OVERVIEW
VITOLA: Toro
SIZE: 6″ x 52
ORIGIN: Dominican Republic
FACTORY: Caldwell Cigar Factory
WRAPPER: Connecticut-seeded Arapiraca Maduro
BINDER: Dominican Habano
FILLER: Dominican (Corojo & Criollo 98) & Nicaraguan Habano
STRENGTH: Medium
SOURCE:
Small Batch Cigar
ENVIRONMENT
WHERE:
Three Season Porch at Home
WHEN:
October 16, 2016 @ 11:30 PM
DRINKS:
George Dickel Barrel Select Whiskey (neat)
WEATHER:
Gorgeous, slightly cool fall night – low 70s
WHAT’S ON:
The Walking Dead – Season 5
PRODUCTION
RELEASE TYPE Regular Production
ORIGINALLY RELEASE DATE July 2016
TOTAL PRODUCTION
Typical Box Size: Boxes of 20
Production Totals: On-going Production
VITOLA BREAKDOWN
o Corona – 5-3/8″ x 46
o Robusto – 5″ x 50
o Piramide – 6″ x 50
o Toro – 6″ x 52
![](https://simplystogies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/0000514_midnight-express-toro_500.jpeg)
BAND DESIGN
![](https://simplystogies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_1965-768x512.jpg)
The band is cleverly done as an inverse of the typical Eastern Standard band. It’s simple enough and allows for instant recognition of the main difference between the sticks – the maduro wrapper.
The gold is a great touch and adds to the elegance of the design. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I love secondary bands and the foot band here is no exception. It bears the cigar’s name and is white – which helps make sure it gets removed before lighting!
PRE-LIGHT OBSERVATIONS
![](https://simplystogies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_1939-1024x683.jpg)
CONSTRUCTION
This looks like a well-crafted cigar. From the nearly invisible seams to the nice pig-tail detail on the cap – it’s clearly a labor of love. It is quite veiny though – lots of raised veins throughout. The foot looks densely packed.
Overall the cigar is very firm – not much give at all. No soft spots to be found!
AROMA
Gives a roasted cocoa aroma with some must.
COLD DRAW
Raisins and dates – gotta love that distinct maduro profile. There are some scotch-like familiarities as well.
![](https://simplystogies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_1940-1024x683.jpg)
![](https://simplystogies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_1942-1024x683.jpg)
SMOKING EXPERIENCE
![](https://simplystogies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_1952-1024x683.jpg)
LIGHT & DRAW
Cut: Palio cutter
Fire: Match sticks
Nice clean snip – I went matches tonight, feeling old-school. There really is something “right feeling” about lighting up this way. Initial puffs offer great amount of smoke but taste profile is somewhat bland – not a lot outside of some buttered toasted and slightly sweet notes. This isn’t a bad thing – just not overwhelming, out-of-the-gate flavor.
SMOKE
Cigar looks out when you set it down but otherwise doesn’t hesitate to produce good amounts of smoke.
![](https://simplystogies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_1949-1024x683.jpg)
FIRST THIRD
>> Creamy, espresso, brown sugar
![](https://simplystogies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_1955-1024x683.jpg)
Damn thing ashed right as I clicked the picture! It’s really opened up nicely. It has a creaminess to it – like a rich espresso that you loaded up with warm milk and some brown sugar cubes. Still a little breadiness to it but much more on the dark, roasted coffee side of things.
SECOND THIRD
>> Creamy, espresso, spicy, arugula
![](https://simplystogies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_1961-1024x683.jpg)
Full disclosure – baby started crying; had to wash up, make bottle, sooth and feed – needless to say, cigar went out. Relit with matches again – I got a pack with an order from Tampa the other day and I love those big ass Cain matches. Relit without issue – but I’ll give it a few minutes before getting back to trying to observe tasting notes. In the meantime, burn line is ragged but nothing crazy. Creamy espresso continues but it’s transitioning to be a little more spice-driven with some leafy vegetable notes maybe – almost like creamed arugula or spinach – in a good way, I promise.
FINAL THIRD
>> Pot roast gravy, horseradish, wood, pepper
![](https://simplystogies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_1963-1024x683.jpg)
Still a definite sweetness to the flavors but it’s moving into a more of a pot roast gravy with some spiciness – maybe horseradish? Maybe I’m just getting hungry. Either way, this is quite the change from how it started – a very smooth transition from sweet, coffee to more hearty, peppery, meaty notes.
Like some other reviewers – I had some burn issues and had to relight twice. I always wonder why some smokes go out at the exact same parts? Also getting some wood and smokey notes as I get to the nub.
RATING & FINAL THOUGHTS
RATING BREAKDOWN
0.80 / 0.80 … Craft & Aesthetic
0.42 / 0.50 … Pre-Light Characteristics
0.47 / 0.50 … Lighting Process
5.98 / 7.70 … Smoking Experience
0.50 / 0.50 … Personal Enjoyment
COMPLIMENTS & CRITIQUES
- Great construction
- Very easy to identify flavor progression
- Burn issues
- Not a clean cigar to smoke
WONDERFUL NEW CALDWELL.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable smoke. I like most of Caldwell’s efforts and this is no exception.
It’s a wonderfully complex cigar – but potentially overly so. It is almost like eating a backwards meal, where you start with coffee and vanilla ice cream and end with a steak. The strength creeps up on you – as it starts out so smooth but builds to a full-bodied, rich experience.
SIMPLY STOGIES RATING: 8.2 / 10.0
![](https://simplystogies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_1938-683x1024.jpg)