I smoked my first CAO Criollo, the Pato (4 7/8" x 50), and let me tell you, this is one heck of a smoke. Great flavor, medium to full bodied, and smoooth. It burned straight as an arrow as well. If you haven't tried one, do yourself a favor and pick one up. Now I just have to light up that Brazilia Gol I just bought, haven't tried that line yet.

--Adam

I second that emission.

first CAO ?? ... you really ARE kinda lax huh? ... LOL

That Brazilian is a good one ... in fact, all the CAOs are good ones ... it's one of the best overall lines on the market IMO ...

... second to Fuente, of course.

Nothing beats a good Fuente!

Once again, I represent the minority report. I thought the CAO Criollo was an overpriced, unremarkable smoke. I love the Brazilias, but find the Extremes to taste hideous.

Give me a Villazon cigar anytime.

My favorite CAOs are the Ann. Cammie Toro and Beli. I also liked the churchill in the square tube 'cause the tubes made nice wind chimes. I've got another Criollo to try so jury is still out.

Barry

Padron/Fuente
CAO

I agree with Jreddoch, on this cigar. I had one on New Year’s, and was not impressed at all. Every CAO I have ever smoked has been a very flavorful and a good smoke. The Criollo had remarkable construction, but it just wasn’t that tasty, IMHO. The fact that I was a bit inebriated may have been a factor! Come to think of it, I’d better try one sober before I write this one off. However, I purchased it at a decent price, in relation to other CAOs.

Slim's talkin out his backside again. No Fuente can top a Vargas Senadores or the Flor del Todo.
CAO Criollo's have a unique nutty profile that should really come through with some dor time.

One of my favorite cigars right now. Santa brought me a box --- I must've been really good last year!!!

:)

Slim,

Had some friends over fo New Year's and we got on the subject of CAO cigars and Perdomo cigars. I was suprised to hear most of them preffered the Perdomo label (I think the "X" is crowd fav) What do you think knowing they are both made by Nick's crew?

I smoked a Pato for New Years Eve. Had a heck of a time keeping it lit and burning straight. Despite this, it was a great cigar. Medium body with a spicy/peppery earthy taste. Plus, it was only 5.50. I will be stocking up on these.

J

wanyburger --- they are both very good cigars.

An article in CA, published in December of last year, pretty much states it all:

http://www.ask.com/main/metaAnswer.asp?t=ai&s=a&MetaEngine=directhit&en=te&eo=2&o=0&frames=True&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecigaraficionado%2Ecom%2FCigar%2FAficionado%2Fstars%2Fperdomo%2D2%2Ehtml&ac=19&adcat=kids&pt=Perdomo%2C+Page+2&dm=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecigaraficionado%2Ecom%2FCigar%2FAficionado%2Fstars%2Fperdomo%2D2%2Ehtml&io=9&qid=36F9C773A27504469FF7EEFAA3B1B3DB&back=ask%3DAre%2BC%2EA%2EO%2E%2Band%2BPerdomo%2BCigars%2Bmade%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bsame%2Bfactory%253F%26o%3D0%26x%3D18%26y%3D11&ask=Are+C%2EA%2EO%2E+and+Perdomo+Cigars+made+in+the+same+factory%3F&dt=030104094006&amt=&pg=1&qsrc=0 

WOW ... that's the link to beat all links! Sorry ... but I went through 'Ask Jeeves' to find it ... LOL!

I'm reading it now. interesting.

I've had 3 "cigars" out of the Criollo line and have found them to be the biggest waste of money and time invested! Why CAO even brought this to fruitation is beyond me. They've got sooooooo many "real" cigar lines that offering up some gimmick smoke is a disservice to them and to the rest of the lines.

Wow--why, may I ask, do you have such a strong distaste for the Criollo line Doc?

--Adam

The sizes, the prices, the taste, the smoke factor. I'm not saying it's a dog-rocket, but at the price they're charging for that tiny lil thing...it'd better light itself too.

CAO has some wonderful cigars, so I know it's not the company. It's gotta be some manufacturing "weenie" that dreams up this stuff to peddle! Now the Black(new and old),the Brazilia, the Extreme's and the Odyssey are a testament that cigar's can be a earth moving experience.

Doc: sounds like your tastes are more matured and experienced and that the Criollo's are just too mild for them?? I also (very much) enjoy the Brazilia's and Extreme's, but must disagree with you on the Criollo's. In my opinion, it is an AWESOME cigar!!!


:)

I'd like to address DrMaddVibe's comments about WHY he did not care for our CAO Criollo cigars...

Let me preface by saying that everyone is entitled to their own opinions - also, taste is subjective; there is no one cigar out there that every single individual will all agree upon. Having said that...

SIZES: Each of the four shapes in the CAO Criollo line were influenced by and, in some cases, directly taken from the traditional and classic sizes/shapes of Cuba. If you don't care for the Criollo sizes, you probably aren't a fan of the sizes of a Montecristo No. 5, Cohiba Robusto, Punch Punch, or Montecristo No. 2 either.

PRICES: The CAO Criollo line is priced pennies more than our Brazilia line and significantly less than our L'Anniversaire line. For example: DrMaddVibe states he enjoys our L'Anniversaire eXtreme line; the eXtreme belicoso carries an MSRP of $8.10/cigar - the corresponding shape in the Criollo line (Conquistador), has an MSRP of $7.25/cigar. Further, the CAO Odyssey (also mentioned by DrMaddVibe) had an MSRP of $15.00/cigar when it was available.

TASTE: As I stated previously, this is subjective. I will add, however, that the CAO Criollo was always intended to be a rich and flavorful cigar that was medium in body and mild in strength. If you're looking for a "powerhouse" cigar, look elsewhere. If you want to smoke something that is akin to smoking a mild to medium-bodied Cuban cigar (as many have drawn the comparison), check out the CAO Criollo.

SMOKE FACTOR: Not sure what is meant here(?), however, if this is addressing construction/performance of the cigar, I have yet to smoke a Criollo that did not perform well or that was plugged, bunched incorrectly, etc.

To each his own....

If I want to smoke a Cuban...I'll smoke a Cuban! Had I known that CAO was "trying" to duplicate the Cuban cigar experience I wouldn't have even bothered!

Thanks Jon for clearing that up.