CAO MX2

The first CAO cigar I ever smoked was the CAO MX2, and I have been a fan of the company ever since. Unlike some of my lesser palated friends I like to mix things up and smoke a variety of cigars. I like trying different flavors, and have yet to really settle on one favorite. CAO as a whole has made this easy and the MX2 is not exception. The 2 stands for two Maduro wrappers and are wrapped around tobaccos from six different countries. It is hard to pin this cigar down as far as flavor because in the 6x54 Toro I smoked recently I ran into just about every flavor imaginable. As is common with CAO the quality of the cigar stood on its own. The wrapper, burn, and finish are what CAO is about the MX2 stands up to its name. Whether you are new to smoking and your nickname is "Chimney" the MX2 will be 45 minutes of dark, rich, smoky, tastiness.

Padron Series

The guys I smoke with often talk about the best everyday smoke. That usually means what cigar is affordable and pleasurable enough to look forward to smoking everyday. While I don't smoke daily I have pondered the question. I have yet to pick a cigar that I would consider my everyday smoke (that's quite a commitment) but the regular Padron would definitely be in the running. The La Floridita has yet to make it into my top 1000.

Padron is a boutique brand and makes arguably the finest cigar in the world with its 1964 Anniversary line. However, Padron doesn't skimp when it comes to their regular line. Always consistent in flavor, burn and price I consider the regular Padron to be a must in every serious smokers humidor. You just can't go wrong with theses cigars. These are considered in the medium to full bodied range, but the flavor says full bodied all the way. Also with about 13 different sizes available in the same blend you can find one for any occasion. Whether it be a long after dinner smoke with the 9 inch 50 rg Magnum or the 36x5.5 Chicos when you only have 15 minutes or so.

Let me also say these are cheap enough that you can give one to your non-smoking moocher friends without feeling like you might turn them off to cigars forever. Or you can continue to keep a few Macanudos on hand for gimmes.

La Fotana Consigliere

This is an interesting cigar. I usually stay away from the big tobacco companies. You know the ones where two or three companies put out 40 cigars a piece, but use tobacco from the same region in every cigar so you really only have two cigars with 40 different labels. I think General Cigars epitomizes this concept.

I bought this cigar for one reason. I thought it had a cool label. I like trying different cigars, so after discovering that magazine ratings are not necessarily an accurate description of good and bad I tried the next approach. Price and label. It seemed to be as much a shot in the dark as the ratings system, but I have had better luck with that system than a subscription to Aficionado.

The Consigliere is worth trying. $4-6 bucks for a premium, smooth, creamy smoke, that is wrapped in American grown Conneticut Shade wrapper. I have smoked 4 of theses now and they are consistent in flavor, burn, wrap, and finish so you shouldn't get any surprises. Plus you get to smoke a cigar in a tuxedo wrapper. Tell your wife this is your dress up smoke.

Graycliff Chateau Gran Cru

This cigar is supposedly in the top 5 of all premium cigars made. When it comes to high end, hand-made cigars, the Gran Cru is supposedly as high as you can go. When it comes to price there are few cigars that top it. According to Cigar.com "the Chateau Gran Cru is another masterpiece from Graycliff." According to Graycliff "The Graycliff Château Grand Cru is indeed the grand cru of cigars."

Let me tell you what the Graycliff Château Grand Cru is. It is an over priced piece of hype. $20 bucks for one of these cigars would be considered a great deal. Luckily for me I have smoked 7 or 8 of these and have not yet paid for one. I love Graycliff cigars, especially the White Label, but Graycliff Château Grand Cru is one of the most inconsistent cigars I have ever smoked. Of the 8 I have smoked only 2 have actually finished. The others either refused to stay lit or after a couple of inches it became so hard to draw I felt like I was attempting to suck a basket ball through a garden hose.

Now about flavor. The two that actually finished were two of the best cigars I have ever smoked. The flavor is bold yet smooth, earthy and creamy at the same time. Yet, it cost someone $160 dollars for my $40 dollars worth of smoke. It ain't worth it.

So Juan will you smoke another one? Heck, yeah I will. Will you buy one? There is no way. It is too much of a gamble. I will just take my $160 dollars to the local sushi bar.

Camacho Coyolar

I am ashamed to admit that I am thus far not man enough to finish this cigar.

The Camacho Coyolar is a powerhouse of Honduran long fillers, grown on the Coyolar farm. If you have ever wanted to try a true full-bodied cigar without shelling out major bucks this is one for you. $6 to $8 dollars will buy you one of these studs, and if you are able to finish it then count yourself a real cigar smoker. As with most full-bodied cigars it is ver earthy and spicy, but not so much that you won't enjoy the flavor.

I have smoke the Padron 1964, GrayCliff Expresso, CAO Extreme, and Diamond Crown Maximus and none of them can compete with the power of this Camacho. The only cigar I have smokd that was as strong as this one is the Padron 1926 which I will review later.

If you are a new smoker I don't recommend this cigar, but it would make a nice practical joke for that friend who is always bumming a stick and not finishing it. If you have been smoking for a while and want to test your stamina then this is a good place to start.

UPATE: I have tried two other times and still have not been able to finish this cigar.

AVO Signature

If you haven't noticed most reviews on this site are for full-bodied cigars. While full-bodied is a somewhat relative term as far as shear strength is concerned it is worth noting on flavor. Full-bodied, as far as I have found, will not always be strong tobacco. However, if you are new to cigar smoking take it slow and don't get turned off to full-bodied cigars.

Using this logic is how I tracked down the AVO signature. When I first begin smoking cigars I asked a lot of questions to those who were supposed to be in the know. My friend Amar and his staff are pretty knowledgeable and help me a lot in the beginning. (side note: just because someone works in a cigar shop it does not mean they know what they are talking about). On their recommendation I had tried several AVO cigars and was pleased with them overall. However, I was looking for something with a little more flavor. That is when I tried the AVO signature. These cigars are blended from four distinct Dominican leaves, plus a four-year-aged San Vicente ligero binder for even richer flavor. These full-bodied cigars are mantled in a silky-smooth. AVO cigars are high end cigars so expect to pay a little extra, but if you are looking for the most flavor for your money go with the Signature.

If you are more of a medium bodied smoker try the AVO XO. These have the same unique AVO flavor, but are slightly cheaper and make great light smokes. You get real flavor for a lighter bodied cigar.

The AVO story is an interesting one and if you get a chance it is worth a few seconds on Google to track it down.

CAO Italia

CAO is one of the premier cigar companies in the world today. After years of producing fine pipe tobacco they tried their hand at cigar making and did so in a big way. Overall CAO is my second favorite cigar company. There are only a few of their cigars that I have not tried and even fewer that I didn't like, including the CAO Italia.

I was first turned on to the Italia by my friend Tim, but his love for the La Floridita skewed his recommendations in my book. However, in this case, he was right on. The Italia is made from Italian grown Habano tobacco from seeds taken from Cuba in the 1960's. We already know what kind of quality soil the Italian's have from their fine olive oils and wines, but what the soil does to that tobacco is worth noting. The natural earthy sweetness of the Italia makes it a unique smoke and one all serious smokers should try. This cigar is full-bodied flavor from start to finish and oh what a finish. There is nothing disappointing about this cigar. However, again I hear they are hard to find. If you happen across one, buy two and smoke one for me.

UPDATE: Since posting this CAO is no my #1 favorite cigar company. While I don't love all of their blends, I have never once been disappointed with quality.