Blind Man's Bluff 2021 This Is Trouble, by Caldwell Cigar Co.
Even while I’m on leave for a month, a part of me still misses being at sea aboard a submarine. Although I don’t believe this cigar to be named after the book, it shares a name with the book titled “Blind Man’s Bluff,” by investigative journalist Sherry Sontag, about American Submarine operations during the Cold War. As a full disclosure, I only just began reading it, and am less than a quarter of the way through, so I can’t really comment on or offer up a recommendation yet.
But the connection, however loose and far-fetched, is one that has made this cigar by boutique blender Caldwell Cigar Co. pretty popular within the submarine community.
Tonight I offer a review of the 2021 Limited Edition release of the Blind Man’s Bluff line, “This Is Trouble.”
Cigar: Blind Man’s Bluff 2021 This Is Trouble, by Calwell Cigars
Vitola: Robusto (5” x 52)
Price: $10.75
Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Body: Medium to Full
Rating (out of 10): 10
Appearance:
The maroon-on-gold band features a man in a bowler hat, with his eyes rubbed out as if with a pencil eraser, over the Caldwell name, with the cigar name, “Blind Man’s Bluff,” on one side, and the phrase, “We Own The Night,” on the other. There is a secondary band, all maroon in color, with the phrase, “This Is Trouble,” embossed onto it.
The wrapper is a slightly “knobby” maduro, milk chocolate brown in color, with light veins and invisible seams. The cap is so perfectly placed, it’s impossible to see.
Construction:
The cigar is well constructed, somewhat densely rolled. It cuts perfectly (I went back inside for my XO cutter this time), and draws smoothly through it.
Aroma:
The barrel smells faintly musky, with subtle notes of hay and coffee. The foot is quite floral in nature, with a gentle touch of chocolate.
First Third:
The cold draw is soft and woody, like cedar, with a touch of chocolate.
After lighting, there’s a hint of charred cedar, and some faint coffee hits.
The smoke is bold, but silky at the same time.
There’s a slight curve to the burn, but it’s still pretty even. The ash is white and tight. “Tighty Whiteys,” if you will. Made me chuckle a little.
I’m getting a touch of chocolatey sweetness, and a slight zip of salt on the lips at the finish.
Very nice retrohale, offering up some notes of baking spices.
Second Third:
The ash is still holding nice and tight moving into the second third. Part of me wants to see how long I can get this ash column; another part of myself is concerned about dropping it all over myself.
I’m not ashing it just yet. Let’s see how long I can hold onto this.
Answer: Not long at all. I’m wearing it now. Damn it.
Those baking spices are starting to creep into the main flavor profile in this third, as well.
Ooh, and a hint of coffee again, on the finish this time.
Final Third:
The last leg of this one is less cedary, now more of a chocolate and coffee profile, with baking spices blended throughout. A little bit saltier on the finish, here, too.
I think I’m even picking up faint hits of vanilla, now, as well.
The burn is still nice and even; that curve from the beginning has worked itself out.
I really don’t want this smoke to end, it’s absolutely fantastic.
Closing Thoughts:
This is an incredible blend that Caldwell put together; I’m wholly unsurprised to see it score perfectly.
Maybe some day I’ll get lucky enough to smoke one at sea, in the sail of a submarine...