A couple of years ago, CAO Cigars hit the market with a new and bold cigar known as the CAO Flathead. It was a kind of tribute to the muscle cars of years past. They are offered in 5 different vitolas, each named for a component of an internal combustion engine along with numbers that represent the cigar size.
- V450 Sparkplug (Robusto) (4.5 x 50) – MSRP:$6.99
- V554 Camshaft (Robusto) (5.5 x 54) – MSRP:$7.69
- V642 Piston (Lancero/Panatela) (6.5 x 42) – MSRP:$7.19
- V660 Carb (Gordo) (6.0 x 60) – MSRP:$8.69
- V770 Big Block (Gordo) (7.0 x 70) – MSRP:$10.19
The blend of the Flathead is a bold combination of leaf from the USA, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic:
- Wrapper – Connecticut broadleaf wrapper
- Binder – Habano – Connecticut grown
- Filler – Nicaraguan Ligero and Dominican Piloto Cubano
If the look of this heavy weight, super dark, and gritty wrapped cigar wasn’t enough to get your engine started, the blend should, especially if you like ligero in your smoke. Top that off with a price that is sure to please too. Oh yea, if you like classic pinup girl posters, there is one in every box.
I didn’t have a good picture of a Holley 660 carb to include, but the sheer engineering of carburetors piqued my geek and I decided to photo the V660 with what I consider one of the greatest engineering designs of its time – the coal fed locomotive engine. I know, it’s not a car, but it was given to me by a dear engineering friend who has since passed away so why not include it since we are talking engines and cigars.
For this review I sampled the CAO Flathead V660 Carb which I received as part of the entry to the 2017 Smoke Inn – Great Smoke.
Cigar Review Notes
- Super dark and gritty wrapper with some solid veins
- There is a light sheen to it when held in the light
- Box pressed with a flat head.
- Cocoa, spice, and berry aroma on the foot
- Cold draw is a tad restricted with notes of gentle pepper and sweet tobacco
- Starts off very smooth (like a fine tuned engine) with a medium body of creamy coffee smoke
- Red Pepper builds on the lips
- Burn is bit jagged
- Sweetness enters after the first third
- Chocolate notes entering
- Medium gray ash fell after the first third revealing a fairly well centered burn cone
- Cedar enters just before the band
- A slight astringent notes enters
- Smoke has been medium body throughout
- Cedar and bitter coffee bean enters in the final third
- Medium to Full Strength
- Total Smoking Time was one hour and 35 minutes
Overall, the CAO Flathead V660 Carb was a well-behaved large ring gauge smoke, that offered a flavorful experience through a medium body of smoke. The flavors all blended and transitioned as well as finely tuned machine. CAO is owned by General Cigars. If you are looking for a deal on the CAO Flathead, check out Smoke Inn.
CAO Flathead V660 Carb