The CAO Surplus Sweet Robusto is a simple, easygoing cigar that leans heavily on its sweetened cap to define the experience. It doesn't offer a great deal of complexity or evolution, but it remains balanced and enjoyable for those who appreciate sweeter cigars.
Overall, the CAO Surplus Shade Robusto had a solid start with some enjoyable sweetness, creaminess and a touch of chocolate that provided the most interesting part of the smoking experience. Unfortunately, the profile became progressively simpler as the review continued, eventually settling into a largely wood-driven experience without much additional development. For a budget cigar, this offering punches well outside of its price class.
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.
Overall, the first third of the CAO America 250th Anniversary showed the most promise and complexity, but the cigar steadily simplified as it progressed. Construction was excellent, with no burn interventions required and an ideal draw.
The CAO Italia Ciao started with an average flavor profile but took a step down in the second third and remained that way through to the end. I'm pretty sure the very tight draw just didn't let this profile exhibit what it was supposed to be, as smoke production was low early on and required multiple draws. Unfortunately, I don't think I can really report on what this cigar really is based on the draw issue, and I'm not sure if I'll return to see if I can get a better constructed one.
The CAO Surplus Maduro Robusto had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around earth and toasted cedar. The black pepper built up as the cigar went along and the creamy cocoa was a nice touch. While this isn't a cigar I'd come back to with any real frequency, this is a fantastic bundle and budget cigar. The score matches up with many cigars that are priced 5 to 10 times what this costs. If you are a smoker on a budget, you'd be hard pressed to find a cigar that performs better than this at around the two dollar mark.
The CAO FASA Sombra Toro was not a bad cigar, but it was lacking. The flavor profile never took off, and I felt it was underwhelming for a modern Connecticut. I think it’s a cigar that a lot of new smokers could smoke, nice introductory cigar, but at the same time not a brand or line that is going to speak to those smokers. I don’t see retailers pushing this cigar. I also don’t know many CAO smokers that are going to go out and grab this cigar.
The CAO FASA Noche Toro had a nice start as the chalky cocoa provided a pleasant accent. As it departed in the second third, the profile took a step down and remained that way for the remainder of the cigar. This cigar had a profile that showed through some of the homogenized flavors that were present and typical of STG releases that I experience. Around the middle of the cigar, the profile succumbed to the homogenized components, but I think there is still a good flavor profile hidden in there.
After smoking the CAO Flathead Resonator, I have to say this was one of the more enjoyable large ring gauge offerings I've reviewed. The profile is certainly not going to break the bank in terms of flavor combinations, nor is it much of a stand out in terms of complexity or nuance. But it does provide a pleasant cigar for the entirety of the smoking experience.
The CAO Amazon Basin Extra Añejo started well, with a nice combination of flavors, but as the sweetness departed in the second third, the profile became average and remained that way through to the end. I didn't find this version of the cigar on par with the original release. It's a step above the Fuma em Corda, but doesn't reach the level that the original or the Anaconda achieved. I don't see myself coming back to this cigar.