Partagas D-4 SOU Feb-20 (YBC-2023) and a review for Oneizzzz

[GVan]

I went back through all of my 2023 posts and there are three cigars that all were fantastic and rated at or above 92 points.  Twice I smoked a Partages D-4 from the same box (SOU Feb-20) and posted pictures on FOH.  Once on April 6th and one as my best cigar for September.  As @El Presidente has said in several of his posts this may be the most consistently great cigar in my collection right now.  The problem is I only have 3 boxes of 10 from our esteemed host and I've been saving them for special occasions.  Each one has been the typical savory baking spices we all associate with this cigar but what makes them special for me is how smooth they are at only 3-years old and they have a sweet nutmeg flavor that makes them stand-out from the norm.  Back when I bought these they were ~$10 each and wow - a great price versus value cigar.  I've added one picture from the original posts below.  Just look at that shiny, oily wrapper!

In order to justify this as a true review and to keep a promise I made to @oneizzzz when I posted a recent NC purchase.  He asked me to quickly taste a Limited Edition Casdagli Daughters of the Wind Apollo ROTT.  I promised I would at 60 days and they just hit 60 days today.  On the Casdagli website they tell you to rest the cigars for at least 4 to 6 months -- but a promise is a promise - and to begin with the end in mind, at 60 days I'd say this is ~ 92 points and will only get better.

The Cadagli is a box pressed Edition Limitada 6” x 44, one of my favorite sizes.  Med. Colorado brown wrapper that’s almost perfect - hard to feel any veins.  Very firm with no soft spots.  Rested exactly 60 days at 62% Rh (my promise fulfilled).  It’s a perfect smoking day at 73 deg’s and 58% humidity.  V-cut and draw is tight but manageable.  Just pairing with water to get all the flavors.  Cold draw and smell is sort of a musty old leather with black licorice on the tongue.  Upon lighting the aroma is cedar and nutmeg.  First puffs are very creamy with the nutmeg making it almost egg-nog like.  The first inch takes >16 minutes - I could be here a while!  The burn is perfect and the initial cedar is replaced by white pepper that is very mild.  It’s just like when I taste my Beurre Blanc sauce at the end and add a little white pepper for a kick of flavor.  Since I’m into CCs, I’m not a fan of strong black pepper but this is perfect.  A creamy nutmeg, baking spice and a little white pepper on the sides of my tongue through the first third that takes 31 minutes. 

At the start of the second third, the burn got a little one-sided.  Knocked the ash off, a little touch-up and now burning nicely.  On the first puff after I get mint.  This third begins with more coffee, malt and a slight leather is back.  Still very smooth and creamy.  This is right down the middle medium strength and bodied with a thick smoke that you can feel in your mouth.  I’m still not halfway and it’s surprisingly not tobacco flavor - just cream. It reminds me of a Punch Short de Punch with a half and half flavor replacing the sour cream flavor.  Close but different!  White pepper and leather is gone.  Coffee, half & half, a little malt flavor on the finish - and a real long finish that keeps you focused trying to diagnose the flavors.  A lot of times as the smoke trails off the end of the cigar I might move it so I don’t breath it in through my nose - not with this cigar - the aroma is awesome, floral and light.  I’m about at the half-way point at 48 minutes. 

 

Before I bought these, several reviewers said they tasted caramel and sweet chocolate. I’m not getting any of that yet - although they rested their cigars 4 to 6 months and I’m at 60 days. The Amante IV took about 4 months before I tasted the sweetness that now is very evident in that cigar. 

 

 

At the last third the one-sided burn returns and needs another touch-up.  I’m at 58 minutes and it’s time to remove the first band.  Not a fan of multiple bands but at least it comes off easily.  The coffee is gone and it’s the first smooth tobacco flavor as the main characteristic.  Also, the first cedar / wood flavor enters on the finish instead of just in the aroma.  Every other puff is a little different - this last one is umami and mushrooms that reminds me of a Caldwell 2021 LE.  It’s making me hungry.  The aroma has changed from floral to a little musty. Another touch-up required - Mr. One-Side is back.  There might still be a little higher moisture in this last third. Pull the main band down; I like when the band slides towards the end as you’re finishing a cigar.  After 3 more puffs the mint returns.  It’s still a very smooth smoke although not a lot of changes in the final third.  The last part was definitely more back and side of the tongue flavors than front.  The total smoking time was 1 hour and 35 minutes.

 

 

The Casdagli is not my typical $7 to $10 NC smoke.  I had a coupon and these cost me ~ $15 so, I expect a lot from these cigars.  My favorite was the first third, pretty typical of a “short rested cigar” and was easily 93 to 94 points.  There were some decent transitions through the thirds and interesting flavors.  Enough to keep me interested and focused.  One reviewer that I like gave it 100 points - definitely not there yet for me as this trailed off at the end. Overall, I'd say 92 points with room for improvement with some more rest.  These will likely take a spot along side some of my special occasion CC's as a NC change of pace -- and like we all say -- make my CC collection last a little longer!