The King is Dead by Robert Caldwell Cigar Review

The King is Dead cigars by Robert Caldwell were among the first to be produced by Robert Caldwell Cigars, following the factory’s launch in 2014. As a Dominican Republic puro, The King is Dead is a handmade premium cigar that has been a tobacco aficionado’s dream for the better part of a decade.

Each The King is Dead cigar combines aged Dominican Corojo and Habano long filler tobaccos with a Dominican Corojo binder, all expertly wrapped in rare Dominican Negrito leaves. Rolled to perfection, they’re some of the best Dominican puros on the market.

Expect medium strength as the cigar takes you on a journey through coffee, chocolate, brown sugar, and dark syrup. It’s an invigorating flavor profile that will bring your palate to life, whether you opt for the marathon Diamond Girl Lonsdale Negrito vitola or the sprint finish of the 4 x 42 Manzanita, both available from Cigars.com.

Brand Overview

Robert Caldwell Cigars have quickly become a treasured name among cigar smokers, and one of those must-try brands on every aficionado’s list. The studio’s handmade premium cigars are works of art in their own right and, since the initial launch of The King is Dead, the portfolio has expanded to include a wide variety of blends.

All are recognizable for the careful construction and masterful filler blends used in their production. The King is Dead is where it all began, but if you want to explore more of the range, try Caldwell Eastern Standard or stay on theme with the follow-up blend The King is Dead Escape Plan, a stunning mix of Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Peruvian fillers.

Find out more about this hugely popular brand in our The King is Dead by Robert Caldwell cigar review, or place your order now and enjoy one of the finest lines.

Cigar specs

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Dominican Negrito
Binder: Dominican Corojo
Filler: Dominican Republic
Smoke Time: Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes (Toro)
Sizes Available:

Cold Draw

Expect sweet, syrupy Caribbean flavors throughout The King is Dead, starting from the scent of the wrapper and foot, which hint at black treacle and spices. Once cut, the cold draw reinforces these scents, combining sweetness with pepper and spice for a surprisingly bold result.

First Third

Strike a light and The King is Dead fizzes with pepper on the first few puffs, letting out voluminous white smoke that serves to strengthen the boldness of the retrohales. Again, there’s treacle, dark sugar, and sweet spices, along with a woody tone. Careful craftsmanship ensures a straight and even burn line, with compact ash that should only occasionally need knocking off.

Second Third

Boldness continues through the middle third of The King is Dead by Robert Caldwell, but the flavors begin to settle down a little, leaving a profile that now includes espresso, chocolate, and that ever-present syrup sweetness. Retrohales are not for the faint-hearted and contain substantial spice to really ramp up the overall impact if you prefer your cigar to pack a punch.

Final Third

As The King is Dead nears its own demise, the strength climbs back up to a crescendo and the woody tones return. Think sweet, syrupy, Caribbean spiced rum aged in oak barrels, with a shot of espresso on the side. Overall, it’s a bold but not harsh smoke, which ends with a flourish of that signature dark syrup.

Final Thoughts

Robert Caldwell cigars rose to prominence almost immediately following the factory’s launch in 2014. A decade on, one of the brand’s earliest creations is still going strong, giving smokers all over the world a taste of Dominican Republic craftsmanship and Caldwell’s tobacco mastery.

Bold, but not unrelenting, it’s a flavor profile that almost anyone can enjoy, with those trademark Caribbean flavors including syrupy treacle and peppery spices in perfect balance.

Available in singles if you just want to dip your toe in the water, or boxes of 24 if you’re already convinced, why not treat yourself to the big boys: the 6 x 52 The Last Pay Day Negrito, 6 x 54 Toro Negrito, or the 6.5 x 42 Diamond Girl Lonsdale Negrito, all available at great prices from Cigars.com.