CAO Lx2 Rosado Especial Cigar Rights of America Limited Edition

At just a little over seven inches, this Cigar Rights of America Special Edition cigar from CAO is a great looking cigar. The first thing you notice is that there is a heavy sheen of oil glistening on the reddish brown wrapper. Even the feel of it is slippery.

There are some veins, it is a smidge misshapen in places and it is packed very tightly. As I pull out my cutter I find myself thinking about how oily this cigar is again. It truly is one of the oilier cigars that I have ever seen. Fighting through my awe and wonderment I successfully cut the cigar and take a pre-light draw. The draw is good and the flavors center on a core of spice.

Upon lighting the CAO Lx2 Rosado Especial you are hit with just a ton of robust cigar flavors and (unfortunately for my eyes) a ton of cigar smoke as well. The flavors are awesome. A spice that kind of tastes like a candy cane but manlier and a whole lot spicier and there are also some leather flavors.

While I do love the flavors the burn is atrocious at times. A couple of major touch ups have been made and I am barely at the halfway point. Another nit that needs picking is the poisonous smoke that wafts from this cigar. Never have had a cigar that actually made my eyes water. Well, at least no cigar that has made my eyes water this much.

After the halfway point the robust spice becomes somewhat less robust. Of course by less robust I mean still very robust but not as glaringly so. Actually, with the power backing off ever so slightly it has become a much more complex cigar.

The final throes of this cigar have a cherry oak flavor mixed in with the peppermint spiciness. It really is a very good cigar, very enjoyable. Full bodied with a nice draw (bad burn though) is always good for something in my book. And this CAO Lx2 has great flavors as well.

As is the case with all the other cigars from the Cigar Rights of America sampler I will not be scoring this one.

CAO Criollo Pato Cigar Review

Pigtails. Who does not love pigtails? But, if you do, this cigar might not be the one for you because it does have a pigtail on the cap. Alright, other than the pigtail there is a good amount of oils. The construction looks fine but I have to say that it is visibly lopsided. That is a little bit disconcerting but, as long as the cigar smokes fine, I’m OK with it.

My Previous Review of this Cigar

Cigar Stats
Robusto
Length: 4 7/8″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $6.00

Chuck Light!

Oats, wheat and charred wood. There is also a nutty flavor going on here. Medium-full bodied and burns evenly. I like these flavors and they work well together.

I’m halfway through now and the flavors are still very, very good. Loving everything about this cigar. Good flavors, good draw and a decent burn. It’s definitely better than the last one of these I smoked (Which I gave 88 points to).

It does not end very well though. There is an ashiness to it as it gets close to the nub. However, I don’t think that this needs to overshadow what is good about this cigar and there is a lot that is good about it. Still, these bad flavors do last for a half an inch or so and that does hurt my score for this cigar a little bit.

Hmmm. The bad notes leave as soon as they came. That’s good. What is also a good thing is that those enjoyable flavors come back.

91 points

CAO L’Anniversaire 1968-1998 Maduro Belicoso Cigar Review

Before I took a couple of months off from posting reviews I had forgotten about all the CAOs I had smoked. I’m looking through my review book and there is only this one and one more from CAO and then there are some really interesting reviews after that.

The maduro wrapper looks mostly good. There are some spots on it and there is a tear near the foot. It’s a box pressed cigar. The cap looks a little misshapen but there is a good amount of oils on this cigar.

Cigar Stats
Torpedo
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: USA/Connecticut
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
Price: $8.00

OC Lights!

First impressions: decent draw, mild earthiness, a gritty cocoa flavor as well. Medium-full bodied. Nothing really special.

The cigar is burning evenly and there is a mild sweetness. But my overall impression of these flavors? So-so. Nothing to write home about.

Halfway through and things have not changed all that much. There’s a slight chocolate flavor that is coming through but, besides the chocolate, it’s boring. I also have to mention that it is medium bodied at this point and has been for about an inch.

Perhaps the only good thing about this cigar is that I am smoking it while watching the movie “Orange County.” It’s a hilarious movie and you should watch it. If you do pick up the DVD then the best parts, besides the movie itself, are found in the “Interstitials.” Oh, yeah, I’m still smoking a cigar.

The cigar doesn’t get harsh but it does get bitter after the halfway point. Specifically, it’s a chalky bitterness that completely ruins any good feelings I may have had about this cigar. The previous CAO L’Anniversaire Maduro I had was much, much better.

84 points

The price point for this cigar demands a higher quality cigar than this one. It’s also worth pointing out that the previous one I had scored 93 points. There really shouldn’t be this kind of disparity between scores for the same vitola of the same cigar. For my money the Cameroon line is a better choice than the maduro one.

CAO Mx2 Beli Cigar Review

Maduro wrapper and binder. Tightly packed with only a couple of soft spots near the cap. Bumpy and somewhat lopsided. Small amount of oil. This is a very thick cigar.

One of the many reasons why people like CAOs is because they are just interesting and the CAO marketing staff is great at telling a good story about their cigars. Having two maduro leaves for the wrapper and the binder is unique and does create a certain amount of interest just due to the novelty of the whole thing. What keeps people coming back is that CAO cigars are just plain good.

Flame!

Cigar Stats
Torpedo
Length: 7″
Ring Gauge: 56
Wrapper: USA/Connecticut
Binder: Brazil
Filler: Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru
Price: $5.00

Medium bodied cigar with some sweetness and earthiness. There is also a chocolate flavor as well. It has a good draw. I would have to say that the main flavor in this cigar, so far, is a grassy earthiness.

There’s also this bitterness; something akin to cocoa but not quite. In my estimation it’s a good accompaniment with the sweet and earthy flavors. It does smell like a barnyard though. [Side Note: If this is what all cigars smell like to you non-smokers I can kind of understand why you don't like being around smokers. Well, kind of, sort of - not really though. Have you non-smokers never smoked a cigar? What's wrong with you!]

Very, very slow burning. Very good as well. Pure flavors, creamy smoke and an even burn. Halfway through and chocolate has become the predominant flavor. I have to note that the bitterness is still there.

Nearing the end now and it’s still a good cigar. The purity of the flavors, however, has been muddled. A bad bitterness has taken place of the good bitterness that was present during the first half, three-quarters of the cigar. Too bad – was really liking this cigar. I’m still getting the chocolate flavor on the retrohale.

Takes a long time to smoke this cigar. Flavors are mostly very good, however, nearing the end of the cigar the flavors do take a wrong turn. Overall, I liked this cigar. The badness was isolated to the last inch and, since it is a rather longish cigar, it only deducts three or four points from my overall score.

88 points

CAO Gold Corona Cigar Review

My last review was of one of these a couple of weeks ago and I gave it 87 points. This one was a little better but there’s just something I’m not getting from this cigar. Even though it has all the right things going for it there is no way this will ever be a favorite cigar for me. Here’s my review:

This cigar looks pretty good save for one white vein that runs from the cap to the foot. Light sheen of oils – good. Very good construction overall.

Cigar Stats
Corona
Length: 5 1/2″
Ring Gauge: 42
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $4.50

Second Light!

The draw is substantially more open with this one compared to the one I gave 87 points to. It makes a big difference. Even though it is a mild cigar there are a good amount of flavors. But there’s just something wrong about them – they seem faded.

Oak and vanilla are the major flavors. The smoke is creamy and it is burning well. But, like with the other one, it’s not a great cigar. It’s still somewhat boring to me. I do think that other people would like this cigar.

I also get some floral flavors as the cigar starts winding down. There was not one glaring negative I could point to about this cigar. And yet, I am not impressed. Maybe it was due to the fact that it is a mild cigar (that definitely does play a big part). Whatever the case may be it is still a very good cigar… technically. It’s technically a great cigar but it’s not my cup of tea. It could very well be what others like and that is what bumped this cigar up two points.

89 points

CAO Gold Corona Cigar Review

From CAO: “Flawlessly constructed, this nugget of smoking pleasure delivers a smooth buttery flavor laced with vanilla, cream and nutmeg creating an escape that is nothing less than golden.” They peg it as being a mild smoke.

Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Well, just going off of what anyone says about their cigars they would all sound wonderful. That is why I am here, to tell you who is fudging how good their cigars really are. Here’s my review:

Light brown wrapper that is a little misshapen. It does glisten with oils. There is a hole near the foot of the cigar. It gets thinner by the cap. Drinking Cherry Coke with water.

Cigar Stats
Corona
Length: 5 1/2″
Ring Gauge: 42
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $4.50

Z-Light!

Very mild (I don’t like mild cigars – so be forewarned). Kind of boring actually. Not very flavorful in the beginning.

There are some slight vanilla flavors. Draw is a little tight and there is this ashy flavor that I don’t like.

This review may end up being short unless this cigar gets better. It’s a fine cigar; it burns evenly, the draw is good, the flavors are not bad…. It is just that this cigar does not excite me at all. Halfway through at this point and unless it becomes more flavorful then I won’t like it.

Luckily, it does get better. The vanilla flavor is joined by a nuttiness along with an oak flavor as well. It does improve my overall perception of this cigar. Overall, it is a fine cigar.

87 points

CAO “The Spranos” Edition Associate Cigar Review

From CAO: “Dark, compelling and rich with character, this smokin’ hot escape is riddled with decadence and forcefully pleases the palate with notes of straight coffee beans, cocoa and a smattering of black cherry. Tread lightly and enjoy the badness. Capiche?” They peg it as a full bodied smoke.

In the past I gave this cigar 90 points. Here’s what I thought about this one.

Perfectly constructed wrapper save for one minor bulge. Wrapper does feel a bit dry. Drinking Cherry Coke and water.

Cigar Stats
Robusto
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Brazil
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Columbia, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
Price: $10.50

Mafia Light!

Good draw with deep flavors. Chocolate flavors. Earthy as well. There is a slight bitterness to it. Tastes like cocoa. Not burning evenly.

Cigar is making me thirsty. I really do like these flavors. The draw is not as good as I would like but it’s not a major distraction. With a slight pull I am getting enough smoke. There is also this licorice-like flavor.

To fully appreciate the nuanced flavors of this cigar you will need to retrohale it. If you just get the smoke in your mouth you will miss most of he great flavors. So blow the smoke out of your nose and you will get those flavors loud and clear.

For example, if you don’t retrohale you will probably miss the chocolate notes. You need to retrohale this cigar!

Full bodied. The main flavor I get is chocolate throughout. The burn is uneven throughout though. But there are no bad notes to report.

91 points

CAO L’Anniversaire 1968-1998 Cameroon Belicoso Cigar Review

Yes, I just did a review of this cigar last week in which I gave it 92 points. It’s a good cigar but I smoked another one and the score came out substantially different so I decided to post this review as well. Here it is:

Looks like it has a slight box press. One small tare on the wrapper, not a major concern. The cap does not look good either though, which is somewhat concerning. There isn’t that much oil on the wrapper. Just drinking water.

Cigar Stats
Torpedo
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $8.50

Afternoon Light!

Great draw. Decent amount of spice at first but that quickly fades into the background. The main flavors are warm and strong but by no means overpowering. Solidly a medium-full bodied cigar.

There is this mildly sweet flavor as well. Sweet and bitter. Cocoa, that’s probably the flavor. I am also getting a good amount of spice on the roof of my mouth now that I am halfway through. Man, my mouth is really watery! Not a dry smoke at all.

It’s fair to call this a full bodied cigar after the halfway point because it has gotten somewhat stronger. I’m still tagging it as medium-full but it is a judgment call for sure. Another flavor that I am getting is graham cracker – never got that flavor from a cigar before. It gets mostly bitter three-quarters of the way through though – not good.

As I am nearing the end of the cigar that bitterness gets worse. Just like something that is too sweet a cigar can get too bitter. Maybe I just smoked it too long but it’s definitely going to hurt the score.

88 points

CAO L’Anniversaire 1968-1998 Cameroon Belicoso Cigar Review

This is the torpedo vitola and I have smoked the robusto vitola in the past. I gave that cigar 90 points, here’s what I had to say about it:

Lots of smoke and an excellent draw. There is spice, which tastes like red pepper flakes, and the flavors are crisp – not muddied down at all. The flavors just explode on the tongue. It is medium bodied.

That was one of those I smoked a while ago so my notes were a little sparse. Here’s my review of this cigar that I thought was even better.

Milky brown wrapper. Good amount of oil with a box press, which I have grown to really appreciate. Perfectly good construction, no problems with it. Drinking Makers Mark with some water.

Cigar Stats
Torpedo
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: $8.50

Afternoon de-Light!

Peppery and leathery. It has a perfect draw. Warm, moist smoke. Medium-full bodied with a bias towards being more full bodied.

Slightly salty undertones. There is also this molasses-like sweetness to it. Very complex array of flavors.

Inch in now. The molasses sweetness, which is very rich and deep and is actually quite good is the main flavor now. Next is spice with a small side of saltiness. Still a very most cigar and the saltiness isn’t anywhere near the point of being a nuisance.

A third of the way through and the saltiness is gone. It’s a net plus that that flavor has left but it wasn’t too much of a problem since all the other flavors are great. The burn is fairly even, haven’t had to touch it up.

Nearing the end now. I love this deep, molasses sweetness because there’s also some peppery flavors remaining. It really is an enjoyable cigar. The complex flavor profile stays for nearly the whole length of the cigar.

92 points

CAO Vision Prana Cigar Review

The number on the band was 703433, if you really need to know. Good looking cigar with a couple of raised veins. On the tip of this torpedos cap there’s a lot of extra wrapper that just hangs down. I don’t think that’s normal. Oh, according to the Cigar Cyclopedia, the filler is Dominican Corojo – so it should be very flavorful.

Cigar Stats
Torpedo
Length: 6 1/4″
Ring Gauge: 52
Wrapper: Dom. Rep.
Binder: Dom. Rep.
Filler: Brazil, Dom. Rep., Nicaragua
Price: $12.00

[SIDE NOTE - I looked online and this cigar can get quite expensive, up to $16 a stick! That's a ton of money for any cigar so it better be good!]

A good amount of spice with a good draw. Doughy, slightly herbal, very moist smoke. I’m liking it so far but I’m only half an inch in so things can change.

It has burned evenly over the first inch of the cigar. It is full bodied but barely so. Not the most powerful cigar ever but it’s still pretty strong. Great amount of smoke.

Very smooth flavors. No real leading flavors as far as I can tell but, this may be odd, I am getting a flowery flavor coming through as well. The smoke is very creamy though.

Over halfway through the cigar now and it’s definitely 90+. Nothing has changed to the flavor profile. Great cigar, no problems with it.

I’m nearing the end now and, in retrospection, the flavors just aren’t that extraordinary. They are good and well above average but there’s just something missing.

91 points