Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Robusto
Size : 5 x 56
Wrapper : Connecticut
Filler : Nicaragua, DR, Italy, USA
Binder : Brazil
Hand-Made
Price : ~$110 for a box fo 20
More info about purchasing CAO America cigars...

Wow, this is one gorgeous looking cigar. I love the detail with the double wrap, I love the big bold American flag and colors on the label, truly an amazing look to this cigar. On top of that, it's very well constructed with nicely packed tobacco. You know who I see smoking this cigar? Apollo Creed. I can see Apollo Creed smoking this cigar right before fighting Rocky Balboa. And then I see him smoking it again, after Rocky kicks his ass.

Read the full review of CAO America Potomac...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Robusto
Size : 5 x 50
Wrapper : Nicaraguan
Filler : Nicaraguan Pueblo Nuevo / Dominican
Binder : Honduran
Hand-Made
Price : ~$6-8 each
More info about purchasing CAO LX2 cigars...

My name is Agent 3. My mission was to review the CAO LX2. As an asset of The Cigar Spy agency I promise to respect the A.S.H.E.S. code of honor.

Background Info

In 2008 CAO released their final "X2" series dubbed the LX2 (ligero times two). This beast was made in Nicaragua with a sun grown wrapper, stuffed with Dominican Republic and Nicaraguan ligero fillers, and a Honduran binder.

Read the full review of CAO LX2 Robusto...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Toro (Radiante)
Size : 6 x 52
Wrapper : Colorado Brown Ecuadorian
Filler : Nicaraguan / Dominican
Binder : Cameroon
Hand-Made
Price : $5.65 each
More info about purchasing CAO La Traviata cigars...

Tim Ozgener produces another great smoke in the CAO line of cigars. La Traviata was announced at this year’s International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) meeting in New Orleans. The cigar comes in three vitolas: Divino (5 in. x 50); Intrépido (7 in. x 54); and today’s featured cigar, the Radiante (6 in. x 52). The band is very elaborate with raised lettering and art work. Great thought did go into the design and production of this very colorful cigar. This is a highly sought after cigar, and Ozgener has definitely produced a great smoke that will appease all cigar smoker.

Read the full review of CAO La Traviata Radiante...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Churchill
Size : 7 x 54
Wrapper : Colorado Brown Ecuadorian
Filler : Nicaraguan / Dominican
Binder : Cameroon
Hand-Made
Price : $115+ for a box of 24
More info about purchasing CAO La Traviata cigars...

Background Info

Introduced this year at the IPCRR Annual Convention and Trade Show, the CAO La Traviata is an homage to the La Traviata brand that started over 100 years ago in Cuba.

Mission Debrief

This is one of those cigars that in the past couple of months has started making a buzz around the Internet, on various cigar blogs as well as on Twitter. I expect anything from CAO to typically be spot on, whether it is the ever-favorite Brazilia, the MX2, or even recently the Brazilia Cuban Press, a new take on the original. Being that I do my best to stay abreast of new cigars coming into the public eye, I felt it was my duty to give the La Traviata its owed time.

Read the full review of CAO La Traviata Intrepido...

Origin : Danli, Honduras
Format : Perfecto
Size : 8 x 58
Wrapper : Brazil
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : $72.95 / box of 10
More info about purchasing CAO Brazilia cigars...

Last week I began my series of CAO reviews with the brand new CAO Gold Vintage Crémant. This week I review the CAO Brazilia Anaconda. The Brazilia line has been one of my longtime favorites from CAO. It doesn't seem to matter what the size is, I'm always pleased with my choice to pick one up and smoke it. The Brazilia Anaconda doesn't disappoint. Originally released as a limited edition in 2004, production of this vitola resumed in 2007. I have rarely seen these locally and in fact the ones I recently had came from a trade with my friend Scott.

Read the full review of CAO Brazilia Anaconda...

Origin : Esteli, Nicaragua
Format : Toro
Size : 6 x 52
Wrapper : Ecuadorian Connecticut Seed
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Honduras (Jamastran), Nicaragua (Esteli)
Hand-Made
Price : ~$8.25 each
More info about purchasing CAO Gold Vintage cigars...

Before beginning my review I'd like to thank my friend Scott, @caosmoker on twitter, for graciously giving me this cigar. He was able to attend IPCPR this year and was fortunate enough to pickup a few extra sticks to share with me.

A local talk radio personality and newspaper columnist, Mike Rosen, has a poignant phrase. "Let me tell you where I sit before I tell you where I stand." Essentially this is an effort at full disclosure so listeners and readers will know of any personal biases he may have about a topic of discussion. This statement has been on my mind since late last week when I was approached by Cigar Inspector to do a series of CAO reviews for his site. Being a fan of CAO, I jumped at the opportunity to toot the horn of my personal favorite cigar manufacturer. Although I have a personal bias towards CAO, I do take cigar reviews very seriously. It's of no benefit to anyone for me to rate a cigar higher just because I want it to have a better rating. In the end the cigars will speak for themselves, your tastes will differ from mine and I'm not trying to persuade you to my side of the street. I only hope this series of reviews will remind you of some of your favorite (or soon to become favorite) CAO cigars, will inspire you to try a new blend you haven't yet or revisit one that may have disappointed you in the past.

So now that you know where I sit (I love CAO cigars), here's where I stand on one of the newest lines from CAO, the Gold Vintage Crémant:

Read the full review of CAO Gold Vintage Crémant...

Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Robusto
Size : 5" x 56
Wrapper : Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro and Connecticut Shade
Filler : Dominican, Nicaraguan, Italian, and American (100% Ligero)
Binder : Brazilian
Hand-Made
Price : $8 each
More info about purchasing CAO America cigars...

The CAO America was introduced at the 2007 RTDA trade show in Huston, Texas. Its arrival was preceded by a lot of hype and buzz brought about by two unique features of the cigar. Number one, the wrapper caused a good deal of buzz. The CAO America sports two wrappers, both American grown. It has a Connecticut grown broadleaf maduro wrapper and a Connecticut shade grown wrapper. They are applied to the cigar in a manner that creates a unique pin striping effect. Another feature of the cigar that generated a good deal of chatter was the four country blend of 100% Ligero filler. This was reported to be one of the strongest most full-bodied cigars in the CAO portfolio.

Read the full review of CAO America Potomac...

Origin : Honduras
Format : Toro
Size : 152 x 20 mm
Ring : 50
Wrapper : Brazil
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : ~$5 each
More info about purchasing CAO Brazilia cigars...

I definitely have a problem with CAO cigars. First, my disappointment with the CAO Italia. Now, I think I completely missunderstood the CAO Brazilia which is getting good reviews all around the cigar blogosphere (you might also want to check out the guest review by Cory of the CAO Brazilia Gol! here at Cigar Inspector). Somehow, I found it quite tasteless and disappointing.

Read the full review of CAO Brazilia Lambada...