Mansa Musa Gold

With a closed foot, I straight-cut the cap before lighting, and then puffed to light up. Immediate flavors of spicy leather and wood with an earthy nuttiness appeared. Quickly after the initial light the spiciness waned and a creamy cashew took over. The draw is loose, I don't have to fight it at all, but it seems to be burning quickly. 10 minutes in and already about an inch of ash. At 25 minutes, the ash dropped, right around 2 inches. Now unbelievably smooth and creamy, the flavor is getting a bit floral, with a caramel sweetness. Halfway in the flavors are getting a bit spicier like white pepper with toasty cedar notes. The wrapper had some flaws, just a couple small imperfections, but the toothiness gives it a nice velvety feel. The burn tends to canoe slightly when I puff too quickly, then evens out on its own when i set it down to rest without the need to touch it up with a lighter. The nuances in flavor really makes this cigar excellent. Initially the smell and cold draw seemed like it was going to be a bit heavy for my tastes, but after lighting it became smooth and creamy which built to a delightful earthy finish. I'm also noticing a slight sandalwood aroma in the final third. The price point of $119 for a box of 10 on the Mansa Musa Gold website is more than fair for the quality of this cigar, and since I got it for $10 I would call it a steal. Great cigar overall! If you don't smoke it down to the nub you'll miss out on some great flavors.