CAO Black Bengal (Toro)

Thanks to @Usafvet509 for this cigar! My first CAO!

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The wrapper is just beautifully constructed. Only one visible vein, running on the backside, with no visible seams and a completely uniform light brown color and totally smooth. I don't really detect anything on the cold draw.

I tried to do the method where you light the cedar sleeve while it's on the cigar, and you use that to light it...and it didn't work well. The cedar sleeve started to really burn, so I had to slide it off into the ashtray to avoid burning my eye brows. It did light the cigar in the center, so I just used my Xikar ELX to finish the job.

Right away I get some nice mild flavors. Cream with hints of vanilla and tobacco. Some mild spice on the retrohale. Later on some coffee notes.

The draw is just perfect, with good smoke production. At 2", the ash is still hanging on, but I am starting to get a little bitterness. Oops, spoke too soon! There goes the ash!

Tobacco notes begin to take over at this point, with the cream and vanilla present, but very muted. I take draws less frequently to try to combat the harshness, as well as cleanse my palate with some sushi-style ginger I have, but I think my palate is just easily bored, or a lightweight.

Total burn time: 90 minutes

Final notes: This was a nice cigar. I'm not sure I'd buy a fiver of it, but I enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to the CX2 and MX2!

Question about draws: I've noticed that if I see the wrapper barely turn orange (from combustion) at the burn line, then that's sort of the sweet spot. I've noticed that if I don't see the wrapper burn at all, then I start to get weird burn lines, and the cigar might go out. Has anyone noticed this too? Or maybe I'm too obsessive compulsive about keeping a straight burn line :)

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Originally Posted by Zeede

Or maybe I'm too obsessive compulsive about keeping a straight burn line :)

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yep

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shemp Jizzle

yep

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Gotta agree with the jizz lover. Cigars are for relaxation and enjoyment. If it goes out light it again and carry on.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shemp Jizzle

yep

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http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y17...pskmp8tckm.jpg

Nice review Cameron. I've only tried one CAO, the Brazilia, and it wasn't my cup of tea at the time. I'm sure I'll get around to trying others at some point but there are so many other lines out there...

I probably shouldn't judge an entire line by a single cigar but it's hard to go back when I'm finding other lines where I love it right out of the gate.

Great review Cameron. I too was gifted one of these from @Usafvet509 and have it resting but I may have to take torch to it sooner than planned now.

I have one of these from my noob CI humi sampler. Thanks for reminding me - maybe I'll smoke it soon.

@WNYTONY , @Zeede , y'all are certainly welcome! I like it myself, but favor the VR that was built off the Black. So much so that I snapped up the mixed lot of 22 from @sullen specifically for the 5er of VR in it.

Smoking one of these now. Kind of agree with @Laynard 's review, though think he was a little more positive about it. It's okay, but kind of eh (or meh as the kids today say). Lots of wood and hay, white pepper, and some strong mineral flavors, but a dry papery finish I don't much care for, as well as some harness and bitterness both reviews mention. To me it tastes like any number of Gener(ic)al Cigars. Hopefully the same thing won't happen to Torano that they've been bought by General, too.

I don't mind lack of complexity or a smoke that's consistent all the way through... if it's a Fuente.