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[…]
Now that we have departed the tumultuous year of 2020, I finally got around to picking up a new CAO 2020 Vision. Who would have known how ironic it would be to name it the 2020 Vision, a year many of us would rather forget. But we are not here to get reminiscent about 2020, Read more about Cigar Review: CAO 2020 Vision – Rated 93[…]
If you are cigar enthusiast, you know that Dominoes (Bones) and Cigars go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly. CAO Ambassador – Ricky Rodriguez – knows that too and he and the CAO blending team decided to create a new cigar called Bones. Announced this past month, the CAO Bones has blend described as: Wrapper Read more about Cigar News: CAO Cigars Announces the BONES[…]
Late last year, I was at the 10th Anniversary Tampa Cigar Bash. This is one of the best events in the state of Florida and draws a large crowd of cigar enthusiasts and brand owners alike. The party is always great as you get to meet and greet many of the names behind the cigars Read more about Cigar Review: CAO Cigars Session Garage – Rated 87[…]
Originality is probably one of the most noticeable virtues in the cigar industry. Many of our beloved cigars often have a story behind them while also having very creative packaging and a very unique marketing strategy. With so many different brands of cigars on the market, year after year, there is no doubt that our Read more about Cigar Lifestyle: Are Gimmicky Cigars Worth Smoking – By Mike Holmes[…]
This past Thursday I had the pleasure of attending a CAO Cigars event at my local lounge – Executive Cigars Shop and Lounge in Melbourne, FL. The event was part of the shop’s monthly cigar meeting but featured CAO Master Blender, Ricky Rodriguez. Normally when I visit shops for events I tend to talk about Read more about CAO Cigar Event with Ricky Rodriguez[…]