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CAO Escaparate Costa Rica
Wrapper: Costa Rican Muduro
Binder: Ecudorian
Filler: Nicaragua
Made In: Honduras
Size: 6.25×54 Belicosa
Price: $80.00 per 5 pack from Corona Cigar Co.
A Little Background: This is a cigar from the Escaperate Collection from CAO. These cigars are a small batch proto types that are very limited in their release. CAO has a huge aging room at their headquarters in Nashville, Tennese that is full of different blends that are limited because of the tobacco used or the tobacco is no longer grown. To see a video of their Escaparate click here. I think this is an awesome concept for CAO to release these cigars and quite frankly I think the price is very fair considering you are getting a cigar that is a one-run production. These cigars are sold to Brick and Mortar shops to distribute and I think it is a smart business move for shops to invest in something that sets them apart from other retailers.
Appearance & Construction: These are some nice looking cigars that look extremely well made. The cigars have a nice box press to them and the band is a typical looking CAO band. The cigars have a little bit of bounce when pressed between the fingers, but all-in-all a nice looking and nicely constructed cigar.
Smoking Characteristics: In the past I have had some draw issues with CAO but this one is definitely not one of them, in fact the draw is perfect on these cigars. The burn was fairly uneven and required some touch up work, but ash was nice and compact.
Flavors: This cigar starts off very smooth with a sweet earthiness and next to no pepper. There is a bit of a mineraly flavor to it but goes away after the first inch or so. As the cigar progresses, notes of creamy coffee appear and stay through the duration of the cigar. In the final third the cigar the flavors become more pronounced and a milk chocolate flavor appears which is very nice. The body of the cigar starts out medium and slowly creeps into the lower end of the full bodied spectrum near the end of the cigar.
Final Thoughts: The cigar is ultra smooth and unlike any cigar I have ever smoked. The flavors are good, but nothing overly complex in my book. Overall I enjoyed this cigar. The burn issues can be attributed to the box press of these cigars however it was not a big issue for me. These cigars are pricey for some, but considering the limited release of these cigar, I think it is fair.
Worth a Shot: Yes
Buy Again: Yes, I’d like to have five pack of these around.
Enjoyablitly: Medium to High
Similar Cigars: This cigar is very unique in flavor. If I had to come up with something here I would say it is a much creamier, much smoother Padron 1964 natural wrapper.
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