Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Corona Gorda
Size : 5 5/8 x 46
Wrapper : Ecuador
Filler : Nicaraguan / Dominican
Binder : Cameroon
Hand-Made
Price : ~$5 each
The CAO La Traviata Animado was released in 2009, and is a reincarnation of an old cigar line from over a hundred years ago. The fillers come from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua in Pueblo Nuevo, favorite grounds for CAO. The Ecuadorian wrapper is a Habano from Ecuador. The name of the cigar line, “La Traviata,” is derived from the name of an opera by Giuseppe Verdi adapted from an Alexandre Dumas book. It’s a promising selection of tobacco leaves. Let’s see how the blend measures up.
Appearance : Rating: 
The wrapper is medium brown and very smooth. The only veins that I see are very fine, and there are not too many of them. This is a very nice-looking cigar. I am detecting pepper on pre-light, so this will likely be a spicy smoke.
Construction : Rating:
I didn’t notice any hard or soft spots when I was checking out the appearance of the cigar, and sure enough, draw is great—not too loose nor too tight. The burn, like the draw, is perfect, not just at the outset, but through the duration. The construction is every bit as flawless as the appearance.
Flavor : Rating: 
As expected, I immediately pick up plenty of pepper when I light up. There is also a strong note of leather. There are some cedar notes which emerge, along with more pepper, anise, and nutmeg. Towards the end, the cigar takes on a creamier characteristic, and the flavors become more consistent. Just like an opera, there are themes which unite the whole; the notes are like passages of music and motifs which repeat with variations. Towards the end, the intensifying flavors and aromas are like the climax of the opera.
Value : Rating:
I almost can’t believe this is a $5 cigar. I could easily see paying more for these, considering how perfectly constructed mine was and how great the blend of notes was. I literally do not have a single complaint, and certainly not about the price. CAO La Traviata Animado certainly costs less than a ticket to the opera, and offers a very enjoyable experience.
Overall Rating : Rating:
You really are going to be hard pressed to find a superior cigar for such a low price. At $5 each, you should run to the store and pick up a box of these.
