Vitola: Chicken Foot (Robusto)- 5” x 54 ring gauge
- MSRP $7.49
- Samples provided by General Cigar Company
Background
A few weeks ago I on the CAO Expedición, this year’s TAA-exclusive release for General Cigar Company. I noted at the time that the makeup of the blend was very similar to the just-announced CAO Bones, although it could be an entirely different blend, as well. Add to that the fact that Expedición was made in Honduras, while Bones was being made in Nicaragua…well, it was the old CAO that proved that location matters. Around 1998, the CAO L’anniversary Maduro was produced at a factory in Costa Rica. It was thought by many to be the best cigar they had made to that point (and possibly the best they ever made to this date). After 18 months the production was moved to a Nicaraguan factory using the same blend…but it never tasted the same. Could be “the same blend” wasn’t quite the same…could be different crops have different outcomes…could be different hands and quality control people produce different products with the same components.
A few weeks ago Bones started showing up in stores and a 5-pack of them showed up in my mail box, courtesy of General Cigar Company, who is always kind enough to send samples of new product for review. I will always review product that is sent for that purpose, but it doesn’t guarantee a good review.
Bones (not a reference to a Star Trek character) uses fillers from Honduras (Jamastran and Le Entrada) and Nicaragua (Estelí) and the Dominican Republic (Piloto Cubano), a Connecticut Shade binder, and a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. It is named after the games of dominoes and dice. Blender and brand ambassador, Rick Rodriguez, said it’s “about kicking back with your friends with a cold beer in your hand, playing a game, smoking, grilling, talking a little trash, and having the time of your life.” The vitolas are named after domino game variations, while each box contains a pair of dice and a lid that is felt-covered and suitable for playing dice.
This review is based on the third time I’ve smoked this blend.
Prelight
Aside from the slightly mixed-metaphors of domino sizes and dice included, I like the overall look of Bones. The band is black with silver foil type and trim, along with very subtle dots indicating dominoes. Not their best band…but not the worst I’ve seen, either. It’ll do the job.
The wrapper leaf was a dark chocolate brown with some mottling and a little lumpiness. It did have a nice oily sheen to it and smelled of clean earth, coffee beans, and wood. The foot had notes of cocoa powder, coffee, bread, and bell pepper.
I clipped with my trusty Xikar Xi cutter and got an excellent pre-light draw that had flavors of sweet chocolate, hay, and earth.
Flavor
Initial puffs from the CAO Bones elicited flavors of earth and leather, with a dry cocoa powder coming in behind that, along with black pepper and a slight sweetness on the finish. The retrohale had red pepper, leather, and roasted nuts. The body was medium-plus and the sweetness really picked up as the first third burned along, taking on chocolate and dark cherry notes.
The second third brings more leather into play with the sweeter notes and an increasing pepper spice component while the body ramped up to a more medium-full place.
The last third of Bones had the sweetness fading a bit while earth and leather took back over as the main flavor notes. Pepper backed off a little, as well, but did continue on at a nice level.
Construction
I had an even-enough burn line, perfect draw, and fairly solid ash that only dropped on my lap once when I wasn’t paying attention.
Value
Very good cigar and an excellent price.
Conclusions
Bones represents another winner from CAO and the mind of Rick Rodriguez…and they’ve been on a bit of a roll the last few years. This Broadleaf blend is different enough from Flathead to be something I would turn to on a regular basis and complex enough to satisfy from end to end…the great price tag is only icing on the cake.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10
