The Cigar Stop Reviews the CAO America

Name: America

Origin: Honduras

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf, Connecticut Shade (Barber Pole Style)

Filler/Binder: Dominican, Nicaraguan, Italian, American

Shape/Size: Robusto, Torpedo, Gordo

Strength: Medium-Full

Box/Bundle: Box of 20

Flavored: No

Price: between $6.00 and $8.00 per Single – $85.00 - $125.00 per Box

In honor of our Independence Day (July 4^th for those outside of the U.S) I would smoke something that although not American shares the name, felling and taste of America.

 

Who out there is not a fan of CAO cigars raise your hand… You in the back put your hand down you know your full of shit.

CAO is one of the most respected cigars manufactures they have Style, Charisma and the talent to make even your mother in-laws burnt cooking taste like fillet mingnon.

 

 

The America selection will not disappoint with a 92 rating from the Powers that be. The America has a deep earthy although sometimes heavy taste with notes of cedar and oak and with the twin Connecticut wrapper gives you minute hints of chocolate, but very slight.

Despite the fact that it is not 100% American Tobaccos this selection has all the heart and soul of America, and is one of the creamier and smoothest of the CAO brands.

The construction is good, except sometimes you will have an uneven burn due to the “Barber Pole” wrappers. I have enjoyed a dozen or so of these and I will confirm I have had one unravel a bit and 3 burn uneven and at no point did I cuss it out, this is one of my 3 favorite CAO selections. Rich taste and well worth the time and money.

We give this one a rating of 8 out of 10

Happy 4^th of July America, Happy Monday and Tuesday to the rest of the world and to Canada I say Good day Eh! 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cigar Stop Reviews the Gurkha Widow maker

Name: Widow Maker

Origin: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Natural; Connecticut Broadleaf & Ecuador Broadleaf

Filler/Binder: Cameroon,Habano

Shape/Size: Gordo & Churchill

Strength: Medium - Full

Box/Bundle: Bundle of 20

Flavored: No

Price: Per Single Not Available – Per Box $60.00 to 79.00 U.S.D.

This one is an odd one gang, the name Widow Maker gives you the impression that this is a bad ass cigar that will send your taste bud to the morgue and keep you shaving your tongue as if it had more hair on it than a monkeys butt and I have to say the first 5 or 6 draws on this puffed up smolder stick keeps you in that train of thought, but then all of a sudden this cigar punks out like a school yard bully being confronted buy 3 of his victims. 

 

I have not seen this cigar many places and I am thinking the name is all about size and as we are not talking about porn this point is moot!

The cigar boasts that its wrapper is aged 10 years and that its fill is delicately aged for 7 and that it yields a creamy, spicy flavor backed by coffee notes, earthiness and a hint of toast and black pepper to the finish. I would agree with this but add in that you get all those in the first 5 to 6 draws and then you just have a mild shadow of its title widow maker.

I applaud their descriptive fortitude on this one as well as the name and all the tobacco aging that went into this over size thunder stick and I am very happy and appreciative to have smoke a few of these, however this is another case of the “Christmas socks” you are all excited to open up the big gift Christmas morning and when you do it’s a package of socks, you are disappointed, but they are socks and you needed them, same thing here you see the ominous fat cigar and read the name, you light it up and it doesn't live up to its name or description, but it’s a cigar and you still smoke it, because you like cigars and have that glimmer of hope the finish is as good as the first draw.

The cigar itself is well constructed with a very nice solid ash, burned nice and even and it rested well, however even after all that I can only give this cigar a 5 out of 10. Try one and you tell me what you think about it.

Until next time.

The Cigar Stop Reviews Rocky Patel Rosado

Name: Rocky Patel Rosado

Origin: Honduras

Wrapper: Ecuadorian

Filler/Binder: Sumatra

Shape/Size: Robusto – Toro - Torpedo

Strength: Medium

Box/Bundle: Box of 20

Flavored: No

Price: Per Single $6.00 to $9.00 – Per Box $90.00 to $100.00

So what do I start with first price or taste?

The average price of the Rosado is $90.00 (the low end of the price spectrum). I find this is absolutely ridiculous for this particular Rocky Patel offering. On sale for around $60.00 or less grab them up, not on sale go to a store and buy one. They are a nice cigar, well constructed and worthy of a try and the branding of Rocky Patel means quality, that being said, they are really nothing to write home about. They are pleasant to smoke with over a 90 rating, but for all the meticulous work and aging of the leaf that goes into this cigar it is merely ok for me. 

 

It smokes fine with a nice aroma and a mild hint of spice with a leathery undertone. The ash is nice and solid with no flaking and it burns nice and even, I have nothing bad to say about this cigar except for the price and the rating it has been given by the cigar community a 90+ rating? Hell no, it’s more “Cover Band” than “RockStar” I would say for this particular Rocky Patel that a 60+ is good a 75 to 80 rating is pushing it.

Just because you put a prom dress on a pig, it does not make her the prom queen, it’s not a complaint about the cigar just the rating and price.

I would rate this one a 9 out of 10 on construction, but over all 5 out of 10 for this cigar.

It is good, but it’s not knock your socks off and hop into bed with.

Hoarding the art of the save

 

I accused my father of being a hoarder and I then realized I was one, but not so much of stuff but cigars. I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing to be, I do keep a rotating stock of cigars, but I have been known to stash a few away, in fact I had a handful of Padron 6000, smoked 3 and stashed the other 2 for over a year, I miss them, but I enjoyed smoking them. I had a friend give me 2 Sons of Anarchy cigars; I smoked one and hoarded the other, until this week that is.

I cannot be the only one out there are you a cigar hoarder or are you a smoke everything in the humidor and then resupply?

I was so bad at one point I bought extra humidors to separate stock so I would not smoke all my real expensive or favorite ones. I still have all the humidors and I still hoard cigars, but I am trying to encourage myself you smoke them, but it did train me to have very good humidor skills. The longest time I have stored a cigar has been 3 years, so it would seem I may need a 12 step program, but I know I will not be alone I know at least 3 Dead Ringers Cigar Club Members that may need to attend such as Cigar Boy, Ken and Whiskey Chris.

Hello my Name is Cigar Ash and I am a cigar hoarder . . . . Hello Cigar Ash

I think when it comes to cigars its ok to hoard, this is my official stance, so ladies and gents what do you have in your humidor? Let’s hear from you what did you hoard and for how long.

Happy Hoarding

~Cigar Ash~