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Initial Smoke

Habano flavors unfold on the tongue first, and they are sunny, mildly spiced, and flavorful. The cedar and spice mixture that supports this top note does eventually turn graham cracker on you, and there is the scent of Sumatran tobacco in the air almost immediately upon light. With the draw, smoke formation, burn temps, and ash build all appearing to be spot-on, I move onward and target the first third of the robusto.

1st Half

Simple yet effective is the best way to describe this blend's approach to providing cigar flavor profiles. Still an habano above all else, the first third eventually opens up to a more resinous cedar centerline, a ginger and honey-rich retrohale, and the darker taste of roasted chestnuts. Medium in sweetness and not spicy in the least, the first major section of the cigar shines behind every silky retrohale cast forth.

Habano notes hold true in the second third as well, with a medium-grade mixture of cedar wood and toasted bread on the finish. Body has grown to medium by now, allowing the sweeter sides of the smoke to stick around a bit longer on the finish as well. 

2nd Half

As the texture of the smoke gradually grows richer, more of the Sumatran side of the cigar comes out, with sweet, floral aromatics making each puff all the more pleasant. Rounder, sweeter, and significantly heavier when it comes to exotic spice, the climax of the cigar seems to be almost in sight. 

There, within the final third, the smoke hands out even more chewy chestnut notes, which makes the brighter sun-grown habano tastes feel a bit more grounded. Nothing else to be detected here beyond a bit more body and the chalky taste of cayenne powder without any of the heat.

Parting Puffs

But before too long, that cayenne pepper note does flare up. And while the cigar remains cedar and habano strong, the peppery, dry, sharper sides of the smoke trample all else. There is the slightest touch of cinnamon-coated graham cracker in there, but it isn't enough to make parting puffs pleasurable.

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Ash flakes, followed by a single jagged moment at the start of the final third, were my only issues with my review stick. The sample cigar burned even better, with only ash flake being the concern. Both ashes formed nice, white tubes that lasted for a third or more, and the smoke flow that was felt was perfection. I also did not require my torch to repair the uneven burn issue, and both cigars burned at a medium pace and were cool to the touch.

Final Thoughts

Try as it might, this stubby habano robusto from Caldwell never managed to truly woo my taste buds. My nostrils certainly savored the sweet smoke and managed to pull some additional depth from the blend, but it never managed to land anything above average. Perhaps it was the continued focus on habano and cedar over all else, but there never was that stirring sense of, "Whoa! That's outstanding!"

Instead, there was more of a feeling of, "Oh, that's nice," or, "Oh, look, the cigar got a little sweeter." Nothing astounding, just a few quick notes along the way that were positive but uninspired. In fact, it wasn't until the Sumatran binder started to shine in the middle of the stick that I found myself feeling truly engaged. A pity, considering how delicious the first third was, and how all it needed was a bit more Sumatran spice on the nose to make it sing.

What we have here is a perfectly good, average habano with a highly suggestive name. A blend that doesn't stray too far from its comfort zone and therefore prefers consistent cigar flavor profiles over creativity. Just the Tip is a capable, quick little EDC smoke, packing solid construction, a balanced burn, and enjoyable moments in every section. Just don't expect a revolutionary smoking experience, and you will be perfectly fine. Maybe that's why this blend was named such, as it is only interested in giving us just the tip of what could be an amazing habano cigar...

Overall Balance & Repeatability