PCA 2023: Casdagli

This year has been an important year for Casdagli in the U.S. Vlada Stojanov, who handled distribution in the U.S., announced that he would no longer be distributing Casdagli and the company stated that it would be setting up its own Florida-based distribution company for the U.S. market. Shortly after the recent opening of the distribution company, Hendrik Kelner Jr.’s Smoking Jacket announced that it would be distributed in the U.S. by Casdagli.

I was hoping to spend some time with Jeremy Casdagli to talk about these changes and also just chat with Casdagli, who is always engaged and ready to tell interesting stories. Unfortunately, he’s recovering from surgery and could not make the trip to the U.S.

The Casdagli booth was wide and shallow—though I suppose “long and narrow” could also describe it—though segmented into three parts. Smoking Jacket took one end, while Kaneda, an Italian company selling gold cigars took the other end. In the middle was Casdagli with its products, including some new ones, on display.

Casdagli 25 Aniversario Double Corona

Speaking of the partnership with Kelner Jr., this cigar is made at his Kelner Boutique Factory in the Dominican Republic. While the name might lead you to believe that this celebrates the 25th anniversary of the company, it actually celebrates Jeremy Casdagli’s 25 years in the cigar business. He said he chose the size because his favorite cigar made by Carlos Valdez Mosquera, a Cuban roller, was a double corona.

• Wrapper: Ecuador
• Binder: Dominican Republic
• Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Peru & U.S.A.

• Casdagli 25 Aniversario Double Corona (7 1/2 x 52) — $36 (Box of 10, $360)

Production: 4,000 Boxes of 10 Cigars (40,000 Total Cigars)*

Release Date: August 2023

*This is described as an annual release of 4,000 boxes.

Casdagli Napoleonic Collection Brave

There are two blends as part of the company’s new Napoleonic Collection. One is inspired by Marshal Ney, a French general who was called “The Bravest of the Brave” by Napoleon. The company says it plans on adding two new blends each year for the next four years, totaling eight blends. For now, both of the blends are offered in identical sizes. These are also made at KBF.

• Wrapper: Ecuador
• Binder: Dominican Republic
• Filler: Dominican Republic

• Casdagli Napoleonic Collection Brave Robusto (4 9/10 x 50) — $17.50 (Box of 20, $350)
• Casdagli Napoleonic Collection Brave Piramides (6 1/2 x 53) — $21 (Box of 20, $420)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: August 2023

Casdagli Napoleonic Collection Forrader

Forrader is named after Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, who was nicknamed “General Forwards” by his soldiers due to his aggressive tactics on the battlefield. He was also well-known for smoking a pipe during battle. Yes, that’s tobacco from Zimbabwe in the filler. While many cigar smokers are familiar with tobacco from Cameroon, Zimbabwe is the largest grower of tobacco in Africa, though it’s almost all used for cigarettes.

• Wrapper: Ecuador
• Binder: Dominican Republic
• Filler: Dominican Republic, U.S.A. & Zimbabwe

• Casdagli Napoleonic Collection Forrader Robusto (4 9/10 x 50) — $17.50 (Box of 20, $350)
• Casdagli Napoleonic Collection Forrader Piramides (6 1/2 x 53) — $21 (Box of 20, $420)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: August 2023