Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Size: 6 x 49 Pyramide
Strength: Medium
Price: $20.00
My review cigars received 4 months of naked humidor time.
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
I’ve been a fanboy of Casdagli/Bespoke Cigars since 2015. I’ve written more than two dozen reviews of Jeremy’s blends. Loved them all.
The weight feels good. The draw is how Mikey likes it. My PerfecDraw is out back getting water from the well. Probably sneaking a shot from its flask and smoking a Camel.
According to Jeremy Casdagli, milk chocolate emphasis is front and center among the flavor profile notes. Staring at that gorgeous oily wrapper, it even looks like a candy bar.
First off is a lemon custard note. Creamy and tart with a hint of black pepper. Rich with a lovely depth that identifies this as blend touched by the Casdagli hand.
Smooth as Marilyn Monroe’s tushy. Back then, not now.
Strength is a potent medium.
Vanilla notes sky in on a carpet I just cleaned. And then the milk chocolate hits me square in my bohemian forehead. I decided against Cro-Magnon.
First sweet spot appears at 1” burned. Complexity kicks it. Feels like rain.
A nuttiness that reminds me of candied almonds and salted cashews dances the light fandango. And then the storm intensifies with notes of dried fruit, tea with honey, and coffee with cream. Smoother than a shaved cat.
Everything slows down. Ain’t no sunshine. The cigar is singing to me. I sing back…offkey. I told the band I wasn’t a singer. Sonja thought differently. She offered up a bargain. Give her two weeks and I’d be singing like a bird. Two weeks passed. “You know what, Phil…you can’t sing.”
The creaminess is B.B. King twisting a note until it disappears into the ether. It lingers without any hint it will end. I like it.
The theme is mocha java. I can’t stop my leg from twitching, and I can’t stop my tongue from darting in and out of my mouth like a happy dog. Thank God I’m not doing this in public.
This is a good cigar. Man, oh, Manischewitz. Remember Strawberry Hill? Vomiting never felt so good.
I went with a friend to interview The Righteous Brothers. Long time ago. I was writing for a Long Beach newspaper. My buddy was a radio DJ on KWST in L.A. We sat and had dinner with them after they played two sets at their Orange County club. I shamelessly plugged myself as I wanted a chance to play in their band. As we left the interview, Bill Medley told me I better not make them look bad. I handed him my business card. A month later, I got a call from their manager. They needed a bass player for two weekends. He mailed me a set list. No rehearsal. Had to show up prepared. Frightening at first but after I played the first note, I was fine. Good times.
The char line is sharp enough to shave Nixon’s face. Back then. Not now. Smokestack Lightin’.
The blend is nailing my petard to the wall. That’s a good thing as I never liked my petard.
This cigar is a treat, plain and simple.
Strength moves to medium/full at the halfway point.
Mustang Sally. Groove it slow and your big feet don’t have to move much.
Chocolate covered raisins. Vanilla Dr. Pepper. Caramel enters to give the cigar an oozy sweetness. Savory notes of smoked oak, cashews, espresso, and baking spices counter the offensive. The Siegfried Line is indefensible.
I forget that there are double cigar bands. My I.Q. is tested and I fail miserably. I Forrest Gump the removal.
Spectacular treat.
The complexity deepens. Richness swells to a crescendo as the end is near. Not me, the cigar.
70 minutes in. 3-1/2” burned. Maynard G. Krebbs says it’s cool. Gilligan is mystified.
This is crazy good. I wonder if Jeremy was with Robert Johnson at The Crossroads?
Very slow roll. Puffing should be restrained in order to really enjoy this blend.
Ever notice that a cigar reviewer can’t be fired? Criticized, yeah. Not fired.
Medium/full strength is now kicking my arse. In the mid-70’s, I introduced the word ‘asshole’ to the lexicon of the Brits I hung out with. They loved just saying it. They didn’t know how to use it properly, but I never said a thing.
Oh man, if you can find this cigar…go for it. Buy a few.
I need to nub this cigar because I can’t get enough.
You can purchase the Casdagli Mareva line in several shapes and sizes from sponsor Small Batch Cigar. Take 10% off with promo code KATMAN.
RATING: 96
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
