Basic Information:
Name – CAO Black
Size – Toro – (Bengal)
Wrapper – Ecuador
Tobacco Blend – Nicaragua, Hondura, Mexico
Pricing – $4.25
Body – Medium
Construction/Appearance:
Band looks a lot like a CAO gold but it is black with red accents, white rim and gold font. The bottom is wrapped in a cedar sleeve with a black band on the foot.
The cigar is light coffee brown to tan in color. Very few veins. Visible seams and double capped.
Pre-Light:
Aroma: Scents of straight cedar and hay.
Type of Cut: V-cut
Cold Draw: The cedar is dominant with hay and grassy notes. Slight resistance on the draw.
First Third:
Initial notes of light cedar and earth. Some pepper on the retro hale. Few minutes in a creamy cashew nut and vanilla with spice comes through. Really nice. Burn pristine. Ash mid gray in color and fell off around the one inch mark.
Second Third:
Vanilla spice and nutmeg kick off this third. Slight leather component hits about mid-way through as a secondary flavor. Still some pepper but more of a white pepper finish.
Final Third:
Flavors have remained pretty consistent moving back to the vanilla and spice mixed with a light nutty note. Black pepper comes back on the finish stronger like the initial portion of the cigar.
Suggested Pairing:
Pair with coffee, bourbons or scotches with vanilla notes to further enhance the experience.
Wine – Coppola Chardonnay or Barons de Rothschild Legende Bordeaux Blanc
Overall Experience:
In general, the CAO Black is not a overly complex smoke, but it’s not a simple one either. This is a good cigar for the beginner looking to take that next step without taking on something too overpowering. One of my favor everyday go to cigars I generally keep in my home humidor.
About CAO – http://caocigars.com/
