Cigar Review - Neos Cappuccino

I'm not big on flavored cigars (there are a few exceptions) and I'm even less enthusiastic about flavored cigarillos, as most of them end up being pretty cheap and bad tasting smokes. These little guys by Neos however, are fantastic, well flavored and well crafted cigarillos.

The flavor really comes through, and both the taste and smell are terrific. They're small, smaller than cigarettes actually, so they're perfect for a quick smoke or an after dinner dessert smoke. There's no filler or filters here, these are genuine little cigars. They're pre-cut and require no skill to light and smoke in 5-10 minutes. Next time your looking for a light smoke with a lot of flavor, an after-dinner smoke or maybe a chaser smoke after a bigger cigar, I highly recommend Neos Cappuccino.

Cigar Review - Rocky Patel Java

Rocky Patel Java is another of my go-to cigars. I really have yet to be disappointed by anything Rocky sets his hand to, but he really struck gold with this cigar. This is, to quote the gentleman who sold it to me, "like smoking dessert," and this is probably the best description I've heard for the Java.

Firstly, this is a sleek looking cigar; it's square pressed for an elegant box shape with simple and tasteful labels on both ends. Secondly, this is one of the best tasting cigars I've yet smoked, ever. Before even cutting it and lighting it it gives off a very good coffee/cocoa flavor, and I mean REAL flavor. I would honestly buy these and just chew on them for the flavor, delicious.

Once lit, it burned perfectly and evenly, with strong coffee and cocoa flavors dominating. As I smoked the Java down the flavors became darker and spicier until the final fifth or so the cigar, at which point it became rather bitter and I had to stop smoking it. The smell is terrific, and is one of the only cigars I've smoked that doesn't seem to repel non-cigar smokers away.

The Rocky Patel Java is a fantastic after dinner dessert cigar, with outstanding flavor, burn and smell. I highly recommend the Maduro version, as this has some deeper and more rich textures in the flavor. For any cigar smoker, the Java is a must-smoke.

Rocky Patel Drew Estate Java Maduro
rated 9/10
Brazilian Maduro wrapper with Nicaraguan filler
Lighting method used: 3 torch lighter followed by single torch

Cigar Review - CAO Brazilio Gol

Continuing my current CAO run, I decided to give the Brazilia Gol a try; having only had it one other time a long while ago it was more or less like trying it for the first time, and as with all CAO cigars I was most impressed.

This is a much darker and stronger cigar than its Italian brother and leans more towards cocoa/coffee flavors rather than the spicy and bitter Italian. Coffee and cocoa were the dominant flavors during the first third of the smoke, and towards the second third the earthiness almost completely took over, which is something I love about CAO cigars. Towards the end of the cigar the strong coffee taste returned, though the cocoa was nearly gone and there was a bitter taste to it.

The burn alternated between even and uneven, but there were no unsightly fingers or other signs of a badly burning cigar. The ash was solid and dark grey and fell in solid clumps all three times I ashed the cigar and the burn even with each ash. The draw was perfect, neither too tight or loose and every puff was accompanied by a large cloud of smoke.

Overall, this dark and strong cigar is definitely recommended by me; it would go great with some good strong coffee after a full meal and gets a hearty recommendation from me.

CAO Brazilia Gol

rated 7.5/10

Brazilian wrapper with Nicaraguan filler

Lighting method used: 3 match

Cigar Review - CAO Italia Ciao

This is one of my favorite cigars, hands down. There's 2 or 3 cigars that are sort of my go-to cigars; whenever i don't know what to buy i just go with one of those. The CAO Italia Ciao is one of these. It's a consistently good smoke, which is a quality all CAO cigars have and why CAO is my favorite brand.

This cigar has all the features that I love in cigars: a perfect draw, neither too tight or too loose, a fantastic burn with nearly white ash and some great flavors. This is medium-bodied cigar, leaning towards stronger more than milder. The flavors that jumped out at me were spicey, peppery, with that earthy taste I love in CAO cigars. Towards the last third of the cigar or so it became slightly more bitter, like strong bitter coffee.

The burn was terrific, and even almost the whole way around except near the middle part of the smoke where it unevened, but after a few more minutes it evened itself out and stayed that way until I finished smoking it.

This is a great cigar, and I recommend it to anyone seeking a good medium-bodied, great burning and great tasting smoke.

CAO Italia Ciao
rated 8/10
medium-to-full body with strong tendencies
Italy, Nicaragua, and Peru filler with Honduran wrapper
Lighting method used: punch with a tri-jet lighter

Cigar Review - CAO La Traviata

I have to admit, I'm a little biased towards CAO, as they're my all time favorite cigar brand. I've yet to be disappointed by any cigar bearing the CAO label, and when I saw this new and un-smoked (by me anyways) cigar, I had to try it out.

I was not disappointed. This is a medium-to-full bodied cigar, a little on the stronger side though (but not Maduro) with a slow and very even burn (except for the first few minutes, but that was a lighting error on my part). It has that good earthy with slightly salty and bitter taste all CAO cigars have and keeps the same flavors throughout its roughly 50 minute burn. The draw was a bit tight though and it was a little tough to get properly lit, but it kept a good even burn once completely lit with a medium amount of smoke throughout.

My only real complaint I have is that the cigar I purchased began unraveling about halfway through, and by the time I was 3/4 done with it the entire end was unraveled.

CAO has consistently produced one excellent cigar after another, and this is no exception. While not the greatest cigar I've ever smoked, this is a slow burning, flavorful, medium-to-strong bodied cigar that I'll definitely be purchasing more of in the future.

CAO La Traviata
rated 7.5/10
medium-to strong bodied
Nicaraguan and Dominican Republican filler with Cameroon binder

Lighting Methods: Punch, with a tri-jet lighter.