CAO Italia gondola

Don Fernando · 11-24-2008, 01:23 PM

This ring 54 6 inch torpedo with Italian grown filler and a nice dark silky wrapper looks classy, smells classy, and has a great construction and a nice azzuri cigar band.

What I taste is a bit salty wood and tobacco but the salty flavor disappears and the cigar gets a bit sweet, sweet cedar. After about 2 inch the sweetness disappears too and it’s just one flavor: cedar. Halfway there is a period where the cigar is a bit bitter and when that disappears it is the wood again.

The rum that I drank brings out the sweetness of the cigar. The smoke is ok but it could be a little more. The ash is firm.

Would I buy this cigar again? No, like all CAO cigars I tried so far, once but never again.

Construction: 16 / 20
Draw: 14 / 20
Appearance: 14 / 20
Smoke & ash: 7 / 10
Burn: 16 / 20
Aroma (first part) 6 / 10
Aroma (middle part) 6 / 10
Aroma (last part) 6 / 10

Mugen910 · 11-24-2008, 01:26 PM

Thank for the info...

renton20 · 11-24-2008, 03:03 PM

Great review Don, I tried one back in January and had almost the exact same experience.

Jimbo14 · 10-12-2009, 08:06 PM

I had a CAO Italia Ciao last week. It was fantastic. Maybe you just got a bad one...

replicant_argent · 10-12-2009, 08:12 PM

I would be excited if you reviewed the mysterious bottle of Rummy Heaven.

10-12-2009, 08:19 PM

THanks for the review. I my opinion, the Italia is best in either the robusto, pc, or boxpress. The bigger ones loose flavor, imho.

Don Fernando · 10-13-2009, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo14

I had a CAO Italia Ciao last week. It was fantastic. Maybe you just got a bad one...

Nope, I smoked 2 of them and I just don't like 'em. Haven't had any CAO that I liked, period. But we all have different preferences and palates, I don't like em', that means more CAO Italia for you

Quote:

Originally Posted by replicant_argent

I would be excited if you reviewed the mysterious bottle of Rummy Heaven.

It was good, and now it's empty.

OHRD · 10-13-2009, 06:03 AM

Great review as always, the ash looked excellent (if nothing else was). What other CAO's have you had bad experiences with?

Don Fernando · 10-13-2009, 06:21 AM

I smoked a few, can't remember which blends but they include a gold and a Brazilia for sure.

OHRD · 10-13-2009, 10:30 AM

The only CAO I've had was the Brazilia and it gave me a migraine; no idea why but it did--haven't had a CAO since, though I do want to try the Criolo and the Gold. My friend also had a bad experience w/ the burn on an LX2.

roughrider · 10-13-2009, 12:13 PM

The Italia is my favorite from CAO.

papichulo · 11-25-2012, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roughrider

The Italia is my favorite from CAO.

I agree, the only CAO I smoke is an Italia.

dwoodward · 11-25-2012, 09:40 AM

Edit... really old thread lol... wow.

11-24-2008, 01:23 PM	#1
Don Fernando Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ferdinand Location: Singapore Posts: 10,064 Trading: (29)	CAO Italia gondola This ring 54 6 inch torpedo with Italian grown filler and a nice dark silky wrapper looks classy, smells classy, and has a great construction and a nice azzuri cigar band. What I taste is a bit salty wood and tobacco but the salty flavor disappears and the cigar gets a bit sweet, sweet cedar. After about 2 inch the sweetness disappears too and it’s just one flavor: cedar. Halfway there is a period where the cigar is a bit bitter and when that disappears it is the wood again. The rum that I drank brings out the sweetness of the cigar. The smoke is ok but it could be a little more. The ash is firm. Would I buy this cigar again? No, like all CAO cigars I tried so far, once but never again. Construction: 16 / 20 Draw: 14 / 20 Appearance: 14 / 20 Smoke & ash: 7 / 10 Burn: 16 / 20 Aroma (first part) 6 / 10 Aroma (middle part) 6 / 10 Aroma (last part) 6 / 10 __________________ check out my reviews on my blog.

11-24-2008, 01:26 PM	#2
Mugen910 I <3 Huy Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Location Location: First Name Posts: 8,387 Trading: (106)	Re: CAO Italia gondola Thank for the info... __________________ I'm not antisocial, I just think people are stupid.

11-24-2008, 03:03 PM	#3
renton20 Still Watching My Back Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 212 Trading: (13)	Re: CAO Italia gondola Great review Don, I tried one back in January and had almost the exact same experience.

10-12-2009, 08:06 PM	#4
Jimbo14 Habano Man Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: James Location: Australia Posts: 483 Trading: (0)	Re: CAO Italia gondola I had a CAO Italia Ciao last week. It was fantastic. Maybe you just got a bad one...

10-12-2009, 08:12 PM	#5
replicant_argent Gravy Boat Winnah. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Pete Location: my attorney has advised against giving this information to insane people Posts: 5,326 Trading: (22)	Re: CAO Italia gondola I would be excited if you reviewed the mysterious bottle of Rummy Heaven. __________________ www.stogietorch.com Some days call for a stiff Pomade.

10-12-2009, 08:19 PM	#6
njstone Guest Posts: n/a	Re: CAO Italia gondola THanks for the review. I my opinion, the Italia is best in either the robusto, pc, or boxpress. The bigger ones loose flavor, imho.

10-13-2009, 06:03 AM	#8
OHRD Garage w/ couch & ashtray Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Matt Posts: 1,377 Trading: (39)	Re: CAO Italia gondola Great review as always, the ash looked excellent (if nothing else was). What other CAO's have you had bad experiences with? __________________ Did I tell you my garage has a couch and an ashtray? My wife doesn't let me sleep or smoke inside.

10-13-2009, 06:21 AM	#9
Don Fernando Postwhore Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ferdinand Location: Singapore Posts: 10,064 Trading: (29)	Re: CAO Italia gondola I smoked a few, can't remember which blends but they include a gold and a Brazilia for sure. __________________ check out my reviews on my blog.

10-13-2009, 10:30 AM	#10
OHRD Garage w/ couch & ashtray Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Matt Posts: 1,377 Trading: (39)	Re: CAO Italia gondola The only CAO I've had was the Brazilia and it gave me a migraine; no idea why but it did--haven't had a CAO since, though I do want to try the Criolo and the Gold. My friend also had a bad experience w/ the burn on an LX2. __________________ Did I tell you my garage has a couch and an ashtray? My wife doesn't let me sleep or smoke inside.

10-13-2009, 12:13 PM	#11
roughrider Feeling at Home Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 835 Trading: (24)	Re: CAO Italia gondola The Italia is my favorite from CAO.

11-25-2012, 09:40 AM	#13
dwoodward Gentlemen, you may smoke! Join Date: Jul 2010 First Name: Derrick Location: South Dakota Posts: 1,868 Trading: (26)	Re: CAO Italia gondola Edit... really old thread lol... wow.