Another bloody head cold hit me overnight. I had planned on reviewing this morning but nooooo….So, I am re-posting a review of Casdagli Cigars Daughters of the Wind Pony Express. This is an exclusive from Small Batch Cigar only.
I reviewed this cigar February 2020.
Now, it is not an inexpensive cigar but the Daughters of the Wind series was my #1 cigar of 2018.
This is a limited-edition cigar and has had an extra 3 years of aged box time since its release.
If you are a Casdagli Cigars fan, and who isn’t? Then this is a reminder of a great cigar that you can snag with some gorgeous aging on it.
Plus…SBC has kept the same 2020 price point.
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Costa Rican Puriscal & Nicaraguan
Filler: Dominican Oscuro Ligero & Peruvian
Size: 6 x 48 (Box Pressed)
Strength: Medium
Price: $16.99
BACKGROUND:
Limited Edition Small Batch Cigar Exclusive
“The final blend was finally agreed upon during this year’s IPCPR in Las Vegas. The main ingredient that had to be concluded upon was the amount of the Dominican Oscuro Ligero filler that would be used to further enrich the existing Daughters of the Wind blend for Small Batch’s clientele. The other change to the Daughters of the Wind blend is that the Pony Express is embraced with two binder leaves with a Nicaraguan Estelï binder joining the Costa Rican Puriscal.
Release numbers are 3000 cigars per year dedicated to Small Batch Cigar only in the U.S.
Tasting Notes: Rye Toast, Baking Spices, Cream, Finished Leather, Cocoa, Peppercorn.”
SMELL THE GLOVE:
Enormous notes of floral meet my enormous schnoz. A combo of different spicy peppers lilts gently amongst the flowers…then sweet elements like caramel, rich creaminess, really dark chocolate, malt, cedar, a touch of peat, cinnamon and nutmeg, coffee nougat, and lastly…there is that rye toast as described in the P.R.
The cold draw presents flavors of caramel, dark chocolate, malt, cedar, creaminess, a touch of spiciness, baking spices, and a surprising vanilla frosting.
FIRST THIRD:
This stick is rolled perfectly. No need for my PerfecDraw draw adjustment tool. But then I’ve never once had a draw issue with any Casdagli cigar.
I nearly felt sacrilegious clipping the cap. Sometimes, you just want to frame a Casdagli…until you remember what you paid and then you smoke it instead.
Normally, I allow 4 months of naked rest (the cigar, not me) before I review a Casdagli…but this is an extremely limited edition and I wanted to get the word out before they are gone; as opposed to relaying the information after you can no longer purchase one.
I light up and immediately feel like a gentleman.
Flavors pour out of the cigar like they are running from the taxman. Black, red, and white pepperiness spews forth in a quiet way without shocking your delicate palate.
First up are the sweet factors: Caramel, vanilla creaminess, dark Estonian chocolate, café au lait, and raisin.
This is in complete tandem with some savory components: Smoky, deep and rich tobacco, malt, cedar, slightly meaty, assorted baking spices, and black licorice.
Clearly, these cigars have had substantial aging before being released into the wilderness. The cigar tastes like its been sitting in my humidor for 6 months. Wow.
Complexity wastes no time whatsoever. It blooms like a mushroom cloud. There is a very intense flavor profile that is both way bigger than the individual flavors; yet at the same time, I can taste the elements previously described.
The caramel creaminess and the other sweet factors jive like a jazz trio. The balance at this early juncture is crazy good. The finish is on my teeth and lips is unbelievable. And the transitions? Speed of sound, baby.
Strength is a solid medium.
The cigar is jam packed, so it burns slowly. I want this to be a 2 hour+ cigar.
My jinx with box pressed burns is gone…at least till I smoke a lesser brand. The burn is spot on.
Newbies…you want to try an expensive cigar and not wait 6+ months to smoke it?
It’s right here my babies…come and get it. The strength is evenly distributed at a calm pace as it wafts over my disappearing brain cells.
I’m reviewing this cigar blind. Did not try one before deciding to review it. That’s how much trust I put into Casdagli cigars. Never been disappointed.
Subtle variations and nuances shatter into many forks in the adventure. And yes, I meant to say adventure. Damn, this is a fine cigar.
Sip of water…my face peels back.
SECOND THIRD:
The buttered rye toast rises to the occasion. The spiciness is now white pepper…mild and succulent. The balance of savory v. sweet is spellbinding.
I’m having such a good time, I am standing naked with the cigar in front of my window on the 2nd floor. No one below notices. I gotta lift weights or something.
A quantum leap juts its chin into the race. We are on a new plateau now. The richness doubles down. The complexity is through the roof.
I’m going to wait til the end of the review to tell you how long I’ve had these cigars.
To prove I’m in the world of perfection, “Valley Girl” by Zappa is playing. I gotta’ check on my dental floss farm in Montana.
The Casdagli/Bespoke Daughters of the Wind Pony Express is so bloody good that I need to stop typing and just kick back, listen to music, and enjoy. I’ll be back.
This is a perfect blend for my palate…no shit. If I were a rich man, I’d buy the rest of the cigars from SBC and send them to all my readers. I just need your social security number, DL number, and a credit card.
Y’all know where this is heading. The dreaded rating of a perfect 100. “No. There is no such thing as a perfect cigar!” Bullshit. A perfect blend has nothing to do with being the best cigar in the world. Totally different subject. My palate tells me what it loves and what it doesn’t love. And at this moment in time, I can’t think of anything other than how happy my inner cigar demons are.
Salty German pretzel. With a hint of Dusseldorf mustard. Wasn’t expecting that.
Strange little flavors are zooming past. The more complex it gets, the more outrageous the flavors.
I just told Charlotte that we are moving to Estonia. Jeremy doesn’t know this yet, but we will be living with him.
The burn remains impeccable.
It’s taken an hour and a quarter to get to the second half. Where does time go when you are naked and having fun?
Sip of water…an eyebrow flies off and hits my cat in the puss.
Having a moustache is becoming on him.
Strength is stretching its legs. We are close to medium/full now. But oh so gently and without much fanfare.
The flavor profile is a mile long and more intense than childbirth. (I’ve had kidney stones, so I know…thank God women don’t read me).
Time out again…I gotta’ kick back once again to enjoy in solitude.
I envision Jeremy standing at the Crossroads with Robert Johnson making the same deal.
LAST THIRD:
I’ve reviewed 14 Casdagli cigars in the last 4 years. I’m a fan boy.
The blend is right on the cusp of medium/full.
It is here that the cigar blend explodes into a million different directions. I repeat myself under stress, I repeat myself under stress…I…I could list more flavors…so, I will…
There is still that perfect balance of savory v. sweet. The savory is malty, smoked brisket, cedar, hugely rich aged tobacco, buttered rye toast, a leathery element I can taste, hazelnuts, black pepper, and that compendium of baking spices.
The sweet envelops flavors of caramel, dark chocolate, café au lait, intense vanilla creaminess, a small touch of candied lemon peel, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and banana cake. Whew. My face is now screwed into a permanent scrunch.
Definitely medium/full now. (No nicotine).
Nothing linear about this blend. In constant motion…total flux…weaving…dancing like a butterfly. Just when I think additional complexity cannot happen, I get kicked in the groin with more.
I’m verklempt.
“Brain Damage/Eclipse” by Pink Floyd. Sums me up.
This has been such a treat. This blend, or anything by Casdagli/Bespoke, takes you on a magic carpet ride without dropping acid. If you haven’t tried one of Jeremy’s concoctions, I urge you to go to Small Batch Cigar and snag some of these before they’re gone. Tell the wife you needed a new clutch or something. Or try any of his blends. It is impossible to be disappointed.
Remember…’Katman’ promo code gets you 10% off.
Total time is two hours 15 minutes. Yes, Jimi, I’m now experienced.
I think Jeremy should consider Walt Disneying himself and get his head frozen after he passes…(no hurry)…so he can be brought back in 100 years and start blending again.
Well done by any yardstick.
Oh yeah, I promised to tell you how long I’ve had these cigars…One week!
RATING: 100
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
