The CAO Flathead V21 Carb was pretty monotonous and started with a typical General Cigar profile. It built in strength as it went along, but at no time did I find the profile interesting or all that enjoyable. Definitely not a cigar I see myself returning to.
I don’t know what I am doing here, but I dug this CAO Pilón Añejo Robusto! Some cool flavors here and there with a solid core of cocoa, leather, floral and herbal qualities. Great construction! Final third was not as good as the first two thirds, but overall, I thought this was a good cigar.
Quite a linear profile of musty cedar and dry earth with the profile becoming quite dry by the midpoint. No complexities or transitions to really speak of. The snug draw was a bit of a downer, but didn't have any ill effects on the performance. The price point is quite attractive, but there's nothing here that would make me want to come back to the CAO Zocalo Robusto.
I never smoked the original so I can't say how it compares, but this CAO Vision was a fairly average experience overall. I can see it appealing to a wide range of smokers that gravitate to this basic type of profile, but I need something more to maintain my attention. With the experience I had, combined with the high price point, I don't really see myself returning to this cigar.
The CAO Bones Chicken Foot offered up the most interesting combination of flavors in the first third for me. The second and last thirds were consistent, but the flavors and balance didn't do enough to rise much above an average level. This cigar is a pass for me, I'd rather reach for the dynamic flavors of the Pilon or any of the Flathead series.
The CAO Arcana Mortal Coil Toro was a mostly wood forward cigar that tried at times to evolve beyond that base flavor note, but ultimately couldn't succeed. There is nothing wrong with the cigar, it just doesn't offer a profile that engaged my interest or attention other than a short period in the first third.
The CAO Expedición TAA Exclusive 2020 showed promise in the first third, but as I progressed into the second and final third, I found the flavor profile to remain stagnant and somewhat flat. Overall, if there was more complexity and depth, and some transitioning into the second and final third, this cigar would have done well.
The CAO Session Garage started with a nice profile and very low strength. The retrohale is a nice bright spot for this cigar. Having smoked this blend a few times after initial release, I wasn't too high on it, but it has improved over time. I would actually recommend people giving this a try and I would smoke this on occasion as the flavor profile it provides with the low strength level does have some appeal.
Showing much promise within the first third, reminding me of the unique fruit sweetness of the original Amazon Basin, only to be let down for the rest of the cigar experience. Past the first third, the profile had too much repetitiveness in red pepper spice and cedar, and as a result, I found myself being bored with the CAO Orellana.
The CAO Flathead V19 Camshaft is a solid additional to the lineup. With interesting flavors of cedar, baking spices, sweetness, bread, molasses, earth and cinnamon combine to satisfy the palate. I found the first and second thirds to be the most satisfying with the last third to be fairly average.