CAO Flathead V21 Carb and Some Other Cigars

I received samples of the newest offering in the CAO Flathead line, the V21 Carb 6″ x 60, several weeks ago, and was anxious to try them out. Too anxious, it seems, because they needed some rest. I struggled with the first two, they just didn’t perform well, and I certainly didn’t want to rush to judgement. These aren’t cheap dates! The Carb has a $14 MSRP, similar to the V19, it’s predecessor. The V21 has a San Andrés wrapper over a Broadleaf binder and Nicaraguan and Dominican Ligero fillers. I expected to have my ass kicked with this cigar. Despite the first two having humidity related draw issues (I hate that), I did get a sense of the great flavors that the cigar had in store, so I was annoyed with myself for jumping the gun. I smoked one this week that burned perfectly though, and was surprised that it wasn’t more powerful! It had a brightness to the flavor that I didn’t expect, some light spices, not at all heavy. Shocked, I was! This should have been much different that it was, judging by the tobaccos used, but perhaps the way the tobaccos were fermented, and there’s a sentence in the press release about this: “They then gave each of the filler leaves an abbreviated fermentation to lock in the tobacco’s native characteristics and added a secondary aging process to the filler to bring everything together.” How much of this is a spin on “someone screwed up a pilone and we had to find a way to turn chicken shit into chicken salad” or whether there’s some real science behind it, who knows, but it was a really good cigar. If you are looking for a Flathead CArb on steroids, this may not be it, but if you want a more refined Flathead, this is a good way to go. I used the 13mm side of my Adorini punch on this and it made a perfect opening in the head. By the way, it’s a 6″ x 60. but the Box Press makes it feel more like a toro.

Speaking of Pilons, I came across a few CAO Pilons in the humidor and seemed to recall not being overly fond of them when they came out and figured I’d revisit them. This was a project where, if I remember correctly, they fermented some component of the cigar in smaller pilons than normal. Usually pilons are about six by ten feet and four feet high and weigh maybe a thousand pounds, and all of the leaves on the carefully stacked pile are rotated several times over the months it takes to properly ferment the tobacco depending on the internal temperature. it’s a whole controlled composting process, basically. Anyway, the CAO Pilon does this on a smaller scale, with a round pilon, maybe about 40 inches in diameter and as many inches high, going off of memory. It might be one tobacco, or all of the fillers, not sure. Anyway, I like that they put the blend info on the band, that’s helpful! It has an Ecuador Honduran wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers. I found it to be a tasty smoke, on the leathery side, with some spice and earth, maybe a hint of sweetness. I find that I like this cigar now, perhaps a year or two in the humidor has been kind to it.

Last night I smoked a cigar I have traditionally enjoyed, the CAO Session. This is a Broadleaf wrapped cigar with a Dominican binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. I bought a bunch of these in the Garage format, which is 5½” x 54, and kind of forgot about them. I honestly don’t remember these being so strong, and, given the name, I don’t think they should be! The one I had last night left me queasy. I love the flavor, dark, rich espresso and tobacco. I seem to have a lot of CAO cigars, and as I was looking through some cigar related stuff, I seem to have more CAO hats than I should too (a few pre-date General Cigar’s involvement, which makes sense, I suppose). Anyway, I will have to clear some time to revisit the Session, although I don’t want to feel crappy again! it’s kind of like that Cornelius and Anthony Mistress I have that made me ill, I’m curious to see if it would do it again, but am I that curious?