Initial Smoke

Herb tea, with a twist of lemon to touch off the foot, and all the floral notes up top on the nose, there is nothing to dislike about the starting point on this smoke. The finish is creamy and nutty, with a sticky-sweet, lengthy finish filled with buttery baked pastries providing a reliable base imprint. A spiffing start to what is sure to be an intriguing cigar.

1st Half

As the herb tea pot overflows, a pleasant balance between sweet and bitter brings out more depth than at first puff. Still citrusy and packing a bit of peppercorn now, the creamy smoke envelopes the nostrils and coats the tongue with a finely balanced medium body and a touch of dried wood notes upon exhale. Nutty flavors have also begun to bloom, but only on the backend and in small amounts.

Although the smoke does eventually shift those dry undertones to the forefront in the second third, it retains a controlled amount of tongue tingle, and a hefty touch of tannin from a light leather aromatic and taste. Retrohales are smooth and simple, with a hint of star anise and roasted barley sitting further back, as a creamy cashew flavor fills in as needed.

2nd Half

Honey atop wholegrain toast hits the tongue to create the largest transition within the cigar, and the breadiness of the backbone that this blend is built upon is finally allowed to stretch its muscles. Sun-grown tobacco spiciness and a body built upon the leaves bound up inside are all primary, and together, they bring about a pleasant spicy, smokiness that reminds me of paprika. 

Retrohales continue to be savory and roasty, and as the blend gradually grows darker and nuttier, the strength of the cigar flavor profile opts to settle on medium. Secondary notes are still anise strong and cedar second, and as the blend becomes spicier and leather-heavy, the savoriness of the smoke intensifies. 

Parting Puffs

Although it may be quite similar to the final third in many ways, the tapered format that makes up parting puffs turns an already awesome section of the cigar into something even more concentrated. No char or astringency to be found here, though. Just some sticky sweet brown sugar, and the return of rose hip steeped herb tea to help make the last few moments of the cigar all the more aromatic. 

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

It's obvious that Hendrik Kelner Jr. learned the significance of quality control and construction from his father, and it shows in this stick. From the moment the tapered foot was torched until the last section of the figurado shoulder was snuffed out, there was little to worry about with my onscreen cigar. In fact, the only upsets were a minor ash drop in the final third and parting puffs, followed by a bit of heat intensity, which, due to the sloping shape of the cigar and location of the burn, came as no big surprise. 

Smoke formation and draw flow increased as the blend burned, and although I do suggest a bit of a liberal cut on this cap, the blend did a great job of giving me medium amounts of the stuff. Even then, this is still a two-puff sort of smoke, and one that cannot be hit too hard or too often. So, like the delicate shape of the vitola itself, some care must be given when smoking the Epicurist in order to prevent too much heat or spice from forming.

Final Thoughts

Unexpectedly aromatic blends such as this are what make reviewing cigars for a living so enjoyable. With its Grade-A construction and burn, refined medium cigar flavor profiles, and unique formatting, the Epicurist has instantly become one of the more memorable smokes I have encountered all year.

The blend's fantastic figurado form only adds value to the equation, as it limits the amount of smoke pulled and thus prevents overheating from occurring much of the time. It also looks awesome in the humidor, as well as in hand, and I really dig the band and backstory that came with this specialty size from 2024. I also find it fascinating that the robusto version features filler leaves primed from higher up on the plant for a bolder smoking experience, whereas the figurado receives milder primings from the center of the stalk.

Crafting a cigar that can remain medium in flavor, but intensely full in aroma, is not always easy, and for the most part, Casdagli Cigars has nailed it with this limited run diadema. Some may consider it quirky and a bit expensive, but I prefer to view the Brothers of the Sabre Epicurist as appropriately priced and purpose-built for special occasions and rare cigar-collecting bragging rights. That's who's to say that it's right for you, though? I guess you'll just have to find that out for yourself...