I couldn't wait to smoke this cigar!
I couldn't wait to smoke this cigar - and had set the America to be my Independence Day highlight, so among the fire crackers in the background, I sat outside at about 7:50 p.m and prepared myself for this beauty!
CAO America is available in three shapes and sizes: Potomac (5" x 56), the torpedo-shaped Monument (6 ¼" x 54), and Landmark (6" x 60). The CAO America is made with both Connecticut Shade and Broadleaf wrappers, a Brazilian binder, and 100% ligero filler tobaccos from Nicaragua, Italy, U.S.A., and the Dominican Republic.
What really makes this such a beautiful and appealing cigar is its the CAO America with its patriotic appeal, actually contains some American filler tobacco in the blend, along with two wrapper leaves grown in Connecticut. Considered to be pinstriped, as opposed to barber pole style, the cigar is wrapped with both a natural wrapper leaf that is exposed underneath the overlying maduro wrapper leaf. Here's a vid from CAO demonstrating the actual rolling process:
I chose the Potomac (5" x 56):
Its pre-draw was smooth, sweet with a hint of caramel fruit, which only added to the build up and anticipation of the cigar's performance. I just knew this would be a treat. The cigar lit extremely well, its construction second to none, firm but not tight - with no "spongy" feel, which would indicate to me that the cigar was ready.
The first leg or the first third: Although I did not have to play with the burn, it wasn't a smooth straight line burn as I expected from this cigar, but rather took on a more "wavy" course. Its note of flavor was not as robust as I had hoped for, and actually expected, but was more of a mild, with a toasty and warm ligero lingering in the back drop.
By midway, and although I was not really concerned, the burn still hadn't evened out - the taste note was still not as complex as I had expected, and the cigar had an intermittent smoke stack? hmmmm....
I got on the phone with my buddy Di...
"Did you punch it or snip"
"I snipped twice"
"Is it green"
"I don't think so - firm but not tight"
hmmmm...
The America had a short finish - its burn evened out, and although not a complex cigar by any means, it nice sweet rich and traditional aroma was the characteristic which stood out to me. As well as, not leaving an after taste, a huge indicator of a good cigar!
Perhaps the America, with its subtle, smooth and mild persona is just what is intended to be. This cigar would definitely fit any one of the level of Cigar Enthusiast. A true beauty, and not over powering or over whelming.
One other good thing about the finish - by its approach and around 8:30 p.m., I got my billow of smoke!
CAO America - A lady's nod for sure....
Posted in C4W Cigar of the Month!
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