The cigar is made in the Dominican Republic for Crowned Heads under the watchful eye of EPC Cigars at Tabacalera LaAlianza. Ernesto Perez Carrillo has seen a lot of success, fast since he began he own label after a similar buyout but the Scandinavian Tobacco Group. One can say this was a match made in heaven as both have a similar past.

The cigar is available in four sizes, Corona Gorda (5 5/8” x 46); Robusto (5” x 50); Sublime (6” x 54); and Piramide (6 1/8” x 52). The suggested retail before local taxes is $6.95 to $8.65 per cigar.

Cigar: Four Kicks
Size: 5 x 50
Wrapper: Habano Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium-Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

Four Kicks by Crowned Heads

Appearance and Construction: The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper on the Four Kicks feels a bit coarse with a few veins present although none of them stand out too much. There are some oils present and the roll of the cigar is perfect right down to the cap. The foot is well packed, with a nice dark tobacco bunching which is dead center. There is a nice weight to the stick with no soft spots. The band uses red and gold and it reminds me a lot of the Saint Luis Rey band is tapered on one end which makes it real easy to remove when the time comes.

Four Kicks Foot

Flavor & Notes: Once I clipped the cigar I took a cold draw from the Four Kicks by Crowned Heads and was treated to notes of earth and nuts. The foot of the cigar had a wonderful sweet molasses to the nose. A classic pre-light experience if you ask me. Once the cigar was lit, there was some subtle spices, citrus bordering on lemon extract, and a wonderful sweetness. As we progressed into the first third there was a nice citrus note that was dominant for the first inch or so before submitting to notes of wood, and molasses.  As I smoked the second third of the cigar I noticed the pepper slightly more than in the first third especially through the nose. The wood notes became the focal point with a sweet finish that continued to remind me of molasses. The last third of the cigar gets a bit heavier in body and turns it up a notch in strength. The wood notes become a well defined oak, some leather notes come into the mix but the finish of the cigar holds on to the sweetness that was the dominant note throughout the cigar.

Four Kicks First 3rd

Smoking Characteristics: Does it get any better than the construction of cigars coming out of Tabacalera LaAlianza? The cigar had a perfect draw with a slight resistance the way it should be. The cigar also had a perfect burn. This doesn’t mean it was always razor-sharp but it always self corrected when it got slightly off-center. The solid ash was light in color and held for half the cigar. The aroma of the smoke complimented the notes which helped make this an easy cigar to dissect. .

Four Kicks Second 3rd

Conclusion: One can’t help but compare cigars. It is human nature, to see how they compare to another. I happily state this cigar stands on its own. There is no hint of CAO and there is no hint of EPC. The cigar has it’s own identity and that is of a cigar that is simply incredible. It easily falls into my top 5 of the year and I will smoke it again when it is time to figure out Cigar of the Year. The cigar which is limited to 30,000 in the first release is only available at 66 retailers, and that makes tracking them down a bit difficult. I managed to get mine from Buckhead Cigars. The effort is worthwhile, because this cigar definitely lives up to the hype.

Four Kicks Last 3rd

Rating: 95
Price: $7.50 (Approximate)

Leave a comment below to win a baseball cap of the Crowned Heads logo. Deadline to enter is 1 pm Eastern Time Thanksgiving Day. Winner to be announced on Black Friday.

Anyway, ramblings aside my cough and cold are gone and I am back to smoking 3-6cigars a day. My wallet isn’t happy about that, but my mental well being is as the relaxing time was missed in my daily repertoire. A cigar I have been smoking a lot is the San Lotano Oval by AJ Fernandez.

According to the AJ Fernandez website,

The prestigious San Lotano Oval from AJ Fernandez presents in a highly unique oval shape. The key to an enhanced smoking experience: ultra-premium aged tobacco. The new Oval affords a truly distinguished balance like no other.

The cigar is available in six sizes, Petite Robusto (4.5 x 54); Corona (4 x 44); Robusto (5.5 x 54); Toro (6 x 54); Gordo (6.5 x 60) and Pyramid (6.5 x 54).

Cigar: San Lotano Oval
Size: 5.5 x 54 (Robusto)
Wrapper: Habano 2000 Wrapper (Aged 4+ years)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua & Honduras
Strength: Medium
Cigars Smoked For Review: 5+

San Lotano Oval

Appearance and Construction: If you read my blog on a regular basis you should know by now about my love for box pressed cigars. The oval is a nice variation on the traditional box press. The Habano wrapper that adorns this creation from AJ Fernandez is as smooth as silk under the fingers and glistens with oils. There are a few veins present, but none of them are more than the norm. The cigar is well rolled with a simple cap. Under close inspection there are no soft spots and a slight sponginess. Perfection.

San Lotano Oval Foot

Flavor & Notes: The foot of the San Lotano Oval by AJ Fernandez serves up a nose of chocolate and spice. The cold draw consists of a moss, cedar and a touch of spice. As the cigar rested between my lips to chocolate from the wrapper was intensely delicious. Once the cigar is lit the dominant note of coffee begins to take hold and is magnified when exhaling through the nose. In the background is a subtle mocha and spice. The cigar is extremely smooth and has a lot of depth. In the second third of the cigar a transition into a traditional nuts and cedar with a nice sweetness in the mix as well and some coffee on the finish. The cigar remains incredibly smooth and complex. The last third of the cigar changes into one of earth, and some more the moss that was experienced on the pre-light draw. The finish has a bit of nuttiness to it and

San Lotano Oval First 3rd

Smoking Characteristics: The San Lotano Oval burns slightly off-center, but never gets out of hand or develops a waviness about it. The dark ash holds strong easily keeping it’s ash for half the cigar at a clip on all the samples I smoked. The draw was almost perfect bordering on the slightly loose side. The aroma of the cigar really stood out filling the nasal cavity with a sweet milk chocolate like note that enhanced the cigar smoking experience.

San Lotano Oval Second 3rd

Conclusion: The regular San Lotano Habano line is good, but the Oval is outstanding. Wonderfully rich and complex the cigar has a profile the pleases from the first light to the last exhale. The Oval instantly proclaims itself as a stick worthy of consideration for cigar of the year. Finding them on-line will be difficult as they are Brick & Mortar only.

San Lotano Oval Final 3rd

Rating: 93
Price: $8.00

These cigars are available via Uptown Cigar, call them for pricing.

On Twitter lately there has been a buzz about the new Padilla La Terraza and it took a few phone calls to track down this budget friendly stick. Available in both a Brazilian Maduro and Nicaraguan Habano it can be found for under $80.00 a box regardless of size. La Terreza is named for a famed restaurant in Cuba in Cojimar. The restaurant  was visited by Hemingway where he met Anselmo Hernández. From this meeting the great American author/journalist was inspired to write, “Old Man and the Sea”. The restaurant is still in business today and considered a tourist attraction while still favored by the locals.

Cigar: Padilla La Terraza Capa Habano 2010
Size: 6 x 52
Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
Cigars Smoked For Review: 4

La Terraza Capa Habano 2010

Appearance and Construction: The La Terraza Capa Habano from Padilla has a lot of veins present and has some tooth to it. The wrapper has a nice oily sheen and feels a bit rough under the fingers like a fine sandpaper. The cigar is exquisitely rolled right down to a gorgeous triple cap. There is a dual band system in place, the first is black and gold with the classic Padilla signature and the words La Flor de Tobaccos above and La Terraza underneath. The second band ads the color red and denotes Capa Habano Serie 2010.

La Terraza Capa Habano 2010 Foot

Flavor & Notes: Once clipped with my Palio Cutter the cold draw served up some notes of mocha and bread. The foot of the cigar has an abundance of mocha and a slight grassy note. The first third of the cigar is inviting with notes of leather, spice, wood and a touch of mocha that creates a nice core. As the second third of the cigar is breached it becomes smoother and  the spice begins to develop into a warm cinnamon which compliments the mocha exquisitely Occasionally I am treated to some notes of anise that make me wish I had a cup of strong espresso to compliment the cigar. The last third of the cigar really shines with continued spices dominated by cinnamon notes  and espresso with a slight leather finish.

La Terraza Capa Habano 2010 First 3rd

Smoking Characteristics: The draw of the cigar is nearly perfect that may border on being a little loose. The burn is very good even sitting front of the air conditioner on a hot summer day. The burn line was crisp and almost perfect with a sold ash that held for half the cigar and didn’t fall a second time til I put the stick down for good. The aroma of the cigar is enjoyable and at times exceptional.

La Terraza Capa Habano 2010 Second 3rd

Conclusion: I love the fact that more and more cigar companies are releasing value cigars that truly deliver and this fits that to a tee. While the cigar starts off not as smooth as I would like it makes the transition fairly quickly. The result is a cigar that sells out fast in many locations so tracking them down has been a bit of a challenge for me. While the score is an 89 you can easily kick it up a point or two if you want to factor price into the equation.

La Terraza Capa Habano 2010 Last 3rd

Rating: 89
Price: $4.20 a stick/$71.40 a Box @ Uptown Cigars (Call to Order)

The first is the Jaime Garcia Limited Edition, which I am sure you have heard about by now. According to Jose Ortega the Vice President of Sales for My Father Cigars, “We are proud to announce the 1^st Limited Edition release from the master blender Jaime Garcia under the Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial name.”

The cigars will be released in boxes of 16, and what makes them a must buy for me is the fact, that 1 of the 16 will be a Connecticut Wrapper featuring the blend for the 2012 edition of the limited release.

According to Jose Ortega, it is very different from the regular Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial. It has several types of Cuban seed tobacco including the Pelo de Oro.

Wrapper: Broadleaf Viso
Binder and Filler: Variation of Cuban seeds including two leaves of Pelo de Oro)
Size: 6 ½ X 52 Toro
Strength: Full Body, Full Flavor

MSRP: Around 16.00 before local taxes.

Jaime Garcia Limited Edition 2011

The other release slated for the trade show is the My Father Le Bijou Torpedo Box Pressed. The cigars feature a Habano Oscuso Oscuro with filler and binder from Nicaragua.  Thes wiill measure at 6 1/8 x 52 and come 23 in a box. Once again according to the Vice President of Sales for My Father Cigars, Jose Ortega “Customers have been asking us for a box pressed and we couldn’t think of a more fitting brand/blend than the Le Bijou to release this gem in.” The cigars will be a regular production.

My Father Le Bijou Torpedo Box Pressed

We will be sure to offer our thoughts on these as soon as we get out hands on them…

According to the company website,

Our AF2 blend, produced and blended by A.J. Fernandez is certain to delight.  Crafted from rich Nicaraguan fillers combined with the strength of Pennsylvania ligero and a beautiful Ecuadoran Habano Oscuro wrapper.  These cigars are available in cabinet boxes of 20 in four sizes:  Robusto, Toro, Torpedo, and BMF.

Cigar: Emilio AF1
Size: 5 x 50 (Robusto)
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Habano Oscuro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, USA (Pennsylvania)
Strength: Medium
Cigars Smoked For Review: 2

Emilio AF2

Appearance and Construction: One would think the Emilio AF2 would be darker then it is with an Oscuro wrapper, but the AF1 is darker. The wrapper has some veins and has a nice amount of oils under light. The cigar is well rolled, and under the fingers the wrapper feels slightly rough. The stick is well packed with no soft sports other then a slightly spongy foot. The band is bronze and black and denotes Emilio AF2.

Emilio AF2 Foot

Flavor & Notes: I used a double bladed cutter to snip the cap off and once I did the cold draw was a bit musky which seems to be a trait with Pennsylvania tobacco, and there was also a hint of sweetness. The foot of the cigar served up a nose that consisted of a slight spice and tobacco notes. I sett in for the evening after watching Derek Jeter get hit number 3,000 and caressed my cigar with the flame from my triple torch lighter. Once the cigar is lit, there is a nice amount of pepper spice, especially though the nose. However, I find it to be refined and smooth to the point where my nasal passaged do not feel singed. As I continue to work my way through the first third the spice remains with some notes of dark chocolate lurking in the background like a shadow. As we enter the second third of the cigar the complexity really begins to kick in. The pepper remains, but the dark chocolate picks up progressing into the dominant note. Also in the mix at this point is some leather and espresso notes. The last third of the cigar becomes a little bit salty and bitter, with a tingling on the lips and tip of the tongue. Don’t let this turn you off because I still found it to be enjoyable despite this hint of the cigar being a little bit young.

Emilio AF2 2nd Third

Smoking Characteristics: The burn line on the Emilio AF2 had an ultra thin carbon line and a slightly less then perfect burn. The salt and pepper ash is strong and held on for the first half of the cigar before falling off. In the last last the ash fell off twice more. The draw of the cigar offered up just the right amount of resistance with a nice volume of smoke. The aroma was spicy and enjoyable.

Emilio AF2 Last 3rd

Conclusion: AF1 vs AF2, which is the better smoke. I guess that is up to the user, but I found the AF2 to have a bit more strength to it, while the AF1 had more body. Either which way both cigars are excellent and this brand has created a footprint in the marketplace that that should continue to grow. As I said before these cigars have a huge potential to explode on to the marketplace and should do so rather fast.

Rating: 91
Price: $7.50

Disclaimer: I received 2 samples in the mail as a gift from Emilio Cigars.

“La Verite began as an idea that Pete had when he first saw the tobacco growing in the Garcia Family first wholly owned farm in 2007. He realized the tobacco was going to be spectacular and after the tobacco was harvested and undergoing the fermentation process, it dawned on him that it was perfect for a single farm vintage cigar. Much like a single vineyard wine, La Verite showcases the soil where the tobacco was grown. The seed varietal varies from year to year based on the crop planted and the tobacco yield.

The cigar comes in two sizes,The Churchill is a traditional 7 x 47 and the blend is 45% Habano Nicaragua, 40% Criollo ’98, and 15% Pelo De Oro. The Robusto is 5 x 50 with 50% Habano Nicaragua, 40% Criollo ’98, and 10% Pelo De Oro tobaccos.

Cigar: La Verite Vintage 2009
Size: 5 x 50 (L’Espirit de Verite Robusto)
Wrapper: Nicaragua (Habano)
Binder: La Estrella Habano Criollo
Filler: Habano Nicaragua (50%),Criollo ’98 (40%), and Pelo De Oro (10%).
Strength: Medium/Full
Number Smoked: 3

La Verite 2009

Appearance and Construction: The Habano wrapper of the La Verite Vintage 2009 has a nice brown hue to it, with some reddish undertones. There are some veins present but none of them appear to be out of the norm. There are a fair amount of oils present and the roll is flawless. In the hand the cigar feels slightly coarse and light. There are no pockets under the wrapper and the cigar feels firm with the exception of the slightly spongy foot. This year a secondary band denoting Tatuaje in white and silver has been added under the vintage year.

La Verite 2009 Foot

Flavors & Notes: The foot of the cigar has a nice nose of earth and sweetness with a touch of pepper as well. The cord draw of the cigar has some cocoa notes with a touch of cedar and a lingering earthy component. Once the cigar is lit there are some subtle pepper notes and a background sweetness.  As we progress into the first third of the smoke there are some warm spices, toast and cedar present. The second third of the cigar some sweetness remains, bordering on cocoa with leather and cedar in the mix as well. In the last third there is a lot going on and the complexity really takes hold of the cigar. However, you can tell here the cigar needs a bit of aging as nothing is really defined. It’s almost meaty and pulpy the notes, but I can’t put my finger on it. At times I was questioning my sanity as there was a note that reminded me of grape.

La Verite 2009 First Third

Smoking Characteristics: For the most part the cigar smoked perfectly even with a nice lean carbon line. Whenever the cigar started to burn slightly uneven it corrected itself perfectly. The salt and pepper ash held on extremely well even in the end. There was a nice volume of smoke and the aroma was enjoyable.

La Verite 2009 Second Third

Conclusion: The 2009 is ready to smoke out of the box, but you can tell it is still a little young and needs some time to age. The La Verite series is one of those cigars that really shine with aging. The 2008 right now is smoking as good as it gets, and in a few months you can easily tell that the 2009 will totally outshine the 08 vintage. The concept for the cigar is ideal, but i wonder what will happen if Nicaragua experiences an abundance of rain or a lack there of. It can really change a tobacco. With that said and done this vintage will be very hard to beat.

La Verite 2009 Last Third

Rating: 92 (with potential to really increase with age!)
Price: $120.00 a box of 10 at Atlantic Cigars

Today’s review is of El Credito, El Perrito War of Flavors. According to the press release, “The cigar’s distinctive name is derived from a term coined at the El Credito® Cigar Factory in Santiago, DR.  El Perrito (translation: little dog) was created by two cigar factory supervisors (Robert Batista and Juan Almonte) who brought their concept for a small, powerhouse cigar to El Credito’s Michael Giannini (director of marketing) and Yuri Guillen (director of manufacturing). The supervisors came to Michael and Yuri, raving about how they made the cigars and describing the taste experience as a battle of flavors in the mouth. Michael and Yuri sampled the prototypes and the rest, as they say, is history.”

Let’s hope the “little dog” isn’t a dog rocket….

Cigar: El Perrito
Size: 5.5 x 38
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: 2 Leaves, 1 Nicaraguan, 1 Dominican
Strength: Full
Number Smoked: 5

El Perrito "War of Flavors"

Appearance and Construction: The El Perrito War of Flavors is entirely hand-crafted and is made without the use of any molds, which is quite clear when looking at it. Each cigar of the 5 samples I smoked looked different with the exception of the size. The result is a finished product that looks like what Clint Eastwood smoked in The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. Adorning this smoke is a red and white band that states El Credito, which is the factory in the Dominican Republic that produces these. Despite that the El Perrito only uses a total of 4 tobacco leaves, it has a nice weight to it.

Flavors & Notes: Despite being pre-cut I cut off another 1/8th of an inch to be sure and the pre-light draw was slightly sweet and floral. Off of the wrapper I didn’t get much to the nose that was worthy of making a note of. As I listened to the Ecstasy of the Gold (the theme to the aforementioned Eastwood movie) I lit up the small cigar and was pleasantly surprised. The cigar has some noted of cedar and spice that is complimented by a slight creaminess. I debated if I should break the cigar down into thirds but it does change a bit. In the second third the cigar is more cedar and spice. The creaminess comes and goes but it loses the battle at times with a beat down. In the last third the strength kicks it up a notch with a nice little nicotine kick while occasionally continuing to tease with a creamy edge.

Smoking Characteristics: Despite being one ugly duckling of a cigar it burned really well. The light color ash held on similar to that of a lancero. The draw was perfect and the cigar had a nice aroma to it. For a little cigar it definitely held its ground with the more traditional sizes.

Conclusion: Sometimes I look for a cigar that will get my to my business partners house, which is 30 minute drive in the AM. I look for another cigar on the ride home which is late at night and takes about 20 minutes. This cigar is perfect for both occasions. The “little dog” is definitely not a dog rocket, and is very good little smoke. It has a nice traditional flavor profile with a bit of a kick toward the end. The only complaint is the same one my good friend Jerry Cruz over at Stogie Review had. The band states El Credito, yet the cigar is called El Perrito which is confusing to say the least. Sign me up for a cab of 50 though, as this cigar is perfect for when time is limited.

Rating: 89
Price: $2.50 / $125.00

The Tatuaje Celebracion De Cinco is a limited release of 100 boxes made for a shop in Fresno, CA named Cigar Mas Fino. The cigar which is based upon the Havana VI Noble has a subtle change to it which Pete Johnson describes as making a huge difference. He went on to add that the cigar is “an age worthy smoke”. At this point I am having second thoughts about lighting up my only stick.

Cigar:Tatuaje Celebracion De Cinco
Size: 5 x 50
Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium/Full
Cigars Smoked For Review: 1

Appearance and Construction: The Celebracion De Cinco has a dark Habano wrapper which could be from a higher priming then normally used on the Havana VI. The amount of oils that glisten on the cigar is amazing and it feels like silk under the fingers. There are some veins but none of which detract from how good this looks. The foot of the stick is closed which I happen to love and the cap is perfection on the exquisitely rolled cigar. There is a dual band in use here which reminds of me of the Verocu series and takes me down memory lane to when I smoked my first Tatuaje, the Exclusivo Lado Occidental aka Verocu No. 1. It was here that the seeds were planted for my love of Tatuaje.

Foot of the Tatuaje Celebracion De Cinco

Flavor & Notes: The closed foot of the cigar reveals a nice strong note of chocolate/mocha to the nose while the cold draw has a sweetness to it with an earthy edge if that makes sense to anyone but me. One the cigar is lit there is some of that spice that is to me a trademark of the My Father factory. As I progress into the first third of the smoke there is notes of leather with some mocha and spice thrown in for good measure. The second third continues down the leather path, with some coffee notes in the mix as well. As we work further into the center part of the Celebracion De Cinco there is meatiness to it that has me craving a T-Bone steak. I actually wonder how this cigar would pair with that a nice glass of wine. The final third of the cigar picks up in strength and there is some nicotine noticeable as well. The cigar continues with leather though it is muted at this point. The dominant notes are spice and a dark chocolate with a long espresso finish.

The first third of the Tatuaje Celebracion De Cinco

Smoking Characteristics: The higher priming wrapper seemed to be thicker then most and as a result it burned very slow. The robusto lasted me just under 2 hours which was a nice way to end my evening. As a result of what seemed to be a thicker wrapper it did burn a little uneven, and while at times I was tempted to touch it up I never had to. There was an ample amount of smoke with a nice spicy aroma. The ash was marble like and held on strong despite some flake and the appearance it might fall at any moment.

The second third of the Tatuaje Celebracion De Cinco

Conclusion: I would liken the cigar to a Havana VI on steroids. While I enjoyed the cigar I found myself wondering if it was better than the traditional release. While I enjoyed it I would not go crazy to get another. However, if I did I would sit on it for at least a year to see what the aging potential of the cigar is and I have a feeling it would become an exceptional smoke instead of a very good one.

The final third of the Tatuaje Celebracion De Cinco

Rating: 90
Price: $10.00

Disclaimer: The cigar was gifted to me by Steve Valle of Smoking Stogie.

The Tobacos Baez Serie H is produced at Pepin Industrial Park in Nicaragua at the El Rey De Los Habanos Cigar Factory.

Cigar: Tobacos Baez Series H
Size: 5.50 x 52 (Belicoso)
Wrapper: Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Ncaragua
Strength: Medium

Appearance and Construction (16/20): This is one of those cigars where you hope looks can be deceiving. The wrapper has a non grade A quality look to it with some veins throughout and some discoloration present as well. Despite being well kept this stick has a dry appearance to it. The foot of the cigar was slightly spongy but there were no soft spots elsewhere.

Flavor & Notes (28/30): Once I clipped the cigar with my Palio cutter the draw offered notes of wood and earth. As I sparked this baby with sulfur free matches I was treated with some of that typical Pepin spice albeit it a muted version. As the spice begins to fade some well defined wood and earth are recognized. The 2nd third continues with heavy earth as some roasted nuts and coffee emerge in the background. The final third of the cigar offered a slightly bitter coffee with roasted nuts on the finish.

Smoking Characteristics (21/25): One problem I had was having a loose draw. This turned into the cigar having a fast burn and the experience not lasting as long as I would like. The stick had a nice burn that never got out of hand. The white ash did not hold as strong as I would like and I wound up wearing my ashes on more than one occasion. The cigar produced a nice amount of smoke however in both the resting and smoking position which for me is a positive.

Overall (24/25): Like most Pepin blends the cigar starts off with that Pepin spice. However, once that spice fades the offering was a straight forward profile and was a nice change from the complex smokes he has produced in the past. This cigar delivers and was the perfect cigar for a lazy day.

Rating: 89
Price: $145.99 box of 20 @ Famous-Smoke

La Traviata

The La Traviata brand began its life at the turn of the 20th Century in Cuba or, more precisely, in the Tabacalera Cubana, Agramonte no. 106, in Havana.  Over 100 years later, CAO has resurrected the La Traviata name, abiding closely to its original Cuban roots in presentation and taste.  CAO La Traviata is a full-bodied, full- flavored cigar that combines an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with a Cameroon binder and incorporates two different ligero filler tobaccos from the Pueblo Nuevo farm in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.  “The inspiration for La Traviata came from smoking numerous classic Cuban cigars,” said CAO President Tim Ozgener. “We wanted to create a cigar that appealed to sight, smell, and taste.  We’ve also stayed true to the original La Traviata vista and artwork circa 1901-1904.”

Packaged in 24-count boxes, CAO La Traviata will be available in three shapes: Divino (5″ x 50), Radiante (6″ x 52), and Intrépido (7″ x 54), and will have a suggested retail price range of $5.00 to $6.00 per cigar before local taxes.

Finding these cigars online will be near impossible as they are B&M only, which gets high marks from me.

Cigar: CAO La Traviata
Size: 5 x 50 (Divino / Robusto)
Wrapper: Habano (Ecuador)
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Dominican Republic and Nicaragua
Strength: Full

Appearance and Construction (19/20): The first thing that stands out to me is how silky the wrapper feels in my hand and how oily the cigar appears to the naked eye. The roll of the cigar is incredibly flawless with the wrapper having a few veins although none stand out. The stick has a tremendous weight to it with no soft spots and a little bit of tooth. The band a departure from most CAO sticks has La Traviata in the center with a small reference to CAO on the top. The colors of beige, blue, gold and maroon work really well giving this cigar a very classy feel to it.

Flavor & Notes (28/30): The foot of the cigar offers tremendous notes of molasses while the pre light draw has some sweetness and anise present. The cigar starts off with a slight kick of pepper, that slowly begins to fade revealing notes of roasted nuts and some slight leather notes. As we approach the second third of the cigar the notes of roasted nuts really begin to shine and the cigar takes on some cedar notes as well as a continued leather. The final third of the cigar the roasted nuts begin to fade as well as the leather notes. What remains is a strong anise flavor that you can actually smell from the cigar as well. There is some pepper through the nose and despite this the cigar has a delicious creamy finish.

Burn/Ash/Draw (23/25): The burn of the cigar is incredibly even with a nice tight ash with only the slightest amount of flake. The draw of the cigar had some resistance on each stick but I wouldn’t label it a nuisance.

Overall (24/25): I mentioned at my local cigar shop that this cigar is different then any other CAO I have smoked. and was told by the owner it is because the cigar is made at a different location then other CAOs. The prior statement was cleared up by Jon Huber in the comment section. With that said and done this is by far the best CAO I ever had, and is a really special cigar. It has an old world feel to it and I look forward to sparking another one up. Despite this cigar being B&M only if you call a mail order house attached to a B&M you might be able to get them that way. But as I always say, please support your local B&M and this cigar is an excellent choice in doing so.

Rating: 94
Price: $5.00