Casdagli Daughters of the Wind (FSC2J25)*

[GVan]

Casdagli Daughters of the Wind

58% Rh and a perfect 74 deg F outside. This is the Pony Express Edition Limitada, 6" by 48 Rg box pressed. This one is extremely box-pressed and basically square! These have been aging in the humidor since 8/23 or now ~ 18 months of down-time. The wrapper is a smooth, shiny Colorado brown with just one small vein. Casdagli says the Pony Express Line has extra Dominican Oscuro Ligero filler that further strengthens the blend. The other change to this Limited Edition cigar is “embraced with two binder leaves now including a Nicaraguan Esteli binder along with the Costa Rican Puriscal”. The wrapper is Ecuador Habano. 

 

Cold draw is smooth cedar and milk chocolate with just the right resistance. A very small V-cut and we’re off at 2:15 in the afternoon of a beautiful Florida day. 

 

 

First puffs are light cedar, with cream as the prevalent flavor tinged with paprika. The smoke is very light grey, mild in strength that coats your mouth in a smooth, lingering finish. No pepper at all in the first third - unusual. I smoked one from this box at 90 days and my notes say white pepper in the beginning but none today. This first inch is like Partagas baking spice meets HdM Epi-1 cream — I’m loving this!

 

On the start of the second inch, some leather makes an appearance. The flavors are subtle with the leather lasting only for three puffs and then back to cream. The wrapper must be very thin because my black t-shirt is covered with tiny grey flakes while the ash is now a full 2”. I knock the ash off after the picture rather than wear it on my t-shirt. At the end of the first third the flavors remain as above and we’re still light to medium in strength - surprisingly smooth given the Ligero. 

 

At the half way point of the cigar, the strength picks up to a solid medium and leather makes a return. The cream is gone but the smoked paprika becomes stronger. I smoked a 12 pound ham for New Years and the flavors remind me of the smoked crust on the ham. Just a hint of cayenne lingers on the back of the tongue during the finish adding to the ham crust impression. I’m at 70 minutes and this is a very nice transition into the final third. 

 

During the final third, my wife interrupts as it’s time to call my son for his 45th B-day (how the hell did that happen so fast). She always tries to call at the same time of day as they were born. Funny, we’re East Coast and he was born on Midwestern time so, she’s an hour early! Great talk with my son and I sort of forget about “tasting” the cigar until there’s only an inch left. 

 

 

Still, it’s an awesome smoke. Smooth, never any bite - certainly the Ligero has mellowed and melded into the blend. The last inch is medium-full. My shirt and glass of water all have little ashes from the wrapper - a minor inconvenience. The cayenne has receded to perhaps white pepper mixed with a Partagas Short like baking-spice flavor - pretty good!

 

Final impression is the Casdagli isn’t a Cuban but close enough to keep me interested for a full two hours. A good blend for a NC. The time down really helped and these should continue to improve. The box (with only 2 down) will be moved to the “Ready to Smoke” section. Probably not in the regular rotation but kept in the “special cigar” category to be shared with experienced smokers that can appreciate them. The last ½ inch shared a striking similarity in flavors to the Fabrica MOFOH Spada Gorda which consistently gets 92 points from me. I’d give this Casdagli 93 points mostly because of the first third and all that paprika tinged cream - that was special. 

 

I finished the cigar to the strains of Lanny Wilson’s Wild Flowers and Wild Horses — perfect!

 

Hope you enjoyed the review!