Pre-light Experience

The CAO America Monument is a barber pole, with the majority of what’s visible being dark brown with some tick raised veins, and the other portion being dark tan with some raised veins as well. The seams are smooth while the tapered head is finish with a very raised edge, so it’s easy to catch your finger or nail on it. There are two bands, with the primary being red, white, blue and gold and denoting the brand and line. The foot band is blue, gold and white with a repeating eagle and star theme. The aroma from the wrappers is a mix of earth, wood and hay, while the foot brings sweet bread, cedar and earth. The pre-light draw brings cedar, earth and mild spice.

CAO America Monument

First Third

The cigar begins with earth, toasted cedar and mild black pepper. At a quarter inch in, the toasted cedar increases to become even with the earth up front. At a half inch in, a light creaminess joins the profile. The retrohale is a creamy mix of toasted cedar and earth with some mild black pepper. At an inch and a quarter, the black pepper increases a bit. At an inch and a half in, the earth takes a slight lead in the profile. As the third comes to a close, the earth is just ahead of the toasted cedar, with creaminess and black pepper a bit behind the middle of the profile. The strength was right at medium.

CAO America Monument

Second Third

As the second third begins, some construction paper that carries some bitterness joins the profile. At a half inch in, the earth and toasted cedar are back to even up front. The retrohale is now toasted cedar and earth with light amounts of creaminess and black pepper. At an inch and a half in, the bitterness of the construction paper mellows a bit. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar and earth are even up front, with slightly bitter construction paper, black pepper and creaminess all slightly behind the middle of the profile. The strength remained at medium.

CAO America Monument

Final Third

As the final third begins, the earth takes a slight lead once again. At a half inch in, the construction paper bitterness picks back up. The retrohale remains toasted cedar and earth with light amounts of creaminess and black pepper. As the cigar wraps up, the earth is slightly ahead of the toasted cedar, with bitter construction paper in the middle of the profile and black pepper and creaminess a bit behind. The strength bumped up to slightly above medium.

CAO America Monument

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy at times, but never needed any intervention. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

CAO America Monument

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with earth, toasted cedar and mild black pepper. The cedar became even with the earth up front fairly quickly. Then, some creaminess joined the profile. Later, the black pepper increased a bit and the earth took the lead once again. The second third saw a bitter construction paper join in. Then, the cedar became even with the earth again. The final third saw the earth take the lead again and the bitter construction paper increased a bit. The CAO America Monument had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around the earth and toasted cedar. The bitter construction paper wasn’t the greatest addition, but the pepper and creaminess helped to balance it out a bit. Overall, not a cigar that really speaks to me and not something I’d see myself really coming back to.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.65

Cost/Point

$1.82

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: CAO America Monument