Vitola: Garage (Robusto)- 5.25” x 55 ring gauge
- MSRP $8.59
- Purchased at Burns Tobacconist
Background
“Some of the best times in my life happened over cigars in my garage in Tampa,” says CAO’s Rick Rodriguez. This latest creation by Rick was meant for those times when you just want to “sit, smoke, chill and not over-think things.” The aim was a medium-bodied stick that everyone can enjoy during their smoking “sessions” whether they happen in a cigar shop, their garage, or a local bar.
CAO Session uses Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers, a Dominican binder, and a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper. It comes in three sizes, each packed in boxes of 20 sticks. It shipped at the same time as the previously reviewed Joyo La Amistad Dark Sumatra.
I have smoked a couple of these previous to this review sample, all of which I purchased at Burns Tobacconist.
Prelight
Orange is the new black for the new CAO Session. The box features a bold orange background with blue and white type and accent pieces. The band is framed in white, with a metallic orange background, embossed white lettering and blue logo, artwork and accents. The secondary band features the words “Sit,” “Smoke” and “Chill,” as well as the tiny signature of Rick Rodriguez where the band comes together.
Laid on the almost-black Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, the bands make quite an impact. The wrapper is one of the darkest I’ve seen in a very long time. It had an aroma of leather and earth, with a touch of anise. The foot of the stick was earthy with a bit of a chocolate and coffee mix.
I clipped with my Xikar Xi cutter and got a very good draw that had some sweetness in it, a little coffee, and a woody note.
Flavor
Firing up, I felt like the CAO Session was definitely on the more medium-to-full bodied side, rather than the medium that was the aim. It had notes of wood and anise, espresso bean and earth, with just a touch of chocolate sweetness coming in from behind. There was a little pepper heat on the palate, but on the nose, I got a full-burn red pepper spice. The first third continued earthy and spicy with copious espresso and touches of chocolate throughout.
Getting into the second third, I still detected plenty of espresso bean, which moved slightly ahead of the earthiness. Pepper heat and chocolate sweetness played nice accenting notes.
The final third had traces of cinnamon as woody notes came back into the mix, while earth, espresso and cocoa powder played around underneath. There was some pepper spice on the palate and nose.
Construction
I had a very even burn line and solid ash throughout, but the draw was slightly loose, causing the cigar to burn extra fast.
Value
This cigar had a good flavor profile and was enjoyable, making it worth the price of admission.
Conclusions
The CAO Session is a definite hit, although not really a homer. It’s a good medium-to-full smoke with a decent amount of complexity, although the complexity came from a good number of flavors in any particular puff, rather than a real change or progression throughout. I will definitely pick up more of these and enjoy them in my cigar shop or front porch sessions from time to time.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
