Cruising behind CAO’s release of the mammoth Resonator cigar is the “Flathead Dream Machine,” an AI tool that puts the CAO smoker in the driver’s seat. As the first brand to explore ever-evolving AI technology, CAO gives its fans the chance to take the wheel and build the virtual hot rod of their dreams. With Read more about Cigar News: CAO Taps AI for Virtual Hot Rod Dream Machine Tool[…]
CAO is kicking off the holiday season with a compilation pack featuring its top Toros. Called CAO Premier 54, the four-pack has just begun shipping to retailers. Offering an array of smoking experiences in the medium to medium-plus range, the quartet of 6” x 54 frontmarks represents CAO’s cigar making expertise, giving the smoker a Read more about Cigar News: CAO Debuts and Begins Shipping the CAO Premier 54s Pack[…]
In the triple crown of Motorsports, the 24 hours of Le Mans is the most grueling of high-octane car racing. And in the 1960s, Ford decided it was time to go big at Le Mans, or go home. So they created the GT40 MK1 to compete against Ferrari in the long-distance race. And the GT40 Read more about Cigar News: CAO Introduces the Flathead V23[…]
CAO Arcana Mortal Coil will soon be back by popular demand. The limited-edition cigar that features “Andullo,” the oldest tobacco fermentation method of the Dominican Republic, will ship to retailers on August 1. Ed Lahmann, senior brand manager of CAO cigars said, “The fans of CAO spoke, and we listened. We previously brought back Mortal Read more about Cigar News: CAO Cigars Announces the Return of the Mortal Coil[…]
CAO Pilón Añejo is back by popular demand and returns as a full-time line with limited availability, due to the intensive fermentation and finished cigar aging that gives the blend its signature depth and character Senior Brand Manager Ed Lahmann said, “When CAO Pilón Añejo launched last Spring, it quickly became apparent that we needed Read more about Cigar News: CAO Pilón Añejo Returns as Full-Time Line[…]
Named for the rare, Amazonian Rainforest-grown tobacco in its blend, CAO Amazon Basin is a small batch, limited edition expression that debuted in 2014 and remains one of the premium cigar category’s most memorable smokes. In January 2023, Amazon Basin will be taken to the next level with the release of CAO Amazon Basin Extra Read more about Cigar News: CAO Amazon Basin Extra Añejo Hitting Shelves January 2023[…]
CAO proudly presents Vision, a limited-edition release that speaks to the many facets of the highly innovative Nicaraguan brand. Ed Lahmann, senior brand manager of CAO stated: “On the one hand, Vision expresses CAO’s commitment to the past through its dedication to old-world craftsmanship. And on the other hand, Vision takes a look into the Read more about Cigar News: CAO Announces Limited Edition Vision Toro[…]
For those of you that are familiar with the CAO Amazon Basin and CAO Brazilia cigar blends, you understand that CAO has quite a bit of experience working with Brazilian Tobacco. Now enters the BX3, which aptly stands for Brazilian times 3. That’s right, the new BX3 incorporates Brazilian tobacco in the wrapper, the binder, and Read more about Cigar Review: CAO BX3 Robusto – Rated 93[…]
CAO has always had a rebellious streak (think MX2, CX2, LX2), and the brand’s maverick approach to blending is taking another leap forward through its latest expression: CAO BX3. BX3 is a new collection that harnesses “three times the Brazilian tobaccos” in one robust blend. Focusing on the primary growing regions of Northeastern Brazil, CAO Read more about Cigar News: CAO Debuts BX3 – Highlights Brazilian Tobacco[…]
One of the newest creations from the team at CAO Cigars this year is known as the Pilón Ańejo and according to the company it “takes a classic cigar aging technique to the next level.” It should be noted that this is one of the last cigars that Ricky Rodriguez blended for CAO before departing Read more about Cigar Review: CAO Pilón Ańejo Robusto – Rated 95[…]
CAO is set to launch a blend called Pilón Añejo which pairs labor-intensive fermentation and finished cigar aging to deliver a cigar of great depth and character. The limited-edition line will ship to retailers in April and a total of 5,000 boxes will be released in the US. CAO Pilón Añejo is made with the Read more about Cigar News: CAO Debuts Pilón Añejo[…]
Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) has announced that Rick Rodriguez, blender/ambassador of CAO is retiring from the company on April 29, 2022 after more than 20 years with the company. Rick joined General Cigar in January 2000 as a sales representative in Florida. In 2005, he was given the opportunity of a lifetime by Edgar Cullman, Read more about Cigar News: CAO Blender and Ambassador Rick Rodriguez Retiring from STG[…]
CAO continues to highlight old-world processing methods with the limited return of its Arcana Series. For 2022, a blend called “Firewalker,” which is inspired by the Chincagre method of aging will be released in one, limited edition size. Applied solely to the Nicaraguan-grown filler tobacco in Firewalker’s blend, Chincagre is an archaic process of primary Read more about Cigar News: CAO Releases Firewalker Version of the Arcana[…]
In this episode of Taking It To The Nub, Boston Jimmie from Stogie Press sits down with CAO Cigars Master Blender and Brand Ambassador, Rick Rodriguez. We get into his growth in the industry and how he moved from sales to blending and what it is like to be the Brand Ambassador for CAO. Rick Read more about Taking It To The Nub – Season 2 Episode 5 – CAO Master Blender Rick Rodriguez[…]