Cigar Review: CAO l’Anniversaire eXtreme Toro

This was a cigar given to me many months ago by a good friend who dug into his aged stock. Now, I don’t know how long ago he obtained this, but I’ve had it in my humidor for about eight months now. This blend has been discontinued, but can still be found in certain sizes.

Appearance: This is not your show-off cigar. This is just a cigar. Average band, average stick. There was nothing special to this stick that would make you think it was good or bad. Guess you just have to smoke it before you can judge it.

Taste: Ever chew on a strap of leather? Me neither, but if I ever do, this stick is what I imagine it tasting like. Pure leather. A medium-bodied strength that wasn’t too light nor too overpowering, this stick is consistent in its flavor, never once changing from beginning to end. And trust me, I almost burned my fingers waiting to see if this would change. I must say that it was good, even if not complex. The flavor was satisfying and enjoyable.

Aroma: I knew I was in for a ride of rawhide when I held this puro to my nose and whiffed. I must say that it got my salivary glands going, though. Many cigars don’t do this for me. Once lit, it had a pure tobacco smell. The kind your wife or girlfriend complains you stink like when you come home from poker night.

Construction: Eh… it was average. The draw was loose as was the ash, but the burn was decent. The stick didn’t feel too bad when squeezing it looking for plugs and inconsistencies. One plus with this stick was the amazing amount of smoke that came with it. I like it when my cigars can fill a room by themselves and this one delivered.

Overall: CAO makes good cigars. Not great cigars, but good cigars (yes, there is one that I love, so don’t think I’m knocking CAO). You can’t fault them their marketing, because they are an extremely popular brand. This cigar fell in the top echelon of good. It wasn’t great, but it was quite enjoyable. I may have to pick up some of these while they can still be had.

Cigar Rating:

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