Casdagli Club Mareva Gran Mareva Gold

Casdagli Club Mareva Gran Mareva Gold

The Gran Mareva Gold stands as a monument to international cigar collaboration, created specifically to celebrate the 2015 Cigar Smoking World Championship finals in Split, Croatia. When Marko Bilić approached Jeremy Casdagli about creating a championship-worthy cigar, the result exceeded expectations. The selection of Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper over the traditional Brazilian Cubra transforms this petit corona into something extraordinary. Having smoked this at the historic Club Mareva location within Split’s Roman palace, the pairing of this blend with the ancient stone surroundings creates an unforgettable sensory experience.

• Classic 5 1/2″ x 42 petit corona format with distinctive pigtail cap and closed foot construction
• Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper delivers baking spices, mesquite smoke, and subtle sweetness
• Dominican binder provides structural excellence and creamy undertones
• Three-country filler features aged Dominican, Nicaraguan, and rare Peruvian tobaccos
• Full-bodied profile showcases vanilla, pepper, coffee, almonds, smoked wood, and oak characteristics
• All tobaccos aged 3-5 years at Kelner Boutique Factory before blending
• Box count of 15 or 20 cigars with 69% RH Boveda humidification included

The construction details elevate this cigar beyond standard production methods. The pigtail cap and closed foot, rarely seen together on non-Cuban cigars, demonstrate the roller’s skill while serving functional purposes. The pigtail secures the Corojo wrapper at its most vulnerable point, while the closed foot concentrates initial flavors before the wrapper’s spice emerges. The cinnamon-brown Ecuadorian Corojo displays pronounced oils and minimal veining, indicating careful fermentation and selection from optimal primings. This wrapper choice brings complexity typically associated with Cuban heritage blends while maintaining the accessibility that defines the Club Mareva line.

The tobacco composition reflects meticulous sourcing and aging protocols. Each component undergoes three to five years of aging at the Kelner facility before blending, creating exceptional marriage and smoothness. The Dominican filler, sourced from multiple regions within the Cibao Valley, provides the blend’s foundation with natural sweetness and balance. Nicaraguan tobacco from Estelí adds controlled strength and pepper, while the inclusion of Peruvian leaf, a rarity in Dominican production, contributes unique floral and aromatic qualities that emerge particularly in retrohale. The Dominican binder acts as the perfect intermediary, ensuring combustion consistency while adding cream notes that smooth the transitions between flavor phases.

Smoking dynamics prove remarkably complex for the traditional format. The closed foot opens with concentrated earth, nuts, and mild spice before the wrapper’s influence introduces mesquite smoke and baking spices. Multiple reviewers note the unexpected peaty characteristics, unusual for Caribbean production but resulting from the extended aging and Peruvian tobacco inclusion. The full body maintains balance throughout, never becoming harsh despite the strength. Construction quality generally excels, though some report occasional touch-ups required. The retrohale delivers white pepper and toasted almonds without excessive heat, while the final third develops pronounced coffee and smoked oak notes as sweetness fades.

Summary

• Box Count: 15 or 20
• Region: Dominican Republic
• Strength: Medium-Full to Full
• Binder: Dominican
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Corojo
• Filler: Dominican, Nicaragua, Peru

How does the Gold compare to the standard Gran Mareva?

The Gold features Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper instead of Brazilian Cubra, creating a fuller-bodied experience with pronounced baking spices and mesquite smoke characteristics. While the standard Gran Mareva emphasizes honey sweetness and medium strength, the Gold delivers deeper peaty notes, increased complexity, and greater intensity. The pigtail cap and closed foot construction also distinguish it from the standard version’s traditional cap.

What makes this suitable for championship celebrations?

Created specifically for the 2015 Cigar Smoking World Championship finals, this blend balances complexity with consistency, essential for competition smoking. The petit corona format allows extended smoking times despite its size, while the full body and evolving flavor profile keep judges and competitors engaged. The exceptional construction ensures reliable burn performance crucial for slow-smoking competitions.

Why include Peruvian tobacco in this blend?

Peruvian tobacco adds distinctive floral and aromatic qualities rarely found in Central American or Caribbean leaves. In the Gran Mareva Gold, it contributes the unexpected peaty notes that set this blend apart, while adding complexity to the retrohale. The three to five-year aging mellows its natural intensity while preserving unique characteristics that emerge particularly in the second third.

What do the pigtail cap and closed foot achieve?

The pigtail cap serves both aesthetic and functional purposes, securing the Corojo wrapper at the head while showcasing the roller’s skill. The closed foot concentrates initial flavors from the filler blend, creating a graduated introduction before the wrapper’s spice emerges. Together, these features demonstrate premium construction techniques while enhancing the smoking experience through controlled flavor evolution.

Is this milder than typical Corojo-wrapped cigars?

While full-bodied, reviewers consistently note the Gran Mareva Gold presents a more balanced Corojo experience than typical expressions. The extended aging and Dominican base tobaccos smooth the wrapper’s natural intensity, creating approachable baking spices and mesquite notes rather than overwhelming pepper. This makes it suitable for all-day smoking despite the strength.

What flavor progression should I expect?

The closed foot opens with nuts, earth, and toast before the wrapper introduces mesquite smoke and baking spices. The second third develops vanilla, coffee, and unexpected peaty notes with almonds emerging through retrohale. The final third transitions to smoked oak and intensified coffee as sweetness fades, with some reviewers noting reduced complexity but maintained satisfaction.

How does this pair with beverages?

The full body and complex spice profile pair excellently with aged spirits like bourbon or single malt Scotch, with the peaty notes particularly complementing Islay whiskies. The coffee and almond characteristics work beautifully with espresso or Turkish coffee. Several reviewers mention aged rum as an ideal pairing, with the spirit’s sweetness balancing the cigar’s intensity.

What distinguishes the Kelner family’s blending approach here?

Hendrik Kelner Jr.’s approach emphasizes extended aging and tobacco marriage over exotic components. The three to five-year pre-blend aging creates exceptional integration, while his access to premium leaf selections ensures consistency. The careful proportioning allows each tobacco’s characteristics to emerge without overwhelming the 42-ring gauge format, demonstrating mastery of traditional vitola constraints.