Vitola: Corona Extra- 6” x 46 ring gauge
- MSRP $11
- Purchased at Maxamar Ultimate Cigar
Background
Seems like a lot of the reviews I’ve been posting lately have been listed as “Purchased at Maxamar Ultimate Cigar.” As many of you know, I took a trip to California in October and Maxamar was my “cigar shop hang-out” while I was there. They are also a sponsor of this blog, though the Small Batch Cigars online cigar sales division. If you are in (or are going to be in) Southern California, I highly recommend you visit Maxamar in Orange, as they have the biggest selection and best prices I’ve seen in Orange County. And if you’re not going to be in SoCal, I suggest you visit “foreign” cigar shops wherever you are visiting…because you’ll almost always find cigars you never see in your home store.
Caldwell Cigars introduced the Savages blend at the 2016 IPCPR show. It was a single-size cigar that was only made available to shops that put in orders at the trade show (at least initially). The big lifestyle mag reported that it is billed as a “limited edition extension to the Long Live the King” line, though this features a Habano wrapper. The exact blend details of the Savages is undisclosed but the Long Live the King uses Nicaragua, Peruvian, and Dominican fillers, in addition to Dominican Corojo binder and wrapper. (A couple other sources also noted that this is a 5-vitola release, not a single-size release.)
This is my first encounter with the Savages and I did purchase this cigar at Maxamar.
Prelight
As with most other Caldwell releases, Savages uses some unique artwork, this time from Italian artist, Pixel Pancho. It’s kooky and eye-catching, so it works…Caldwell has taken the title of “steampunk cigar king” from Foundry. The primary band features “LLTK” on one arm of the band, showing off the link to the Long Live the King blend.
The wrapper was a toasted caramel color with some darker striations and mottling, as well as a slightly oily feel to it. Held to the nose, it had notes of barnyard and hay. The foot had slight aromas of earth and graham and cedar.
The cold draw was excellent and had notes of hay, honey, pepper, and wood.
Flavor
The first few puffs on Savages revealed a solid earth and cedar foundation for the flavor profile, but also notes of red pepper and sweet citrus and dried berries. After a few minutes, the fruit notes became a little more forward in each puff, while the pepper was more toward the finish. The retrohale was nutty, with a touch of tea and a short, quickly fading red pepper blast. The first third continued quite sweet at times, with plenty of hay, cedar and earthy notes mixed in, and a lingering peppery spice.
The second third emerged as more of an earthy flavor with just hints of the fruit sweetness that came through so prominently during the first third. Pepper was still a low level burn, much like what the LLTK provides.
The citrus sweetness came back in the last third of the Savages and the cigar really came together nicely with a balance of earth, cedar and just enough peppery spice.
Construction
Great draw, even burn and solid ash add up to equal excellent construction.
Value
The price on these is right in line with the Caldwell Collection, of which the LLTK is a part, so if you consider those good value (I do, in large part), Savages is, as well.
Conclusions
I found the Caldwell Savages to be an excellent cigar that fits well in the “Caldwell Collection” lineup as one of the “super premium” offerings from the company. It does a nice job of being similar enough to the LLTK that it is familiar, while being unique enough to justify a separate badge. The Habano wrapper emphasized earthiness with less pepper than the LLTK’s Corojo delivers. I ended up enjoying the Savages better than the Long Live the King from whence it sprang and would love to be able to get my hands on it again.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
