Mission Zero
Standing tall at just 4 inches, with a slim 48 ring gauge, the "robusto minor" we will be discussing today is tied for featuring the smallest footprint out of any cigar currently in our humidor. In fact, the only stogie that is anywhere close to the dimensions is El Pulpo the Fry from Artesano del Tobacco, which has the exact same measurements.
But whereas that pigtailed cap of a firecracker is all the way maduro and quite strong, the pipsqueak pictured here is more of a medium-powered blend, and a really good one at that. This is The T. Connecticut from Robert Cladwell of Caldwell Cigar Co. and his brothers in arms, AJ Fernandez and Matt Booth of Room101. A collaborative spin-off stemming from the flat-out fantastic The T. Maduro, and one that takes the ever-popular Ecuadorian shade-grown wrapper seed and gives it some extra oomph. An additional kick of complexity that comes courtesy of the cigar's all-Nicaraguan internals, which, as one might expect, hail from AJ Fernandez's farms.
But alas, this blend is nearing the end of its lifespan, and we recently received word that we would no longer be able to restock it. Apparently it's time to move on to bigger and better things, and with this oddball blend originally being a 2018 release, retirement seems all but inevitable. Which is precisely why we stocked up on this microscopic stick, for in my opinion it is one of the best little "dog walkers" on the market.
Not only does this blend make for a mighty fine mid-summer (or mid-winter) smoke, thanks to its ability to prevent us from succumbing to the elements due to over-exposure, but it also packs a hell of a lot of flavor and aroma into its tiny profile. So, before this blend disappears permanently, let's get to it, shall we?
Unlit Impressions
Beyond its miniature trim, this oily, grayish-looking khaki-colored cigar appears to be just another cleanly constructed AJ Fernandez blend with no seams or veins to be found. All seems well until a squeeze near the foot reveals a spongy, under-filled spring recoil. Nothing overt, but still notable.
The band is also a standout, with a semi-gloss pumpkin orange color backing the three keys that represent the three men who made the blend. It does look enormous on something so small, but that would be true for any cigar of this size. Beneath the primary band rests a secondary band, with the initials of the three sitting atop a tan paper backdrop. Side-by-side, the banded duo looks stylish, as it matches and contrasts with the color of the wrapper perfectly.
Aromatically speaking, the wrapper offers a striking blend of roasted cashew, sandalwood, and an oily mixture of frankincense and cypress. Dried craisins, bowls of oatmeal with milk, generic toasted grains, and a healthy amount of sweetness flow from the foot, urging you to sniff again. Unlit pulls are open, not nearly as sweet, and far more barnyard-like, with fermented hay and a pop of funk flowing forth first. Grits with butter can also be detected, and there's a spiciness that sits toward the back of the throat that is borderline sharp.
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Initial Smoke
Who here likes creamy vanilla ice cream? Well, if you don't already, you certainly will after a few quick tugs off this splendid little smoke. With its nutty nougat toppings, classic graham cracker crust, and cinnamon sugar finish, the only thing that seems to be missing from the first five minutes of this stick is some peach preserves. Together, this makes for a start to the cigar that tastes 100% on point.
1st Half
Right around when the first third fires up, a shot of spicy cedar strikes. But there's some tangerine zest at play now, and together these two tastes make for one hell of a tangy, zippy blend. Equally enticing are the remnants of those nutty nougat notes on retrohale, and the ways in which the creamy, medium body of the smoke retains some level of sweetness. Zero pepper or spiciness, just lazy, smooth shade-grown smoking...
As the vanilla slowly subsides, a different kind of creaminess replaces it, and this time it is roasted cashew. Since the cedar is still present, some spiciness from both it and some peppercorn can be felt on retrohale, and as the body moseys toward medium, the rounder feel to the body of the smoke encourages a smile. This truly is a tasty little cigar.
2nd Half
As the cedar grows stronger in spice and intensity, the cashews move aside and allow a darker, meatier black walnut taste to descend upon the tongue. There's an oddly pleasing floral touch to the smoke too, and it makes me think of faded perfume that has passed its prime. The finish is still rewarding and pleasing in its sweetness, as the graham cracker notes have returned.
Increasingly floral in aroma, and now filled with fermented hay, the final third takes you outdoors and into the sunlight, where the whole blend becomes a bit more robust. Spicier than ever, Spanish cedar remains the driving factor that keeps the tongue on edge. However, with the return of vanilla ice cream and some exceptionally good cinnamon graham cracker notes crumbled on top, a balance is achieved once more. The finish may still be right around medium, but it is sweet, creamy, and, collectively speaking, takes the best attributes from each portion of the cigar flavor profile straight to the dome.
Parting Puffs
Cedar set ablaze, the char settles in, as I break out the poker that's hidden inside of my Overland Pro Torch Lighter. As the creamy vanilla caramelizes, a roasted marshmallow note merges, and while it may still be nutty and sweet, there's a tanginess within that doesn't always sit right on the palate. Due to its small size, parting puffs on this blend are brief and incredibly hot, so smoke with caution if you wish to see this one to the very end.
Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw
Oh, he may be Hobbit-sized in stature, but hot damn if he doesn't have the elegance of an elf. While a 30-minute burn time tends to be the norm for this stick, I have been able to stretch it out to nearly the 45-minute mark without the blend going out on me.
Brief burn times aside, the cigar combusts like a regular full-size smoke from AJ Fernandez. That means zero corrections, a nice-looking, evenly formed ash, and a draw that is a touch more open than tight. Smoke textures were also top-notch, with a wonderful medium-body building earlier on and remaining in play until the very end.
Final Thoughts
As I stated in the intro, this vitola makes for one spectacular little "dog walker." A blend built for those who prefer to puff a bit while taking the pooch out for a poo, or for when extreme temps require a briefer outdoor smoke session.
So if you enjoyed the Cachitos Connecticut from GPC, and are tired of waiting for them to resume production down in Nicaragua like my happy ass, give this stick a shot. This "robusto minor" manages to pack a smorgasbord of full-size cigar flavor profiles into a concentrated, pill-size format, and for the most part, it works extremely well.
Yes, the smallest version of The T. Connecticut is a fast and somewhat furious little smoke session, but it still launches off the line without slipping and hits the quarter mile mark without so much as a wobble. Sweet, creamy, and almost dessert-like in a way, but also spicy, funky, and cedar-strong in others, there is depth to this blend that transcends wrapper colors and preconceived notions of what a "light cigar" should be.
Like the maduro version bearing the same name, which also appears to have been discontinued, this collaborative blend between three friends seems to fit together like a lock and key. It isn't a perfect cigar, and its size constraints more than likely do hold it back a bit in regard to flavor transitions and overall evolution. But even then, this little upstart somehow manages to get a dozen or so steps closer to perfection than most of the blends I burn through on a weekly basis, and that is saying a hell of a lot.
Stogie Specs
| Cigar | Caldwell Cigar Co. "The T. Connecticut" |
| Wrapper | Connecticut Shade (Ecuador) |
| Binder | Nicaragua |
| Filler | Nicaragua |
| Factory | Nicaragua |
| Size | 4″ x 48 ("Robusto Minor"/Short Robusto) |
| Strength | Medium |
| Pairing Drink | Homemade Pineapple Soda |
| Rating | 4.5/5 |
