CAO Concert Churchill
Size: 7 x 50 (estimated)
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Rosado
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan
Price: $7

Sometimes a cigar can be less than the sum of its parts.  This one never quite lives up to its sophisticated packaging or its refined appearance.

It is a beautiful stogie, with a tight, oily, dark wrapper and a spicy-sweet pre-light aroma.  Construction is good, giving the cigar a slow cool burn that can last nearly two hours.  It even begins with a burst of pepper/spice with a hearty aftertaste. 

Unfortunately, after those first few glorious puffs, the taste mellows very quickly into a medium body, and a consistent boring unvarying medium taste.  It's not a bad cigar by any means, it just does not distinguish itself in any way. 

Give me a CAO Criollo, CAO Brazilia, CAO Black, or CAO Cameroon over the Concert anyday.

La Traviata by CAO
Size: Double Corona 7.0 x 52

Tobacco:  Ecuador (Wrapper), Africa-Cameroon (Binder), Dominican/Nicaragua (Filler)

Price: $8

This is a beautiful cigar with a deep, oily wrapper that screamed "Buy Me!" last time I was in the Tinder Box.  I've tried both the natural and the maduro.  Construction is flawless, with an average burn (about an hour and a half).  This is by any standard a decent premium cigar.  

Billed as full-flavored, but I found it to be an underwhelming medium in body and strength; not even medium-full, but very middle of the road in all aspects. 

Overall verdict:  It's a relaxing cigar, but lacks punch.  Doesn't justify the price tag.

State of the Humidor - Jan 2011

New cigars to try in 2011: Tampa Sweetheart #85 (second to Fuente 8-5-8), Joya de Nicaragua Fuerte

Last cigar of 2010: OpusX
First cigar of 2011: CAO America

Best (new) cigar of 2010: Ashton ESG Churchill
Worst (new) cigar of 2010: Hand-rolled Guatemalans

New cigars I tried in 2010, that I would purchase again in the future: King Corona Ybor Handmades, El Sol Parejos 6X Sumatra, Cain by Oliva, Ybor City Plus, 5 Vegas Cask Strength, Don Pepin Series JJ, Cohiba Robusto (Cuban), Padilla Signature 1932, Private Stock, La Flor de Murias, Ashton ESG,

New cigars I tried in 2010, that I would not purchase again: Tio Pepe, Padilla Habano, Patel Brothers, Calle Ocho, Bucanero Red, G.A.R. by George Rico, Perdomo Lot 23, Quesada Tributo

My goal is to reduce my capacity to 2 humidors--a large one for 1-2 years' box aging and another for current smokes. Right now, I'm running 4 humidors, and here is an approximate listing of their contents from memory:

Box of La Herencia Cubana
Box of Flor de Allones
Box of Padilla Hybrid
Box of Boardwalk
Box of Saint Luis Rey
Box of CI Legends-Graycliff
Box of Gran Habano #5 Pyramid
Bundle of Calle Ocho
Bundle of Perdomo Slow-Aged
Bundle of JR Alternative - La Gloria Cubana
Sol Cubano Cuban Cabinet (partial box)
5 Vegas Miami (partial box)
Omar Ortez Originals (partial box)
Don Kiki Brown Label (partial box)
Ramon Allones Reserve (partial box)
Tio Pepe (partial bundle)
Montecristo Media Noche (5-pack)
La Gloria Cubana Wavell (5-pack)
Bahia Blue (5-pack)
Gran Habano #1 (singles)
Punch Champion (single)
Fuente 8-5-8 Sungrown (single)
Leon Jimines (single)
RP Corojo (single)
Carlos Torano 1916 (single)

I've also converted the top tray of my large humidor into what I call the Lost Sticks Cemetary. I save the last cigar from each box and put it in this tray for long-term aging, just to see how some sticks will hold up for 3-5 years.

One interesting experiment to note is that the last two Ramon Allones Reserves I smoked were extremely bitter. Since the first few I smoked were excellent, I am pretty sure this is an indication these cigars are "turning". This happened to me years ago with a box, but I didn't know what was happening, so I just assumed the cigars weren't any good and I wasted them as 2nd-cigars-of-the-night or gave them to nonsmoking friends who couldn't tell the difference. This time, I'm letting the rest of the box age patiently, and I am excited about trying them again this summer.

A couple of short reviews on Christmas afternoon…

Oliva Serie ‘O’
Size: 5 x 50
Tobacco: Nicaraguan puro, sun-grown habano wrapper
Price: $7

It’s been a while since I smoked this one. I picked it up during a promotional event at Tinderbox in Collierville. It was spicy and full-bodied, with rich earthy, sweet-and-spicy tastes. I enjoyed it sitting outside, shooting the breeze with a couple FedEx pilots who spent most of the hour grousing about the union. I was so impressed I bought a second one to smoke during the SEC championship game on tv. But I ended up losing it to Shaun in our college football pick ‘em contest.

Oliva Serie ‘V’
Size: 5 x 50
Tobacco: Nicaraguan puro, sun-grown habano wrapper
Price: $7

Also known as “Ligero Especial”. This Oliva was even better than the serie ‘O’. Much spicier. Lots of flavor like a Padron and peppery like Omar Ortez.

I smoked this Oliva on Dec. 9th. There was a great lineup of football and cigars that day:

Morning game: #4 Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh.
Morning cigar: Padron 2000 (from Laura & James)

Afternoon game: #1 Florida vs. #2 Alabama.
Afternoon cigar: Oliva Serie V

Night game: #3 Texas vs. Nebraska.
Night cigar: Gran Habano 3 Siglos.




5 Vegas Limitada 2008
Size: 6.2 x 52
Wrapper: Dominican Corojo Oscuro
Filler: Multinational blend
Price: $5

A cool, slow-burning belicoso. Not as complex or memorable as the 05, 06, and 07 varietals. But very enjoyable nonetheless (I’ve had several on Saturday afternoons during football games). Lots of maduro chocolate flavors. Comparable to the Graycliff 1666.



CAO Gold Maduro
Size: 7.5 x 54
Tobacco: Nicaraguan fillers (Gold blend) with Brazilian maduro wrapper
Price: $7.50

Due to the success of CAO Brazilia and ‘VR’, CAO decided to wrap their mild Gold blend with a Brazilian maduro to add some spice and body. I found this cigar, much like the 5 Vegas Limitada 2008, to be rich and slow-burning. The CAO had more maduro-coffee than maduro-chocolate. Paired well with Laphroaig.

CAO Brazilia Samba
Size: 6.0 x 52
Wrapper: Brazilian
Filler: Nicaraguan, Honduran
Price: $6.75 (box price)

My sister Laura gave me this cigar (along with a Padron 7000) for Christmas. After two months of patient aging, I finally decided to enjoy it yesterday, during my three hour drive to Florence, AL. The temperature was in the mid-70's, I listened to my NIV on CD, and this turned out to be a great contemplative driving smoke. I've had two other sizes of the CAO Brazilia--the Lambada (6 x 50) and the Piranha (4.5 x 46)--and this was my favorite. This cigar, like the others, had an intoxicating sweet aroma. Unlike the others, the wrapper was toothy, not smooth. The flavors, while not complex, were medium-full and satisfying. The cigar had very little finish, which is a disappointing trait in a smaller cigar, but works to the advantage of a larger cigar because it doesn't overpower you over the course of 90-minutes. My only complaint was that the draw weakened substantially in the final two inches, causing me to ditch it out the window a little earlier than expected.

It’s time for my 2nd annual State of the Humidor Address. Since my 1st address was actually posted at the end of January 2007, this address will cover Feb – December 2007.

• Here’s my list of new cigars to try in 2008: Flor de A. Allones, Tampa Sweethearts #85 (second to Fuente 8-5-8)
• Over the last 40 weeks, I smoked an average of 3.39 cigars per week.
• Last cigar of 2007: CAO Black Storm
• First cigar of 2008: Joya de Nicaragua Celebracion Consul
• 4 Best cigars of 2007 (because I couldn’t pick just one): Fuente Hemingway, Fuente 8-5-8, Graycliff Profesionale, Rocky Patel Edge
• Worst cigar of 2007: Don Paulo (It’s Polish..I should have known)
• Best values of 2007: Rocky Patel Counterfeit Edge ($2 on CBid), Peterson Gran Reserva ($2)
• Full list of new cigars I tried in 2007, that I would consider purchasing again in the future: CAO Criollo, Fuente Hemingway, CAO Black, Victor Sinclair Bohemian Black, Victor Sinclair Vintage Select, Fuente Hemingway Classic, Gurkha Gold Collector's Edition, Fuente Short Story, Rocky Patel Vintage 1990, The Edge by Rocky Patel, Edge Counterfeit, Island Prince, Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8, Gran Habano #5 Corojo, Peterson Gran Reserva, CAO Black ‘VR’, Graycliff Profesionale, Montecristo White, Joya de Nicaragua Celebracion
• Full list of new cigars I tried in 2007, that I would not purchase again: Old Fashioned, Roly, Don Paulo, Victor Sinclair Primeros, Victor Sinclair Bohemian Red, Serie ‘55’ Maduro, Serie ‘55’ Corojo, Oliveros 1927, Duques, Trilogy Cameroon “Tri-Press”, Don Felo, Don Kiki Red Label, Legends Gray Label, Sancho Panza Double Maduro
• Here is a list of what is in my humidor right now: Camacho 1962 (full box), Don Kiki Red Label, JR Alternative-Excalibur Prensada, Peterson Gran Reserva, Don Paulo, 5 Vegas Classic, Gispert, Fonseca, Carlos Torano Signature, Rocky Patel Vintage 1990, Perdomo Cabinet Series, Romeo y Juliet Cedro Deluxe, Romeo y Juliet 1875, Gurkha Class Regent, Power by Felipe Gregorio, Indian Tabac Super Fuerte, Fire by Rocky Patel, CAO Brazilia Samba, Padron 4000 Maduro

CAO Black 'VR'
Size: 6.0 x 50 ("Moby")
Filler: Nicaragua, Mexico
Wrapper: Brazillian
Price: $5.30

I enjoyed this cigar as I fried my Thanksgiving turkey and sipped on a glass of Blanton's bourbon. (OK, I won't lie. Shaun did most of the frying, and I did most of the drinking.)

This cigar tasted nothing like the spicy CAO Black, which I gave a noteworthy review a few months ago. Instead, this jet-black maduro stogie had heavy, very coffee-like notes with a long finish. Flawless, slow burn. Even though my tastes have recently gravitated away from maduros, towards spicy cigars with corojo or natural wrappers, I must say this was a very good experience.

My only regret is that, since this would be a great cigar after a heavy meal, I should have waited until after the turkey to light up.

CAO Black Storm
Size: 5.0 x 50
Wrapper: Connecticut-Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras, Mexico
Price: $4.70

Location: Turkey fry at Shaun's House
Paired with: Blanton's whisky

Cedar-wrapped CAO Black cigars are made in limited quantities, and packaged in hand-painted, hand-numbered boxes. It was the best CAO I've had to date. It smoked cool, with lots of white smoke, and it tasted almost exactly as I remember the Fuente Hemingway from a few months ago-- lots and lots and lots of spice. But never harsh.

I was surprised to see a couple of online reviews that call this a mild cigar. I found it to be light-bodied, but full on flavor.

Definitely worth a repeat look.

CAO Criollo-Mancha
Size: 5.5 x 46
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Criollo
Filler: Nicaraguan Puro
Price: $6

Shaun gave me one of these, and the first thing I noticed was the small pigtail at the peak of the cap. Despite the frivolous appearance, it turned out to be one of the best CAO cigars I've had (much better than the Gold, Cameroon, or the CX2. On par, perhaps, with the Brazilia). Even though it only had a medium-body strength, this cigar has a very spicy taste. It reminded me of the other cigars I've tried with a criollo wrapper, the La Perla Habana Black Pearl Cobres. Except the CAO was much spicier on the tongue, without any alternating sweet flavors to balance it out. It blended fantastically with a glass of Glennfiddich 15-Year Old single malt. If there was a negative, the draw was just a tad too tight but this was a very minor annoyance that did not impede my experience at all.

After I smoked this, I began wondering, what is a criollo wrapper? It is a tobacco strain selectively developed by Cuban scientists in the Pinar del Rio region. It is aged four years, and is notoriously delicate to handle. (The CAO Criollo is Nicaraguan-grown Cuban-seed leaf). Interestingly, the popular Corojo (red) wrapper was developed in Cuba after the criollo because cigar makers were looking for a more durable, less expensive alternative.

State of the Humidor - Jan 2007

I've been reviewing cigars for four years now, and since the last few months have been a transition period for my humidor, and I thought I would post some random thoughts:

• Here's my list of new cigars to try in 2007: Rocky Patel Vintage, Fuente Hemingway, Fuente Short Story, Sancho Panza Quixote, Don Kiki Red Label (the original 5 Vegas blend, before the brand was sold to the La Aurora factory)
• I wish I was keeping up with how often I smoke cigars, because I suspect I'm up to an average of 3/week. How much is dangerous to my health? It hasn’t helped that cigars have become a cornerstone of my frendships with Anthony and Shaun.
• I've now smoked all the cigars from my initial JR / CigarBid frenzy in early 2006, plus a lot of singles that were gifted to me.
• Here is a list of the brands that are now gone, but I may purchase again in the future: Legends White Label, JR Limitada Edicion Alternative - Montecristo Edmundo, Black Pearl Cobre, Black Pearl Rojo, JR Alternative Excalibur, Indian Tabac Super Fuerte, 5 Vegas (all lines!), Fire, Padilla Special Edition Cedro, Gurkha Master Select, San Luis Rey Reserva Especial, Comacho Coyalar, HdM Excalibur, Fuente Gran Reserva, Padron 1926, Don Kiki Green Label, La Gloria Cubana Serie R, Padron 2000, CAO Brazilia
• These are the brands that are gone, never to return: CAO Cameroon, Indios Puros Nacionales, RP Vintage Euro, Indian Tabac Limited Reserve, Indian Tabac Cameroon Legend, JR Alternative Perdomo, JR Alternative Cohiba, JR Alternative Fuente, El Credito, Quorum, CAO CX2, Socorro, Montesino, Gurkha Class Regent, Gurkha Expedition, JR Alternative Ashton, Carlos Torano Signature, Royal Jamaica Gold, Royal Jamaica Gaucho, Mister B's
• I recently had to replace all the humidifying sponges in my humidor, after I noticed all the cigars were drying out. I bought two new devices, plus a small crystal pack for the travel humidor. Also, I got a new digital hygrometer from Radio Shack (unfortunately, there were out of the wireless ones!)
• Here is a list of what is in my humidor right now: Singles: Old Fashioned #550, Fuente Cuban Corona. 10 packs: JR Ultimates, Excalibur No. 1, Fire Double Corona, 5 Vegas Gold Double Corona, 5 Vegas Series 'A'

CAO CX2 Toro
Size: 6.0 x 54
Wrapper/Binder: African Cameroon
Filler: Nicaraguan & Columbian
Price: $9.10

Introduced in 2005, I got to try the CX2 for free as part of an internet product launch. (It also came with a stylish knit cap, which I promptly lost jetboating in New Zealand.) The CX2 moniker means "Cameroon times two" because this cigar sports both a Cameroon wrapper and binder. Usually, I don't like "cammies" because they are too fragile, but maybe because of the double wrap, this one did not have problems with the ultra-thin leaf tearing or splitting. At any rate, it was a definite improvement over the CAO L'Anniversaire Cameroon, which I reviewed a few weeks ago.

CAO is perhaps the most successful of the johnny-come-lately cigar companies from the Big Boom (1990's). They have smothered the press magazines, catalogs, and internet sites with slick, trendy, urban ad campaigns. Their products score well in blind taste tests. They have a very high-profile tv tie-in with the Sopranos brand (although I read somewhere the cast of Sopranos actually smokes Macanudos on set). And every B&M I've visited has carried at least one CAO line.

CAO's are always overpriced, sometimes by a lot, but I can't resist the odd single every once in a while. So far, I've tried the Gold, Brazilia, Cameroon Legend, and CX2. The CX2 has a little more flavor--or character, if you will--then the Gold or Cameroon Legend, but it lacks the potent bouquet of the Brazilia. All CAO's seem to share some common traits: a mild flavor, near flawless construction, and a creamy-smooth smoking experience.

But the CX2 also fails where the others fail: no sophistication. From the touch of the flame to the snub in the ashtray, the CX2 was consistent almost to the point of mild blandness. It exhibited no subtle changes of flavor, no striking finish on the tongue, not even a small hot kick at the end.

So, to sum: CX2 is enjoyable, yes, but from a $9 cigar, I expect a little more uniqueness.

This week was characterized by lots of driving with cigars:

(1) Padron Londres (Revisited).

I reviewed my first Londres in 2003, and I haven't had one since. But these are excellent driving-around-town smokes. They added color to two otherwise dull trips to grocery stores and ATM machines. I don't often smoke Padrons because I think they're usually a tad overpriced (this stick is barely larger than a Punch London Club and costs $2.50), but there's something very unique about their taste. I really like it.

(2) Legends - White Label Comacho.

OK, I've reviewed these before, but I just want to add they're perfect when driving four hours in the Geo Tracker, with the convertible top down on the interstate to Prattville. Times like that are not meant for savoring subtle aromas and textures; you need a cigar that's gonna kick you in the seat of your pants.

(3) Black Pearl.

A little sugar, a little spice.

(4) CAO Cameroon Robusto.

The more I smoke them, the more I dislike them. Great construction, but the taste doesn't do anything for me.

And now a brand new review...

Indos Purios Nacionales
Size: 6.5" x 43
Filler: Honduras
MSRP: $3
Puros Indios is the flagship line of Rolando Reyes, Sr , a widely regarded cigar blender who was trained in Cuba. Puros Indios are handmade in Danli, Honduras with Cuban-seed fillers. This blend has received scores up to ’90’ by Cigar Aficionado.

This was my first Puros Indios cigar, which I got as part of a Cbid sampler, for about $1.70 each. They had a very smooth, medium-bodied flavor, but I don't think I'll buy anymore Nacionales. I don't like the shape. They are too narrow (43 ring guage) for their length (6.5"), which gives a very tight draw. The first one I smoked had a bad tendency to canoe on me, although I had no problems with the second.

I did like the flavor, though, so I might try another size or even the Rolys (Puros Indios segundos) in the future.

(postscript 04-05-06: I must add that, in the absence of any Punch London Clubs, these Nacionales do make a decent yardwork cigar. I like the tight draw when I'm working.)

CAO Cameroon (also sold as, CAO L’Anniversaire Cameroon)
Size: 5 x 50
Filler: Nicaraguan
MSRP: $6

I won 5 of these as part of a sampler on CigarBid, and I was excited because I really enjoyed the CAO Gold and CAO Brazilia lines. Like those others, this also turned out to be very well constructed with an even, medium-rate burn. Very mild and relaxing.

But I have to be honest, I was dissapointed. I was expecting something special from the African Cameroon wrappers, but they did nothing for flavor; nor did they have the striking aroma of the Brazilian maduro wrappers or the visual appeal of the reddish Corojo leaf. And the rectangular box-pressing makes it awkward to hold the stick in the mouth. All in all, my final reluctant verdict is that this was just an overpriced mild smoke... nothing special.

No new review today. Last night’s cigar was a disappointing JR Alt-Monte #2. But the disappointment was my fault—not Lew’s. I had to let the cigar die 5 minutes in, because Kedron woke up from her nap early. When I returned an hour later, the wrapper started to unravel and split, which led to burn and draw problems. This marred an otherwise fine night of heads-up, no-money-wagered poker with Anthony on the back porch.

This brings me to tonight’s subject: I first became a fan of the JR Alternatives line in 2004, because they were the only quality hand-rolled, long-filler cigars that could be obtained for a buck. Yes, there are cheaper buys, but they are either segundos (which by their nature are inconsistent) or mixed-filler sandwich cigars, like Riata and Mister B’s. Back in 04, a bundle of JR Alt-Monte #2 cost $21.95, plus $2 shipping, or $1.20 per smoke.

But over time, Lew’s inventories dropped and shipping costs rose. Today, that same bundle costs $26.95, plus $2.63 shipping, or $1.48 per smoke. Still a great bargain for a very good smoke.

However, I recently found a site called CigarBid.com where boxes of name-brand cigars are routinely placed on the auction block at less than $10 and a feeding frenzy ensues. This site seems to specialize in new and boutique labels that became popular in the boom of the late 1990’s. I see more cigars with “by Rocky Patel” or “by Perdomo” in the name than Montecristo or Punch. Most boxes end up selling for 70% of retail; some even sell for higher than MSRP. But sometimes you can get a steal: I bought a box of Legends Series Camachos and a 20-cigar sampler of CAO, Gurkha, La Perla, and Puros Indios for almost the same price as the JR Alts ($1.68 per smoke, after shipping).

I’m excited about this, because it will mean more variety than what I find at JRCigars, at my present costs. I’ll post reviews soon.

Tonight's smoke: CAO Brazilia Lambada
Size: 6" x 50
Price: $5.75

Michelle and Kedron are in Greensboro tonight, so I treated myself to an hour and a half at the Fox N Hound, with another impulse purchase cigar. While I was there, I thoroughly enjoyed eavesdropping on the lady next to me explain to her friends how she discovered her boyfriend was cheating with a lesbian. Not full-fledged cheating, apparently ("pulling a Bill Clinton" she called it). Ah, the age-old question: Is it tragedy, or is it comedy?

I've tried the CAO Gold before, but never the Brazilia. I really liked this cigar. Had a sort of subtle strength to it. No burn problems and no touch-ups needed. Lasted over an hour. The flavor was consistent, if not very complex (two minutes into the smoke, and I knew all there was to know about what this cigar had to offer). And the aroma was downright intoxicating (maybe the Brazilian leaf wrapper, I don't know). Worth a repeat visit, for sure.

Onxy Reserve Mini Bellisco
CA Rating: 88
Filler: Dominican, Nicaragua, Peru
Size: 52 x 5 inches
Style: Robusto
MSRP: $4.00

Very similiar to the #2 Bellisco, only smaller. Wonderful taste, draw, and smell. Burned for 30-45 minutes. The only drawback is that it is a tad expensive for its small size.


CAO Gold Robusto
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: 50 x 5 inches
Style: Robusto
MSRP: $4.50

Another surprisingly good cigar. Mild flavor. Lasts a long time. Good draw. This line has been described as a "creamy cigar" but I didn't think so. Had a soft, nutty flavor.