I smoked what I assume is called the old (vintage) blend back in the summer, I was pleased with the smoke, it helped that it was free. Rather unexciting though, I like smokes with some complexity to them.

I smoked 2 of the new blend tonight, it prompted me to post my review while it was still fresh in my mind b4 I went to sleep. One of the best CAO's I have had to date, it starts out spicey and full-bodied but then mellows after a 1/2 inch (I had the 6x50). From there it grows again in flavor, but never quite reaching that full bodied plateau. Being that it was my b-day tonight, I had been saving a VSG to smoke...I was almost looking forward to finishing it so i could light another black. Nuff' said, goodnight and hope ya'll try this great smoke.

OH MY GAWD!!!

I found them at one site, at these ridiculous prices:

CAO Black label Petit Corona 40x5 (25) $250.00

CAO Black label Corona 42x6 (25) $280.00

CAO Black label Robusto 50x41/2 (25) $295.00

CAO Black Label Churchill 50x8 (25) $495.00

These are the ones that have the black band with the red border and red points on the gold CAO diamond ... is this the cigar you are referring to?

There is a silver and black (GO RADIERS!) band on the CAO Black Label cigar, which is considerably less expensive.

Cigars International has one called CAO Black that is a limited edition ... with the same band as the first one I mentioned, but it has a white border on top of the red border ...

Which one?

I don't know about the new blend but I bought a box of the black labels from CI back over the summer. They're a really good smoke.

The original Black had been discontinued and there were some old boxes still floating around. Now CAO has released the new Black line, a limited-edition, each cigar is cedar-wrapped, boxes are painted and individually numbered, and it's a really fantastic smoke. The blend is completely different than the old Black.

Cool!

Thanks Keith ...

No wonder the ones with the Raiders band are so inexpensive...They're typo bands (Radiers)..LOL

What is the tobacco profile on this line? Wrapper, binder, filler? Strength? I live for minutia!

CAO Black Review:
http://cigars.about.com/library/weekly/aa121302a.htm 

???

???? X

!!! JR

OK,JR,I give up,what's up. X

Still trying to find out if anyone know the tobacco profile of this cigar.

Didn't the review site say so? X

No. It's all very mysterious. He raved about the cigar, but didn't say anything about the wrapper, etc. He DID say it was the single best cigar he's ever smoked, which made me curious, to say the least.

I'm not buying into CAO's hype. Especially after the disappointing Criollo! I'll wait for Smoke magazine to review it, and other local shops before I even consider it.

The Criollo was a dud, but I loved the Brazilia.

Top.

Brazillias are great!

Charlie

Being intrigue by the review ...I researched a little...
The "New Black" is not exactly an overall new release but rather a special run of cigars made for CI on a one time order!
They are obviously not available from any source..
An interesting tidbit is that there is a current bid of $41 for a 5-pact that CI sells for $27.