CAO Cigars, by way of the General Cigar Co. showcased two new production blends at this year’s PCA Convention & Trade Show. Known as the FASA, which translates to “Phase”, it comes in 2 blends -Sol and Noche. Sol is “sun” – or roughly day – and Noche is “night’. So, these are made to be night and day. Both the Sol and Noche incorporate a Cameroon binder along with fillers from three Nicaraguan regions and also the Dominican Republic. It should also be noted that the FASA Noche is made at STG Estelí in Nicaragua, while FASA Sol is made at STG Danlí in Honduras.
Ed Lahmann, senior brand manager for CAO noted:
“CAO FASA Sol and CAO FASA Noche could not be more alike, yet they could not be more different. They’re literally like night and day, and still perfect for either occasion. This is what CAO is all about… taking our fans on a journey through the tobaccos we choose.”
The CAO FASA NOCHE blend is described as:
- Wrapper: U.S.A. (Connecticut Broadleaf)
- Binder: Cameroon
- Filler: Dominican Republic & Nicaragua (Condega, Estelí & Jalapa)
Like the FASA SOL, the NOCHE blend is expressed in 2 vitolas, each packaged in 24-count boxes:
- Toro (6 x 50) – MSRP $6.99
- Gigante (6 x 60)- MSRP $7.99
For this review, I will focus on the CAO FASA NOCHE which the company provided samples of for review on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The CAO FASA NOCHE is wrapped in a toothy, marbled, dark reddish-brown wrapper with some noticeable veins running long the barrel. The wrapper has a mild oily sheen, and the cigar is firmly packed from head to foot. A simple cap finishes the construction.
Two bands adorn the cigar. The primary band is black and white. The name CAO is printed right under a crescent moon cutout that shows the leaf behind it. The name FASA is printed on the bottom. A secondary footer band is applied that uses the same color scheme and declares this as the NOCHE.
Running the cigar along the nose, I noted a fresh floral aromas along the barrel along with a light barnyard aroma off the foot.
I sliced the cap straight across the shoulder and gave it a few cold draw puffs that I found to be just fine with restriction and offered a mild pepper note and a touch of nutmeg.
Using my single flame torch lighter, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of pepper and raisin to start the journey. Follow along as burn this one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Raisin and pepper notes start the journey – pepper especially on the retrohale
- Caramel sweetness joins the mix early
- Well-formed white ash evolves on top of a medium thick char line
- Mild wave in burn
- Touch of cocoa enters the mix
- Slight sour note near the end of the first third
- Continued raisin and added spice notes
- Ash fell in a nice chunk revealing a flat but centered burn cone
- Grapefruit bitterness deep in second third
- Moving into the final there are mild vegetal nuances
- Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 20 minutes
Final Analysis
The CAO FASA NOCHE Toro experience begins with the rich, deep notes of raisin and a distinct peppery kick, particularly noticeable on the retrohale. Early on, a smooth caramel sweetness emerges, blending seamlessly into the profile. As the smoke evolves, a touch of cocoa subtly enters the mix, adding complexity. Toward the end of the first third, a faint sour note appears throwing off the blend a bit. The raisin and spice continue to dominate. In the second third, a grapefruit bitterness emerges, bringing a sharp contrast to the other flavors. As the cigar progresses into its final third, mild vegetal nuances begin to appear bring the journey to a conclusion. This may be worth a fiver given the price point. I rate this an 89. I found the SOL blend to be a far superior cigar.
Point Deductions: (-1) Mild Wave in burn; (-1) Flat but centered burn cone; (-1) Sour notes end of first third; (-2) Un-balanced flavors after the first third
