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! 

 

 

 

 

 

Cuban sandwich it’s not just a great meal

So as of late I am sure some of you have seen the trend and term of the “Cuban Sandwich” and it is not referring to that delicious meal.
Cuban sandwich refers to the filler in the cigar that makes up its body. For years long filler has been the term associated with handmade cigars, and short fillers or chop/short fillers were use to produce machine made cigars or very cheap cigars.

Well it would seem as of late more and more cigar factories have been producing cigars coined with  the term “Cuban sandwich” which is the short filler leaves inside and the long filler leafs wrapped around the outside of them.

I myself am not a fan of this particular sandwich and would like to put myself on a diet and stay away from it, but it is becoming common now. A couple reasons I am not a fan of short fillers are that it makes a mess when you smoke them. The ash is flaky and has a tendency to fall all over you and whatever you have near you, your car, desk, chair est. another down side is that it will have hot spots and could canoe on you (canoeing is when the cigar burn up the side and not even to look like a canoe). No matter what they tell you a Cuban sandwich is no different than using chop fillers and short fillers. Just because you wrap long leaves around them, it will not change how they burn (my opinion). You can mask a fart, but it is still a fart!

  I am without proof, but I am sure that most of the factories are producing Cuban sandwich style cigars to save money, but I have to be honest when they start losing momentum as cigar enthusiast realize that their cigars are being made cheaply and the price tag has not gone down near enough to warrant this practice they will need to drop the price, smarten up and change their ways. I hope. 

 With the Cuban embargo in a fragile state and trade beginning to open up I would be maneuvering myself to making a quality product and establish consumer friendly cigars and relationships, because let’s face it when free trade with Cuba starts, Cuban cigars will flood the market and for however brief or long the competition will be fierce.
This entry is all my own opinion and supported by a few decades of smoking cigars, check into things for yourself try a few Cuban sandwich cigars and judge them against the long leaf fillers and come to your own conclusions. Feel different about it or agree with this entry, drop me a line at CigarAsh@yahoo.com or post here on the Cigar Stop blog, I welcome your thoughts.
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.