Every now and then, a cigar finds its way into your humidor in a way that feels like fate. For me, it was The King is Dead from Caldwell Cigars – and not just in any size, but in a format I can never resist: a Belicoso, playfully named The Last Payday. Sounds a little menacing, right?
Truth be told, I had no idea how accurate that name would turn out to be once I lit up. This Dominican blend had more than a few surprises waiting. Curious? Let’s see what this royal smoke has in store.
The King is Dead
One thing Caldwell deserves full credit for: these cigars sell themselves on looks alone. Honestly, I’d throw gold at the person behind the bands and artwork. The visual identity is spot-on – clever names, striking designs, everything ties together perfectly. And those Caldwell bands? They’re the kind you actually want in your collection.
But let’s be real – a sharp band doesn’t make a great cigar. More than once I’ve fallen for the wrapper ring only to be let down by what’s inside. Presentation matters, no doubt, but marketing can’t mask poor tobacco. So, how did it play out this time?
Even the name The King is Dead grabs attention. Pair it with that torn-paper throne on the band – part mystery, part drama – and you’ve got a cigar that begs to be lit.
Production takes place in the Dominican Republic, at Tabacalera William Ventura. The standout feature here is the Dominican Negrito wrapper – a leaf you don’t see every day in the cigar world. Binder is Dominican Corojo, and the filler is a blend of HVA, Corojo, and more Negrito. On paper, this lineup promises a profile that’s anything but boring.
Available vitolas include:
- Broken Sword – Petit Corona (40 × 5)
- Manzanita – Short Corona (42 × 4)
- Diamond Girl – Lonsdale (42 × 6.5)
- Premier – Robusto (50 × 5.5)
- The Last Payday – Belicoso (52 × 6)
- Toro – (54 × 6)
For today’s review, I’ll be lighting up The Last Payday – the Belicoso. Time to get to work, as they say.
Lights, Cut, Action
The moment I slipped it out of the cello, the aroma hit me – and it was exactly the kind I love. A mix of gentle spices (the sort many just lump under “pepper”), rounded out by the sweetness of milk chocolate. If only every cigar greeted you like this. It was the kind of scent that makes you impatient to light up. My first thought was simple: if it tastes as good as it smells, I’m in for a delicious evening.
The wrapper? A classic Dominican hue – on the lighter side, elegant and clean, free of blemishes. Just to be clear, I’ve long stopped judging cigars by country of origin. I know smokers who dismiss Dominican or Cuban cigars outright, but years of tasting have taught me one lesson: no two regions are monolithic. I’ve smoked Nicaraguans with a Cuban flair and Hondurans that… well, let’s just say they went their own way. Every cigar is like a new book: you don’t know the story until you start reading. The only real clue is the blend sheet. And in this case, the presence of Corojo had me grinning. I love Corojo. Simple as that.
So far, so good: wonderful aroma, sharp presentation, and that Belicoso head – slightly bent in my case, adding a touch of rustic charm. On closer inspection, I realized it wasn’t from mishandling; that’s just how it left the factory. Character, not flaw. As for construction? Spot-on. Not just a casual observation either – a couple of gentle squeezes (“the pinch test”) confirmed it.
I went with a classic V-cut. Kept it shallow, which suited me perfectly – open enough for a good draw, but still leaving plenty of tobacco to work with. Cold draw? Ideal. The wrapper left a sweet impression with just a hint of peppery zing. Everything pointed toward a promising start.
Time to put fire to it.
The Thirds
First puff. And boom – straight to the head. The opening hit was bold, almost aggressively woody. What a shift in character. My senses went haywire. The aroma promised chocolate elegance, and instead I got smacked across the forehead with a plank. Probably from the throne of this dead king (or maybe his coffin – I had to say it). Luckily, the wood was quickly joined by the flavor of well-toasted bread. A royal wake, complete with toast. Not exactly what I was expecting. By the third puff, a flicker of sweetness appeared – dessert was served. And that was only the beginning.
As the cigar burned on, the strength eased. The plank stopped hurting. The wood softened. I found myself waiting for the chocolate and spice the blend had promised.
One more thing: the aroma of the smoke itself. Absolute delicacy. It smelled just like the cigar did unlit, which doesn’t happen often. A real pleasure.
For a Belicoso, it smoked surprisingly fast. The ash, though, stayed compact and firm, while the burn line was ruler-straight. Toward the end of the first third, chocolate finally landed on the palate – a welcome arrival.
Twenty minutes in, the second third unfolded. That’s when it clicked for me: the aroma of the smoke became the perfect counterpoint to the flavor. Dry, woody, occasionally touched with sweetness – all neatly wrapped together. I was experiencing the cigar with every sense at once, and it worked beautifully. Retrohale, despite the strength, turned out surprisingly gentle. Another plus. I wasn’t expecting such a theme park ride.
By the close of the second third, wood and chocolate traded places. Chocolate stepped forward as the lead note in this sensory orchestra.
Then came the final third, quicker than I’d hoped – just another twenty minutes. I tried to slow down, to savor it, but the cigar seemed determined to rush me. And then – boom again. Out of nowhere, pepper and spice made their entrance, the kind of flavors that usually greet you at the start. For a moment I wondered if I’d lit this dead king from the wrong end.
Strength ramped up, flavor intensity followed. An unexpected twist, but a fascinating one. As the nub approached, spice gave way to a wave of chocolate creaminess, accented with just a touch of wood. No tragedy here – the throne and the coffin were smoked down to the last inch.
Total smoking time: 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Final Thoughts on Caldwell The King is Dead The Last Payday
The King is Dead from Caldwell is a fascinating blend – one that doesn’t just surprise along the way but leaves a lasting impression long after the smoke clears.
If I had one gripe, it would be the pace. For such a generous format, it burned surprisingly fast. I can usually stretch a robusto past two hours, but here it was: a smack to the head, a coating of chocolate, a dusting of pepper – and before I knew it, an hour had flown by. Kiss goodbye, onto the next.
Still, credit where it’s due: Caldwell makes damn good cigars, and The King is Dead – The Last Payday is further proof of that. I’m especially glad that, as I write this, Caldwell’s portfolio is officially making its way into Poland. Finally, local aficionados will get the chance to experience for themselves what lies beneath those quirky names and striking bands. And believe me – these are bands worth collecting.
This cigar was kindly provided by Szymon Kwiatkowski of Premium Cigars – just to smoke. But here at Polski Aficionado, with Mateusz and me, you know how it goes: a simple smoke often ends up as an unusual review.
If you enjoyed reading this, let me know! Drop a comment or share the post – every bit of support helps others discover my cigar reviews and smoking tips. If you prefer to listen, I co-host a podcast with Mateusz Krzywiecki called „Spotkanie z Dymem” („A Meeting with Smoke”) – currently in Polish, though who knows what the future holds? You can also find me on Instagram, where I share a slice of my cigar life – and a bit more. I always welcome a good conversation. That’s how great connections start – and they often go far beyond just cigars.
Stay smoky!
Piotr Siwiński, @mycigarway, Polski Aficionado, @polskiaficionado
