Casdagli Daughters of the Wind Calico Cigar pairing
Posted by Francois Pistorius on 18th May 2023
Casdagli Daughters of the Wind Calico Cigar
If you haven't tried a Casdagli cigar, I would say it's time. Since lighting up the first Casdagli, there is something uniquely special about these cigars. It's a connoisseur cigar yet enjoyable as an occasional smoker. Each Casdagli has a rich profile full of flavour. Expect toasty and earthy flavours that progress into rich tobacco flavours with baking spice. Light cocoa with hints of melted caramel develops into the cigar. This post takes an overview look into Casdagli Daughters of the Wind Calico Cigar.
Casdagli's most famous racehorse named " BINT BINT DURRA" a horse of the rare Dahman breed inspired the origin of the "DAHMAN" cigar.
In the early 1900s, the sons of Emmanuel, Demetrius and Alexander Casdagli purchased the Sheykh Obeyd stables outside Cairo. They became celebrated breeders of Arabian racehorses. Together they won big races.
The Arabian racehorses became famous for their strength, elegance and refinement. Casdagli wanted to celebrate history with the launch of a small production of cigars. “The Daughters of the Wind” is a famous Arabian poem written in the 6th century and inspired by the beauty of Bedouin horses.
The cigars of the Daughters of the Wind Line are from Costa Rica at the exclusive boutique factory in San Jose. All are meticulously handcrafted. It is a unique line of cigars combining rare tobaccos from Peru, the Dominican Republic and Ecuador. The cigars also have tobacco from the factory’s plantation in the mountains of Costa Rica. The Daughter of the Wind line cigars are full-bodied yet complex cigars with rich, sweet and spicy notes.
The range is medium-strength. Each cigar offers notes of pepper, vanilla and spice. The cigars have an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper covering a Costa Rican binder and a filler composed of Peruvian and Dominican leaves. The exotic blend creates an enjoyable smoking experience. The Casdagli Daughters of the Wind Calico cigar is handmade in Costa Rica.
Calico Cigar Stats:
Vitola: Pyramide
Length: 6.1″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Costa Rica
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Costa Rica
Filler: Peru, Dominican Republic
Factory: IGM
Blender: Jeremy Casdagli
Release Date: November 2018
Casdagli Cigars
Casdagli Daughters of the Wind Calico Cigar
Appearance:
A dark caramel-looking wrapper with tiny smooth veins The shape is a pyramid or torpedo with a closed foot.
Dry Aroma
The cigar has a closed foot. Yet there are ample earthy and light herby scents as you remove the cigar from the cellophane protection.
Hints of cured tobacco, earth, herbs, light pepper scents and a mild toasty aroma.
A cigar with a good amount of baking spice. The pre-draw is a little tight with notes of sweetness, baking spice and warm toast with butter spread all over.
Wrapper
Milk chocolate, oily and silky-smooth with tiny veins.
Construction
It is firm with an even soft feel when lightly squeezed.
Cold draw A elegant note of herbs, cured tobacco and light pepper with caramel and cocoa.
Chocolate souffle with light salt.
First Puff
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
The initial draw is tight on this Calico. I did make slight adjustments and it worked like a bomb. Once the draw became lighter the cigar releases good smoke volume followed by smooth toasty flavours. It's a mild puff very enjoyable on a cold rainy night.
The cigar is earthy and toasty with subtle tastes of cocoa and caramel blending into a rich toasty tobacco experience.
As the cigar progresses, the toasted butter flavours with a light creamy taste develop.
1st third
Light cocoa and caramel flavours blend into the toasty aroma progressing into rich cured tobacco flavours.
2nd third
Once the cigar settles the flavours are smooth with toasty warm caramel and light cocoa tastes with a light taste of warm toast. It's a very palatable Casdagli cigar to start with.
A bit of cocoa, less spice and more buttery creamy transitions with the rich tobacco flavours.
Burn:
The burn is slow and even. I enjoy smoking slower to avoid the bitterness that can come with smoking a cigar too hot. You will see white ash develop with firm rings.
Smoke:
Voluminous smoke, but only once I adjusted the initial tight draw. It's a great size cigar to enjoy over an hour that develops into smooth rich medium-strength smoke.
3rd third:
The casual Calico remains consistent with flavours from start to finish. My overall experience is toasty and rich. The caramel and light cocoa flavours are add-ons instead of overpowering flavours.
The flavours remain constant. There are tastes of sweetness that pair with the richness, it will also be due to the wine pairing.
Duration:
I slow smoked the cigar for over 2 hours.
Wine & Cigar Pairing
This vibrant blend of native Portuguese grapes delivers exuberant aromas of red berries complemented by subtle spicy notes. The wine has silky tannins with a fruity, long, delicious finish.
What is wine?
Rocim Mariana Red
Region - ALENTEJO
Producer - HERDADE DO ROCIM
Viticulture - CATARINA VIEIRA | AMÂNDIO CRUZ
Winemaking - CATARINA VIEIRA | PEDRO RIBEIRO
CLIMATE
Mediterranean and set in the sub-region of Vidigueira. The climatic conditions are the most temperate in Alentejo. And the region provides an excellent microclimate for the production of quality wines.
SOIL Poor land, mostly of granite and schist.
VARIETIES Touriga Nacional, Aragonez, Alicante Bouschet and Trincadeira
Alcohol Content 14,0%
Total Acidity 5,900 g/dm3
Volatile Acidity 0,51 g/dm3
Residual Sugars 3,2 g/dm3
pH 3,57
Vinification
Manual harvest in 12 kg boxes. At the winery, the grapes go onto a vibrating sorting table. Then destemmed and lightly crushed. After a period of cold skin maceration, the fermentation takes place in small stainless tanks at a temperature of 24oC.
Ageing
Six months in French oak barrels.
Tasting notes
Deep ruby colour. An exuberant aroma of red berries. Round tannins and full fruity red wine experience.
Contains Sulfites
Mariana Red wine Aromas
Plums
Ripe cherries
Dark black fruits
Mariana Red wine Tastes
The red wine has initial tastes of ripe plums and sweet cherries. But once the wine settles on the palate the taste moves into deeper dark fruits with silky smooth tannins and a balanced finish.
The wine has body, with balance and not overpowering considering the 14 % alcohol. It is a jammy red wine that makes it the perfect pairing with a super Casdagli cigar.
Young black fruits and light tannins show that this is a wine to drink now. It has a bright, fresh, fruity character to enjoy.
Final Casdagli Calico Impressions
I’d love to smoke this cigar again. The flavours suit my palate. I could have a Casdagli Calico at least every week.
The smoke output was great after a few tweaks. The flavours are incredible. What I like the most about this cigar is that it has a very smooth and mild flavour profile. The cigar is rich without any overpowering flavours. The blend is exceptional.
The aroma is fragrant, and the taste is rich and creamy. It is a great cigar to enjoy with your favourite easy-drinking red wine on a cooler night.
Conclusion:
A mild to medium-bodied cigar with a medium strength profile. What makes Calico unique? This cigar has a smooth yet rich profile with toasty and buttery flavours. It pairs well with the ruby dark-coloured Portuguese red wine from the Alentejo region.
It's mild to medium smoke with abundant flavours. I enjoyed more richness in the Calico than many other darker wrapper cigars. But, if you want to try the Top cigar in the Daughter of the Wine range, I suggest the Pony Express. Saying that the Calico is a weekly cigar to warm you up for the Pony Express over the weekend.
How would I describe the cigar pairing? Cocoa fudge with black fruit jam on the inside.
Enjoy a Casdagli cigar.
Click the link below to enjoy a Casdagli cigar on colder winter days.
