Caldwell Young Savages Short Corona Gorda

The Caldwell Cigar Company burst onto the boutique cigar scene when it was founded by Robert Caldwell in 2014, and quickly made another splash with four new cigars that premiered at the IPCPR in July 2015. When starting the company, Robert decided that he was going to do things his way and began scouring the world for the best tobacco leaves which he would test over and over again until getting the exact flavors he was looking for — before testing it again. He is so committed to his product that he keeps production limited to ensure that he is delivering a superior cigar. Currently, Caldwell Cigar Company is based in the Dominican Republic where they have built a new factory aptly named the Caldwell Cigar Factory.

Caldwell made their place in the history books when they released the highly-rated Long Live the King. Soon after, they released Savages using an undisclosed blend similar to that of Long Live the King. Now, we welcome Savage’s little brother, Young Savages. Using the same undisclosed blend, and the same Habano wrapper and binder, this version packs it all in a smaller package. Toast the foot and find notes of honey and pepper and hints of fruitiness. We think this Young Savage will soon be one of your favorites. Medium in body, pair this tasty morsel with your favorite IPA.

Though tobacco is indigenous to Hispaniola, the tobacco industry in the Dominican Republic existed in the shadow of Cuba’s dominance through the 1960s. When the exodus of Cuban cigar makers began in the wake of the revolution, many decided the Dominican Republic would be ideal for the resumption of their livelihoods. Unrest in Nicaragua in the 1980s fueled the Dominican cigar industry further. The country now makes more than half of the premium cigars imported into the U.S.

The Cibao Valley and the nearby city of Santiago are the center of cigar production in the Dominican Republic. Three main varieties are grown here: the mild and native Olor Dominicano; the intense Piloto Cubano, brought from the Vuelta Abajo of Cuba; and San Vicente, a milder and more acidic Piloto hybrid. Dominican puros were once unheard of as it was widely thought impossible to grow quality wrapper leaf on the island, but new growing techniques are now allowing some exceptional puros to be produced.