CAO Reviews?
 

Anyone out there have an opinion on CAO cigars?

I searched on here and nothing came up...

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I've reviewed a few on my site. I really like some of them, and some are boring. But they have a great mild body cigar, and a great full body cigar IMO. A lot of brands don't have that.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I like the Black, VR, and Brazilia. The rest, not so much, although I haven't tried Sopranos or La Traviata.
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Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I've had a few Brazilias, and really enjoyed them. In fact I've got a few monstrous brazilias in the humi now....

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I have just smoked the Golds. What would you recommend be the next CAO to light up?

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

Moving to Cigar Discussion since this is not a review.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

The Brazilia is pretty good and can be picked up on CI Daily Specials or Cigar.com daily specials at real good prices, most of the others are OK. I am not at all fond of the LaTraviata at all, way over-hyped to me but many others really like them. I have a 5'r of Sapranos Aging but have not tried one. :2

Did you like the Gold, or do you prefer something stronger?
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Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I did like the Gold. Burned nice and tasted good. I like things around that strength. I kinda want to branch out though and try somethin darker.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I actually just picked up a few of these CAOs.

Have you tried the MX2s? I haven't tried that one yet, but I've read some mixed reviews.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

Yeah, they suck. :pu

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

May be a little strong but try the Brazilia. One thing about CAO is the Appearance, Construction and Burn is usually very good on all of them.

Knew I was forgetting one. The MX2s are decent smokes.
I think all of the rest of CAOs offerings are stronger than the Gold. Maybe you could try the Black, VR, MX2, or America. The Brazilia, Italia, and LX2 might be a bit of a jump if you like the milder sticks.
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Re: CAO Reviews?
 

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=6355
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12957
http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=13219

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

sweet deal. i will have to give one of those a shot next time i am out and about.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

As mentioned before, the Brazilias are pretty good. Blacks are decent smokes too. The rest are pretty lackluster though.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I like the brazilias quite a bit. I always keep a box handy and it is a go-to smoke whenever I want to go with something I know will be good, as opposed to trying something new. I also enjoy the sopranos line, but those can be hit and miss for me. The mx2 didn't really do it for me. I was gifted a couple lx2s that haven't met the flame yet, but will as soon as the weather breaks. I've heard good things about them. People seem to like the CAO maduro quite a bit, though I was underwhelmed with the one I smoked. I will say that the whole line has appeared to me to be well made cigars and worth smoking. I think I just talked myself into taking a brazilia to the bar with me this weekend just by thinking about them. :)

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I have a good deal on the mx2's in the WTS section :) good smoke!

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

overall....

LX2, MX2, CX2, La Traviata, Brazilia, Criollo and America - All good in my book

Vision, Soprano - overpriced

Gold, Gold Maduro - good if you like the milder side

Italia - a step down from the Brazilia - solid Medium

Cameroon, Maduro and Extreme (L'anniversaire) - the original CAO old favorites

That's about as abbreviated as I can get!!!

:D

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I think the CAO Black and Criollo are two good cigars.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

Had the MX2 and Gold and Brazilia, I liked em pretty good.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

Only one I've had that has impressed me was the Italia.
The rest are 'meh'.
And yes, I've tried the Brazilia, MX2, LX2, Gold, Black & some others that escape me at the moment.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I like the Brazilias if I am looking for something spicy.

I have had the CX2s, MX2s, Italias, Maduros, Sopranos, Criollos and didn't like any of them, even before I cut back on my NC smoking.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I'm biased. I like every damn one of them but the Sopranos,Brazilia, MX2, CX2, and La Traviata are my faves.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

LX2, Brazilia, La Traviata, Gold Maduro, Criollo = Good in my book

Soprano = good but overpriced

America = OK

MX2 = Not very good IMO

That's all I've tried so far. :tu

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

seems like the Brazilia's are the ones that you guys like a lot. i will have to get one soon.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

CAO use to make great cigars. Since there 2nd buy out their cigars have NOT impressed me.

I still love the CAO Soprano even though they do not make it anymore. The LX2 is a great smoke.

Other than that they have gone down hill :2 ;s

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

Another CAO will never touch my lips again... but that's just me. :td

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

:tpd: :D

Though despite the price, the Vision and Soprano are pretty damn good. CI has been dishing out deals on the Sopranos line since the latest buyout of both companies (CI&CAO).

If you can get a box of Visions near $120, that's pretty much what I think they're worth (the humidor was selling at $60 on ebay for a while, though be aware the hygrometer isn't accurate, I still say the box alone is worth $30+). They are great cigars once aged for a year.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

has CAO always put out quality cigars?

With the caveat that I've only been at this a little over a year, I think they're pretty decent. Excellent construction. Some of the flavors just don't suit my palate.
BTW, CI has a decent sampler with most of the regular production sticks. That's how I first tried them. IIRC, it was 4 each of the Black, VR, Brazilia, Italia, and Gold.
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Re: CAO Reviews?
 

Well starting with the standard adage: Like what you smoke and smoke what you like.... I wouldn't let a CAO pass my lips. I have smoked about 7 - 8 differnt ones and all were crap to me. On the other hand, many others like them. I'd say pick out a few and see what grabs you.


edit: I just noticed Bax's post.... Glad I'm not the only one :)

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I have only tried 3 blends from CAO, and I loved all of them. I tried the Italia Gondolas, Anniversary Cameroons and Brazilia Lambada's. I cannot recommend one over the other, as they are all different, but awesome. I am quite happy with CAO for the moment, despite hearing mixed comments. I would like to try the La Traviata, MX2 and LX2 in the near future.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

early on, i would smoke some CAOs - golds, italias, brazilias. now, they just bore me. my opinion, they're better at marketing than they are at blending/creating cigars.

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:tpd: They make nothing that makes me say, "I gotta have a box!"

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C'mon..no love for CAO's? J/K, like Volt said, Like what you smoke, smoke what you like.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

Brazilia and MX2 are some good cigars and I've heard some good things about the Traviata. I figure though some might let the band get in the way of their smoking experience.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

CAO is a solid brand. It's worth a sample of each stick to see what you think. I love a lot of expensive stuff, but I still smoke a ton of CAO/Rocky Patel/Perdomo/etc.

I love:
Black
Brazilia
Gold (aged 2002)

I really like:
Soprano
Itaila robusto
MX2
LX2
Criollo (aged 2004)

I like:
Cameroon
Maduro
Gold (fresh)
America

I have NOT YET HAD the La Traviata or the Vision, which are two of their most highly-rated cigars. I'm particularly interested in trying the La Traviata, since the price point is so nice.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I'm starting to think you just don't like cigars :r

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

:tpd::banger

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

One of my favorite's, also like the Criollo and Gold Mad. MX2's have been hit or miss for me .

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I've never had one that made much of a positive impression, but none that totally sucked either.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

My first 3 were awfully plugged ... really bad. Then I started dry-boxing them for DAYS before smoking, and now they smoke great and are quite tasty!

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I smoke a few of them - Brazilia, Italia, LX2, Sopranos - in fact I just ordered some Sopranos today after reading the CI catalogue in the john and spotting the deal. Check the link below, pick the Sopranos Boss for your fiver and that's about the cheapest you'll find them anywhere, even CBid.

http://www.cigarsinternational.com/p...PT3&stext=trio

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

CAOs seem to like lower humidity, like 62% or so.

If you like milder cigars and can get these, the 65th Anniversary cigars are really good. Hard to find though, I don't think they make them anymore.

Also like the CAO Ltd. Black for a medium bodied cigar. Black VR is more robust so be aware of the difference.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I just smoked a CAO criollo this morning becuase this thread had me thinking that I haven't smoked a CAO in a long time. It was enjoyable. Nothing special, but a good morning smoke with my coffee and pop-tart (yes I ate a pop tart).

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I am a huge fan of both the Mx2 and the Brazilia. Both are great full flavored maduros, the Brazilia might be a bit creamier while the Mx2 has a nice spice as well as the creamy maduro flavor. Smoked a Brazilia the other day (along with a few brews) and had an extreme urge to start speaking Portuguese while running around in my back yard, stripping off my shirt while screaming "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL" I haven't tried to Sopranos yet (I'm too cheap) but I have heard great things.

The only CAO I have tried that I wouldn't buy again was the Gold. I didn't think it was bad, it just wasn't anything special, and there are many other Connecticuts out there that I like better.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

So the darker the CAO you get seems to be the ones that you guys like.

coffee and a pop tart is always a good breakfast.

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

there are a few on my blog www.cigarguide.org

Re: CAO Reviews?
 

I was talking to a guy at a B&M I visited this weekend and he said he really likes the CAO La Traviata. I haven't tied one yet, but it looked pretty tasty.