TheCaldwell The King Is Dead Premier Robusto is a compact introduction to one of Robert Caldwell's most distinctive blends. The King Is Dead tookfive years to develop and is built entirely from Dominican tobacco, including an aged2008 Negrito wrapper, a2006 Corojo binder, and fillers of Dominican Corojo Ligero, Negrito Viso and HVA 20/20. Negrito is rarely given this kind of starring role, and its unusual character is a large part of what separates The King Is Dead from more conventional Dominican cigars.
At5½" x 50, the Premier puts that aged Negrito wrapper in excellent proportion to the richer tobaccos underneath. Expect dark earth and cedar joined by cocoa, roasted coffee and warm spice, with the subtle maple-like sweetness Caldwell associates with the blend. The Corojo Ligero provides backbone without turning the cigar into a powerhouse, while the Robusto format keeps the flavors concentrated and the progression lively.
If you've never smoked The King Is Dead, the Premier is where I'd start. It's substantial enough to reveal the complexity of Caldwell's unusual all-Dominican recipe without requiring the commitment of a larger vitola. And if Negrito is unfamiliar territory, that's even more reason to try it.Put a few Premiers in the humidor—this is a cigar worth knowing for the tobacco alone.
