The Anastasia line dates back to June 2016, when Robert Caldwell and at least one retailer shared pictures of the cigar on Instagram. That line, which wore an olive green secondary band, was made by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. at Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. in the Dominican Republic, and like this version, no blend details were disclosed. The cigar was meant to be the follow-up to Caldwell’s The Last Tsar and features an image of Princess Anastasia, daughter of Nicolas II, the Tsar of Russia on the band of The Last Tsar.
In 2018, the line returned but wore a blue band and used higher-priming tobaccos than its predecessor. In March 2022, Caldwell Cigar Co. released the Anastasia Añejado 2016, cigars that wore a white secondary band and were rolled in 2016 but were not the same blend as that first release, nor was it made at Tabacalera La Alianza S.A.
– Halfwheel.com
Bought from – Small Batch Cigars
Information:
Wrapper: Undisclosed
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
Origin: Undisclosed
Factory: Dominican Republic
Aging (if any): 1.5 years from release
MSRP (Single): $22
Box: $450 (25)
Availability: Available @ Small Batch Cigar as of review date
Size: 5 ⅝ x 46
Band/Packaging:
Beautiful band of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia complemented by a Crimson band, very elegant. The yellow label below to differentiate this release of the Anastasia
THE REVIEW
Wrapper:
Notable veins, clean roll,
Construction:
Firmly packed
Cold draw:
A distinct taste I get from Caldwell, but can’t put a taste to it
First third:
Immediate black pepper, but not strong, salty, creamy, woody, a back end sweetness that lingers on the palate, black pepper aftertaste, citrus, zesty, aged tobacco is apparent in the smoothness of the blend
Retro:
Chewy cracker added to the mix
Second third:
Bitter chocolate added to the mix, spicy feeling on the tongue but not overwhelming, citrus peel, more wood introduced, chocolate covered Nerds (if they were a thing), nutty and buttered popcorn
Burn:
Spectacular. Clean burn line, a clean white ash stacks on the end of the Corona
Smoke:
Ample smoke
Final third:
Dark fruits are the primary note, with black pepper layered under, wood has entered back in as well, bitterness has increased along with some citrus, and a little mintiness to it, peppermint
Retro:
Stings the nostrils with pepper to the point my eyes slightly watered
Duration:
1 hour 15 minutes
Conclusion:
A unique mix of flavors off the bat, to me very Caldwell-esq but in it’s own lane. For the record, I am not a big fan of Caldwell cigars, just never gotten off well with them. But this one turned my head a bit. While the black pepper flavor (not tingle) was a bit much at the start, the saltiness and creamy wood offers a nice balance. The retro left a nice chewy feeling in the first third, and there were hints of citrus and some zest. The second third started not quite as smooth, but really took a delicious turn half way through. The introduction of a citrus peel and what I would only believe chocolate covered nerds would taste like. Never tasted this flavor in a cigar before. The addition of buttered popcorn and a nuttiness enters the blend, with the only thing missing is a nice lounge chair and a 50 foot movie screen. As the final third begins a darker fruit note enters along with some black pepper again. The movie theater notes exit the journey and the strength has increased VERY quickly. Starting out mild-medium in body, it’s not ramped to a medium-full on the fuller side. A subtle peppermint note has entered, overlaid by citrus and bitterness. Retro haling was a bit of a mistake, as the black pepper takes over big time. Smoke production has increased. This one started off having me thinking mediocre at best, but that second third really took it up to the next level, before the final third steadied the rise. Final rating is a 91 as the construction was exceptional, smoke output exceptional, and second third flavors top tier, with first and third somewhere in the middle.
Result: 91
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