Caldwell The King is Dead Escape Plan (YNCCRW)

[Zaxeiler]

One of the first smokes of "spring" here in the US. Enjoying Caldwell cigars recently (here, The King is Dead; but also enjoying La Barba long/skinnies).

Smoked Caldwell The King is Dead Escape Plan (Shortcut 5 1/2 x 46). This "Escape Plan" release is from 2022.

Mild aroma, musty fermented tobacco (cherry) and a little peanut. Forest floor on the foot. Very open cold draw, chocolate, peanut, and a little tingle on the lips.

Little ashy on light up. Fairly plain malt notes with a dominant bitter walnut. An inch in, the ash has faded, but no real flavor changes besides a building white pepper. There’s also a bit of mouth dryness.

At the end of the first third, something super savory jumps in - actually didn’t have words for it. Maybe an unsweet buttered popcorn jelly bean.

Back third went back to walnut, but significantly darker with baking spices.

Lots of flavor lingers in the mouth. Great box press with a pigtail cap. Slightly too open draw, great smoke output, good ash. 

All in all, a very enjoyable cigar on a warm ~70 F evening. I find this walnut/cedar driven profile is similar to some My Fathers, some EP Carrillos, and some Plasencias. If you enjoy those profiles, you would probably enjoy this.