CAO Gold

After the full strength of the CAO Gol!, I was ready for something a little more tame to smoke.  The next cigar I tried from a recent sampler purchase is another high quality stick from CAO, the CAO Gold.

Size: 5 x 50
Shape: Robusto
Wrapper: Ecuador, Connecticut Shade
Filler:  Nicaraguan
Binder: Nicaraguan
Strength: Mild to Medium
Price: $5.00 online

A blend of Nicaraguan filler and binder, and an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, the gold is a presentation of the milder side of CAO.  The construction of the cigar is nice, with a reasonable amount of veins present and no noticeable defects.  The cigar is firm, but gives a little when pressed springing quickly back into shape.  The natural wrapper has good color and a light sheen inviting the smoker to enjoy.

The cap takes a smooth cut and the  foot toasts quickly and evenly.  The initial draw is light, with a thread of sweetness on the pallet.  As the cigar develops the wood notes become stronger, and the sweetness builds into a caramelized vanilla flavor.  Through the second 3rd the strength remains mild and the flavors full, and there is large amounts of the smooth  gray smoke.  Nut flavors begin to arrive at this point, mixing with the creamy sweetness and the wood into a nice complexity.

The final 3rd provides consistancy with the progression of the smoke.  The  cigar remains mild to medium in strength through to the final draw, and the flavors are full on the pallet.  The draw is easy, and the smoke smooth with a great burn throughout requiring no touch ups.

The CAO Gold is a mild to medium strength cigar with great flavors.  And at around $5 a stick, it is as easy on the wallet as on the pallet.

Davidoff Special "R"

One of the most important aspects of any cigar is the quality of the construction.  Manufacturers that miss this important step can leave the customer frustrated when the stick unravels and loses the edge.  Davidoff proves proves that they are above all a producer of quality in the focus on construction.

The Davidoff Special "R" is a beautiful cigar.  The Connecticut wrapper is bright and inviting, and the simple white band sets off the color wonderfully.  The stick cuts perfectly with no evidence of shredding.  The foot toasts smoothly taking a solid coal very quickly.  The draw is smooth, and the edge remains razor sharp from begging to end.

The cigar is mild to medium in strength, and displays notes of wood throughout the smoke.  As I move into the second 3rd of the smoke, the ash is tight and uniform in color, again a solid statement on the quality of Davidoff's construction.  The smoke starts to develop hints of sweetness on the fringes of the pallet, a trait that I enjoy in many cigars but one that fails to fully develop in the Special "R".  This finish on the smoke is still quite strong in wood flavors, remaining at this one dimension through to the end of the smoke.

The superb construction of this cigar, matched with the mild strength and low complexity make this cigar a great choice for those who smoke infrequently.  It is also a fitting choice for anytime a seasoned aficionado is seeking something a bit more simple but still of high quality.