Caldwell Anastasia | Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

Ah Caldwell, a brand I love to hate. We have quite the checkered past - before big tech took down my massive YouTube channel, Caldwell had the honor of being my worst rated cigar ever. So naturally, I'm approaching this Anastasia with all the enthusiasm of someone about to meet their ex's new partner at brunch. Robert Caldwell keeps the blend shrouded in more secrecy than the Romanov family jewels, which is thematically appropriate since this cigar is named after Grand Duchess Anastasia. History spoiler: things didn't end well for the Romanovs. Will this stick meet the same fate

BUY DISCOUNT CIGARS HERE or ANASTASIA HERE 

🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: Anastasia (Yellow Label)

Master Blender: Robert Caldwell - The man who visited Ernesto Perez-Carrillo's factory at age 12 and apparently never left mentally

Size: Multiple Vitolas Available

Country of Origin: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Undisclosed

Binder: Undisclosed (because mystery sells)

Filler: Undisclosed (sensing a pattern?)

Price: $22-30 (depending on vitola)

Aging: Limited production releases - various colored bands denote different batches

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

Draw: A bit too tight

Burn: Consistent without drama

Smoke Output: Adequate

Smoke Texture: Silky with a medium finish

Ash: Holds respectably

Construction is competent across the board but a bit tight. The wrapper has that light brown appearance with hints of Colorado red, like it's trying to decide if it wants to be a Connecticut or something more serious. Limited to only 35 retailers in the U.S., so Caldwell maintains that boutique mystique where you feel special for finding it, like discovering a speakeasy that 10,000 other people also know about.

🎢 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: PROMISING BEGINNINGS

cream, sweet cedar, caramel, pepper, moist towel

Cream and sweet cedar dominate the opening with caramel undertones and a pepper presence on the retrohale. There's an unexpected note of moist towel that shouldn't work but somehow doesn't completely derail things. It's like finding out your least favorite coworker makes surprisingly good coffee.

SECOND THIRD: THE PIVOT

charred cedar, cream, moist socks, slight pepper

Charred cedar takes center stage while cream notes persist in the background. The moist sock character appears - yes, you read that correctly - alongside diminishing pepper. The blend settles into this middle zone that's neither offensive nor particularly memorable, like elevator music for your palate.

FINAL THIRD: EARTHBOUND

earth, charred wood, leather

Earth tones and charred wood define the closing act with leather providing some traditional cigar character. The finish shows restraint and doesn't fall apart, which given my Caldwell history feels like a minor miracle.

BUY DISCOUNT CIGARS HERE or ANASTASIA HERE

🏆 THE VERDICT

B- TIER

Flavor: B-

Construction: B-

Availability: C+

Price: A

Final Rating:

This is Caldwell's redemption arc in tobacco form. After their previous offerings left me questioning their entire quality control department, the Anastasia actually delivers a competent smoking experience that its absolutely terrible. It's not going to change your life or make you forget about better cigars in your humidor, but it won't actively offend you either. The undisclosed blend strategy feels gimmicky - like they're compensating for something - but the end result is solid enough to justify the mystique.

📊 BOTTOM LINE

The Caldwell Anastasia proves that even brands with checkered pasts can produce something respectable. Robert Caldwell's "pride and joy" delivers medium-strength flavors with enough complexity to maintain interest through the smoke, even if some of those flavors (moist towel, moist socks) sound more like laundry day than luxury tobacco. The limited production and secretive blend create artificial scarcity, but the cigar itself has enough merit to not feel like pure marketing theater. At $22-30, you're paying boutique prices for boutique availability, but at least you're getting a properly constructed cigar that won't make you regret the purchase. It's not revolutionary, but it's competent, which for Caldwell in my experience is actually noteworthy progress. Sometimes the bar is just set really low.

TLDR: Not terrible, which for Caldwell is a huge win. Maybe worth a shot on sale.

RoMa Craft Baka Acephalous | Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

RoMa Craft, the little boutique that could. This Texas-based company run by Skip Martin consistently punches above its weight class in the boutique world. The Baka line represents their first foray into Cameroon wrapper territory, named after the Baka people who inhabit the rainforests of Cameroon. It's a limited annual release with only about 1,000 boxes produced per vitola each year. The African Cameroon wrapper used here is notably darker than typical Cameroon leaf - these are bales that Oliva deemed too dark for their own production, which RoMa Craft snatched up like finding designer clothes at Goodwill.

BUY BAKA HERE or HERE or BUY DISCOUNT CIGARS HERE

🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: Baka Acephalous

Master Blender: Skip Martin & Team

Size: 5 x 56 (Short chunky robusto)

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: African Cameroon (Dark selection)

Binder: Undisclosed

Filler: Undisclosed (includes Honduran Jamastran ligero)

Price: ~$11.50

Aging: Standard aging at Nica Sueño factory

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

Draw: Perfect resistance with no issues

Burn: Even and consistent throughout

Smoke Output: GREAT production - more clouds than a weather forecast

Ash: Firm gray ash holding well over an inch

Excellent construction from the Nica Sueño factory in Estelí. The smoke production is fantastic with a chewy texture that coats the palate. The darker-than-usual Cameroon wrapper has a slight tooth and subtle oiliness. The signature RoMa Craft double-band setup features a rust-colored primary band over their classic white secondary band with the star logo. This is boutique craftsmanship done right - no corners cut, no excuses made.

🎢 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: THE SWEET OPENER

chocolate, cream, spice, toasted wood

Chocolate leads off with confidence, joined immediately by cream that creates a dessert-like opening. Spice appears on the retrohale, providing balance to the sweetness. Toasted wood rounds out the profile, adding depth without overwhelming. The African Cameroon wrapper's influence is immediate and distinctive - this isn't your typical Connecticut-wrapped morning smoke trying to be polite. The limited production means every leaf was carefully selected, and it shows in the complexity right from the start.

SECOND THIRD: THE EVOLUTION

cacao, earth, espresso, cinnamon spice

Cacao takes over from chocolate, becoming more refined and bitter in the best way possible. Earth emerges as a major player, grounding the sweetness from earlier. Espresso joins the party, adding that coffee shop sophistication that pairs perfectly with the cacao. Cinnamon spice weaves throughout, creating warmth without heat. The Honduran Jamastran ligero in the filler is doing its job here - providing structure and strength without bullying the other flavors. It's like watching a well-rehearsed band where everyone gets a solo but nobody showboats.

FINAL THIRD: THE CLOSER

earth, charred leather, oak

Earth takes command as we enter the home stretch. Charred leather emerges, adding a rustic edge that contrasts nicely with the earlier sweetness. Oak provides the woody backbone that carries us to the finish. The chewy smoke texture remains consistent throughout, never thinning out or becoming harsh. The blend shows its careful construction here - no bitterness, no overheating, just a smooth transition to the nub.

BUY BAKA HERE or HERE or BUY DISCOUNT CIGARS HERE

🏆 THE VERDICT:

B TIER

Flavor: B

Construction: C+ (My cigar exploded)

Availability: B (Limited but findable)

Price: B+ (Fair for small-batch quality)

Final Rating:

RoMa Craft delivers a solid medium-bodied Cameroon that stands out in their portfolio. The darker wrapper selection creates a unique profile that differentiates it from typical Cameroon-wrapped cigars. At around $11.50, it's priced appropriately for a limited production boutique that actually tastes like thought went into it.

📊BOTTOM LINE

The RoMa Craft Baka Acephalous proves that boutique doesn't have to mean overpriced or overhyped. Skip Martin and team created something different here - a Cameroon-wrapped cigar that doesn't taste like every other Cameroon on the market. The limited production of 1,000 boxes per year means you might have to hunt for these, but they're worth the search. The construction is excellent, the flavors are well-balanced, and the smoke production is impressive. This is the kind of cigar that reminds you why boutique brands matter - they can take risks and use tobaccos that bigger companies would pass on. It's not going to change your life, but it will give you a solid hour of enjoyment without any drama or disappointment.

TLDR: A well-crafted boutique Cameroon that justifies its limited production status - proof that sometimes the little guys really do know what they're doing.

Joya de Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco Corona Extra | Cigar Reviews by HB Cigars

The Joy of Nicaragua indeed. One of my favorite CT Shade cigars of all time is the Joya Antaño CT. I'll admit I haven't explored the brand as much as I should. But here we are! This 55th anniversary cigar was blended with input from hundreds of factory visitors - basically crowdsourcing a cigar like it's a Kickstarter campaign that actually delivered. The green band had me confused at first (hence my green wrapper confusion), but it represents emerald for 55 years, not the wrapper color. I'm leaving my mistake in because authenticity is trendy and editing is for people with time.

BUY DISCOUNT CIGARS HERE and CINCO DE CINCO HERE or HERE

🔥 THE VITALS 🔥

Cigar: Cinco de Cinco Corona Extra

Master Blender: Juan Ignacio Martínez & the wisdom of crowds

Size: 6 1/4 x 46

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés (Ultra-vintage)

Binder: Nicaraguan (Undisclosed)

Filler: Nicaraguan (5+ years aged)

Price: ~$16

Aging: Minimum 5 years on all tobaccos

🚀 WE ARE LIT!

Draw: Perfect - no resistance, no drama, just vibes

Burn: Even and well-behaved

Smoke Output: Above average

Ash: Firm and holding around an inch before gracefully departing

Great construction with a box press that's softer than a corporate apology. Perfect draw from the start with above average smoke production. The emerald green band is shinier than a magpie's dream collection, and the pigtail cap adds that artisanal touch that says "I'm fancy but approachable," like wearing designer sneakers to a wedding.

🎢 FLAVOR JOURNEY

FIRST THIRD: THE ROUGH START

dark chocolate, spice, charred wood

Dark chocolate kicks things off with authority, joined immediately by spice that might have been user error from overheating on light up. My bad - I lit this thing like I was trying to cauterize a wound. Charred wood rounds out the opening, creating a profile that's more aggressive than a reply-all email about the office thermostat. Once the spice chills out (because I stopped torching it like a crème brûlée), things settle into a more reasonable conversation between flavors.

SECOND THIRD: THE REDEMPTION ARC

chocolate, leather, dried fruit, charred oak

Chocolate maintains its presence but now it's playing nicely with others. Leather joins the mix, adding that sophisticated element that makes you feel like you own furniture you didn't assemble yourself. Dried fruit emerges - not specified which kind because honestly all dried fruit tastes like disappointment with sugar. Charred oak provides structure, creating a profile that's finally living up to its crowdsourced pedigree. The 5-year aged Nicaraguan tobacco is showing its maturity, like that friend who finally stopped posting cryptic song lyrics on social media.

FINAL THIRD: THE LANDING

cacao, earth, charred oak, leather

Cacao takes over from chocolate - yes there's a difference, ask anyone who's been to a farmers market. Earth emerges, grounding the experience in classic Nicaraguan territory. Charred oak maintains its presence while leather continues its supporting role. The finish is solid if unremarkable, like successfully parallel parking on the first try - satisfying but not worth posting about. The ultra-vintage Mexican San Andrés wrapper has done its job competently throughout.

BUY DISCOUNT CIGARS HERE and CINCO DE CINCO HERE or HERE

🏆 THE VERDICT:

B TIER

Flavor: B

Construction: A-

Availability: A- (Readily available at most shops)

Price: B+ (Fair for an anniversary release)

Final Rating: B ACROSS THE BOARD

It's good, not great. The kind of cigar you smoke and think "yeah, that was nice" before immediately forgetting most of it. For a 55th anniversary release created with input from hundreds of people, it feels like design by committee - technically proficient but lacking soul.

📊BOTTOM LINE

The Joya de Nicaragua Cinco de Cinco Corona Extra is what happens when you try to please everyone and end up creating something that's just... fine. At $16, it's priced reasonably for an anniversary release that comes in fancy emerald boxes that you'll definitely keep but never actually use for anything. The crowdsourced blend concept is interesting in theory, but in practice it created a cigar that's like the median response to a survey - right in the middle, offending no one, exciting few. Nicaragua's oldest factory can do better, and they have with other releases. This feels like they asked too many people what they wanted and averaged out all the responses, creating the cigar equivalent of beige paint - it goes with everything but inspires nothing. Still, it's competently made and the flavors are pleasant enough. Sometimes you don't need fireworks, just a reliable smoke that won't disappoint or surprise.

TLDR: If you like Chocolate and Oak, you're gonna love this one.