CAO Cuban Box Press Italia (Burn Issues)

Got a cheap box sampler of these and decided to fire one up. Nice looking Honduran box press 4 7/8 x 50, decent smelling colorado maduro wrapper.


Initial draw was on the firm side, nothing special palate wise. Dark pepper, earthy tobacco.


First third is beginning to spice up, nice earthy notes, chocolate covered raisins, and coffee flavors with a light pepper finish.


Okay halfway through and the old CAO burn gremlin rears its ugly head yet again. I don't know what they are doing these days with QC, but this stick plugged up bad, and you could feel the knot inside the binder. It's a shame because the profile was really smooth with decent layers of flavor. I doubt I will buy another CAO stick again, and would only smoke one if gifted because I would easily say that there's a 50% chance that it will have burn issues