 by 40

Lancero February is here! It is not a trend that is widely recognized, but among some of the forums this month is known for the lancero size. To get it started I’ll be doing a Caldwell Long Live the King Jalapeño Review, in lancero size (Jalapeño). I have done several reviews on Robert Caldwell’s blends over the past several weeks. This will be another one for the books but the first in a lancero. Let’s see what it has to offer!

Prelight

Caldwell cigars Long Live the King is made with a beautiful dark and slightly toothy wrapper.  Barely visible seams, a mix of medium and small size veins. Wonderfully constructed cap with a tight pigtail. Very even pack and the foot gives off a cayenne pepper with almost a maple like sweetness. Great cut, slight amount of loose tobacco. Easy draw, the cayenne pepper is more detectable now with the signature tongue and lip tingle. There is a syrupy sweetness on the prelight draw that is a great note. Hope that develops once this is lit.

1/3

Absolutely easy to light, and a blast of oak on the front with a cedar undertone. The syrupy maple like sweetness is accompanied by a slightly sour note in the center of the profile and the finish is the cayenne pepper that the foot hinted at. Medium bodied and low strength, I expect both of those to rise. High complexity, this start has me excited, let’s see where it goes. As the first third gets underway the sour note dropped off the profile and it became more balanced. Thick creamy smoke, this is a very enjoyable Cigar currently. Only issue is a construction based one currently, very flaky ash but in terms of issues that’s a very small one. This is not a cigar that you can sit down for very long, I can tell that it wants to die when I have given it brief breaks. Toward the end of the first third the oak has come up almost drowning out the cedar. The center of the profile maintains the syrupy note and it is blending with the creamy smoke. And the finish is holding a pure cayenne pepper note, very well balanced.

2/3

Such a flaky ash unfortunately, an absolutely delicious profile just having to care for the ash is a detractor. Cedar has come back to match the oak on the front. Syrupy center holds and the cayenne pepper finish has picked up a slight cashew note. As I get to the end of the last third the oak is back up on the front. The syrupy center is still holding wonderfully. And the finish is back to the pure cayenne. Medium to full body and medium strength.

3/3

Flavors are maintaining, and the body and strength are constant. The burn still is trying to go out on me, but with proper care no touch-ups are needed thought the cigar. The oak came up even more at the end of the cigar drowning out the cedar and the sweetness in the center of the profile began to diminish. The finish of the cigar rose to include a mix of red and black pepper. Not the best ending but a wonderful cigar overall.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Conclusion: 90

A great cigar worth trying if you haven’t, this is another one that Robert Caldwell hit a home run with. Only consistent issue was the construction, really the ash and the required nurturing of the cigar to keep it lit. The profile was great, it was well balanced. Definitely grab one next time you are wandering a shop looking for something new.

Click on the picture to find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com