The Gladius is the foundation of the Tradecraft Cigars core line, and the brand says it embodies everything they love and look for in a blend. Made by Wiber Ventura at Tabacalera William Ventura, the cigar “boasts perfect construction in all its vitolas,” according to Tradecraft. The name nods to the Roman Empire and the short sword carried by its legionaries into battle.
The wrapper is a fire-cured San Andres Maduro from the renowned Turrent family, aged three to five years before it’s applied. Tradecraft calls the flavor “clean, consistent, full and unlike anything we have smoked,” with “robust notes of bakers chocolate, meaty savoriness, bakers spices and earth.” The retrohale is “equally as complex, with notes of citrus and cinnamon,” and the smoke has “a pleasant mouth watering effect that keeps you wanting more.”
Quotes taken from Tradecraft’s website.
Stogie AT A Glance
Review
First Third
Immediate nutmeg, cinnamon, and toasted bread notes on the light, with cedar and pepper on the retrohale and finish. Some unsweetened dark chocolate works its way into the finish as well, which is long. Earthiness comes out with espresso and a creaminess to the smoke, then espresso and an earthy leather with a baker’s chocolate, almost bitter note. The smoke’s texture is still creamy, with espresso and spices on the finish. Near the end of the first third, a bitter earth note ramps up a little, with some spices on the finish.
Second Third
There is a big transition in the second third. An almost dried fruit or floral note appears, with a fresh-baked bread note and a creamy espresso on the finish. The toasted bread note continues with more spices and an almost savory note, with the smoke still creamy and black coffee on the finish. Cedar comes out prominently, along with a dark chocolate note on the finish. The pepper and chocolate slowly evolve into a light citrus or orange peel on the finish. Dark chocolate and pepper continue, with just a hint of the floral note at the end of the second third.
Final Third
A nutty coffee and cedar note come out at the start of the final third, with black coffee and a little pepper on the finish. A savory, almost herbal note comes through, with pepper and black coffee on the finish. After a time, a dark chocolate note starts to come in on the finish again. Black coffee, cedar, and a little savory pepper continue, with black coffee and pepper on the finish. The cigar starts to heat up a little near the end of the final third. It is humid outside (71.5%), so the cigar is having a bit of a tough time. Slightly more bitter black coffee and pepper on the finish.
Score
90/100