CAO International makes some of the finest premium cigars in the world. Seven of their cigar lines have all been rated 90 (“Outstanding”) or above by Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Insider. Two of their cigars were awarded perfect “10″ scores by the European trade publication Cigar Buyer Magazine in Autumn of 2005 issue. It is not an exaggeration to say that CAO cigars are modern works of art.

Now, while enjoying those cigars, connoisseurs will have a place to rest them that is an innovative work of modern art in itself.

CAO Cubist cigar ashtray nspired by the avant-garde art movement to debut next month

The choice of a Cubist motiff for their design could not be more appropriate.

Why?

Because Cubism owes its existence in large measure to a puff of cigar smoke. The rest of the story follows below the fold.

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CAO has announced a new cigar line called Vision that will launch at next month’s Retail Tobacco Dealers of America annual convention and show in Las Vegas. The CAO Vision is the first Dominican-made CAO cigar.

The Vision will be available in three sizes: a 5×50 Robusto, a 6×50 Toro, and a 6.25×52 Torpedo. The cigars sport a Dominican Corojo wrapper, and a Dominican Piloto Cubano (cuban seed) Binder. The filler is a blend of Dominican, Nicaraguan and Brazilian tobacco. I’ll be posting a review of the cigar as soon as they are available for sampling.

Along with this being CAO’s first Dominican release, it is also being packged in an innovative way. What could be special about the way a cigar is packaged? CAO has another surprise for us.

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CAO, one of the world’s foremost premium cigar manufacturers, today announced the Grand Prize Winner of its recent “CAO Cx2 Challenge” Promotion.

Florida resident, Anthony “TJ” Waicul, was selected at random from the thousands of names who participated in CAO’s Cx2 Challenge. The on-line promotion asked participants to answer a list of multiple-choice questions pertaining to Cameroon tobacco and the CAO Cx2 Cigar line in order to receive a complimentary CAO Cx2 Cigar and CAO Cx2 Cap.

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Summary:

The flavor of this cigar is unique in my experience, and something that you are almost certain to either love or hate. There is an oaky quality that comes through the entire time, mellowing as you smoke the cigar. It most reminds me of smoking English pipe tobacco — both in the astringency and in the problems with keeping it lit — and seems to pair well with a good Scotch Whisky. The main flaw in the Italia Ciao appears to be very uneven construction. When it is good, it is quite good. However, when it is bad…

Background Information:

At 5 inches with a 56 ring guage, this is a very chubby Robusto. The Italia Ciao is a medium-to-full bodied cigar with a Cuban-seed Honduran Maduro wrapper and binder. The filler is a special Habano seed tobacco from Italy (hence the name), blended with Nicaraguan and Peruvian tobaccos. Manufactured by C.A.O. Fabrica de Tabacos in Honduras for C.A.O. International, Inc.

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This is a very sweet deal from JR Cigars on two five-pack samplers of two very good cigars. It is only good for a week.

But for one quarter of an inch, this deal wouldn’t exist. You’ll understand that better later on. Let’s talk about the cigars.

The TTT Trinidad Corona is rated an 87 by Cigar Aficionado. They said that it was “a well-made cigar with a dark, toothy wrapper. It has a smooth, easy draw. It’s woody, spicy and smooth, with a few harsh edges.”

This cigar has a best online price at the moment of $25.00 per sampler of 5 cigars at Atlantic Cigar. The next best price is at Mike’s Cigars for $36.00 for 5 . The suggested retail price on the sampler is $40.00, so the Atlantic price would ordinarily be quite good. And next week it will be good again if it is still priced that way. This special deal from JR beats it though.

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C.A.O. will hold the first Cx2 Dinner at the Hermitage Hotel in their headquarters city of Nashville, Tennesee on Wednesday, October 26. The dinner will honor the newest C.A.O. blend, their Cameroon wrapper and binder Cx2 and also debut the direct to DVD film The Process of Cigars. The film chronicles the history and success of C.A.O..

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