In 2017, Matt Booth returned to the cigar world after a short hiatus. The return was through a collaboration with Robert Caldwell with a cigar known as the Hit & Run. That cigar placed #16 in the Stogie Press top cigars for 2017. Now back in full swing again, Booth and Caldwell have collaborated again. Introduced at the 2018 IPCPR, the Hit & Run Part Deux (Rip & Dip) was introduced to the world.
Robert Caldwell explained to me at the show that this next rendition of the Hit & Run was blended to be bolder than the original, using a special Central American Habano wrapper. The full blend is not fully disclosed, but what we were told, it is blended as follows:
- Wrapper – Central American Habano
- Binder – Undisclosed
- Filler – Domincan, Nicaraguan, U.S.
The Hit & Run Part Deux is available in four
- Short Robusto (4.5 x 46 ) MSRP $9.50
- Almost Robusto (4.75 x 54) MSRP $11.50
- Super Toro (6 x 54) MSRP $12.50
- Almost Churchill (6.25 x 48) MSRP $10.50
Like other Caldwell offerings, the Hit & Run Part Deux is manufactured at Tabacalera William Ventura in Tamboril, Dominican Republic.
For this
Pre-Light Examination
The Hit & Run Part Deux showcases a beautiful reddish brown marbled wrapper that has a few veins and a decent oily sheen. The cigar feels solid in the hand with no noticeable soft spots. It is finished with a well applied triple cap.
Two bands adorn the cigar. The primary band features the Room 101 logo centered on a grey background. The date 2018 is printed in gold to the left the “LTD” in gold on the right of the logo indicating this is a limited 2018 release. A gold secondary band lies below the primary and is printed with “101” in the center denoting this is a Room 101 creation. It should be noted that these are being distributed by Caldwell Cigars.
Running the cigar across the nose I picked up a sweet curing barn aroma along the barrel and earthy notes off the foot.
I sliced the cap with my double blade Xikar cutter and proceeded to take in some cold draw puffs. There was a nice restriction to the draw with notes of black pepper, earth, and sweetness. The pre-light was inviting and now it was time to fire up the Hit & Run Part Deux to see how it performs.
Cigar Review Notes
- A strong black pepper starts the journey opening the nasals on the first few puffs and retro-hale
- Rich thick smoke fills the palate
- Shortly into the journey, an off burn developed which I left alone to see if it corrects
- A solid white ash evolves resting on a thick char line
- Sweetness and spice with a fruity finish enters
- The run continued and it required a major touch up before the end of the first third
- The ash fell during the touch-up and revealed an off-centered burn cone and hole on top
- Maple syrup aroma wafts off the foot
- Spice continues
- The shaft gets hot to touch in the second third
- Slight bitterness enters and then fades into a natural sweetness
- Herbal notes join the spice and sweetness
- Off burn starts again and required another touch-up
- Cinnamon spice opens up treating the palate to a delectable set of notes reminding me of a morning cinnamon bun
- Creamy Sweetness at the final
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 20 minutes
Overall, we rate the Caldwell-Booth Hit & Run Part Deux Almost Robusto an 87. While the cigar had some terrific flavor notes and aromas, the off burns and major touch-ups have seriously detracted from the score. Sadly, at a price of $11.50 per cigar, this is not one I could recommend. I expect an error-free smoking experience at that price regardless of which cigar I take from the box.
Point Deductions: (-4) Multiple/Major Touch-ups; (-1) Burns hot to the touch; (-1) Off Centered Burn Cone; (-1) Flat Burn Cone; (-2) Should be Lower in Price
