In 2015, Caldwell Cigars released a line called Blind Man’s Bluff. The blend is a medium bodied smoke with a Habano wrapper, and it has performed well for the young upstart brand. It was followed up in 2017 with a Connecticut wrapped version. Earlier this year they shipped the new Maduro variety of the Blind Man’s Bluff. Here is our evaluation of that bold new blend.
In addition to the 5 x 50 size reviewed here, the Blind Man’s Bluff Maduro is also available in a 6 x 50 ($8.90 MSRP) and a 6 x 60 ($9.90 MSRP). Each size is presented in 20-count boxes.
Blind Man’s Bluff Maduro Robusto
MSRP: $7.90
Size: 5 x 50
Origin: Tabacalera William Ventura (Dominican Republic)
Wrapper: Broadleaf (Pennsylvania)
Binder: Sumatra
Filler: Dominican Republic
Prologue
It has a beautiful chestnut-brown color with a very pronounced tooth. It feels heavy, but still has a slight give when pinched. It is very neatly rolled and has a cleanly applied cap. The foot has a nice aroma of roasted malt and leather, while the wrapper smells of leather and cedar. The cold draw is slightly snug, with notes of pepper and raisin.
Act I
After the initial pepper and charred wood notes die down, the beginning of the cigar settles into notes of espresso and earthiness. Some of the raisin sweetness from the cold draw comes in and works nicely against the pepper in the background. Smoke output is bold and thick. There is a distinct manure aroma in the retrohale. Although that sounds strange, it sort of works for some reason.
Act II
The middle of the cigar seems to gain some traction in the earthiness department. That charred wood note from earlier is also a little bolder, but some sweetness is still present. It almost reminds me of dark cocoa and citrus. The retrohale is now filled with the aroma of black pepper, but very little of the spice.
Act III
As the cigar closes out, the rich mouthfeel of the smoke is still there, yet surprisingly earthy and woody. The sweetness has faded way into the background and some leathery aromas also come into the field. A little campfire note and something that reminds me of a barnyard finish the profile. The retrohale is back to mustiness and some coffee aromas.
Epilogue
This cigar was a nice surprise. The boldness was mixed well with sweetness and earthiness. While it wasn’t awfully complex, it was very consistent in the ones I smoked. I was looking for a little more spice and strength, but overall found the cigar to be flavorful and relaxing. If you like the first two versions of the Caldwell Blind Man’s Bluff, you will probably find this a nice addition to the lineup.
Blind Man’s Bluff Maduro Robusto – How Bout That Cigar?
Rating: How Bout A 5er?
Overall Score: 86
PAD: +1.0 (What is PAD?)
Flavor Summary: Earth, Wood, Coffee, Leather, Sweetness
Strength Assessment: Medium
Source: Cigars for this review were purchased by HBT Media LLC