This week I’ve been smoking some of the samples from the General Cigar Co. booth from the IPCPR show, and I found myself with an abundance of samples that I want to share with one of my readers. One of several new offerings from CAO is the Pilon, which I smoked this week in the robusto size. In the Pilon line they are fermenting the tobacco in small, round pilons, as opposed to large rectangular versions that most cigar tobacco is fermented in. They are using a Cuban seed Ecuador wrapper and fillers from Esteli and Ometepe. The cigar smoked well and was woody with some spice and sweetness. I thought it was a very nice smoke and enjoyed it on a beautiful Sunday Afternoon.
After dinner I revisited the new Leccia Luchador El Gringo Frog Splash. I smoked one at the show on the first day and I’m a big fan of the Luchador line, and enjoyed this fat little cigar quite a bit. You may think a 4½” x 70 would be unwieldy, but the box press makes if feel quite a bit smaller than the 70 ring gauge in the round. It’s still got a little bit of a wavy burn, but it’s a flavorful and spicy smoke. It’s got a dark and oily Nicaraguan Oscuro wrapper, Nicaraguan Habano binder and blend of three ligeros from Esteli, Jalapa and Pennsylvania. It’s a funny shape, but a really good smoke that I’m having trouble leaving alone.
Monday evening I wanted something a little more refined, so I selected the new Dunhill Signed Range Selección Suprema, released in just one size, a 6×50 Toro. I wanted something a little larger than a robusto too. This is a smooth smoke, and very delicate and subtle. It’s made with a Nicaraguan Jalapa shade wrapper with three exceptional fillers: full-bodied Nicaraguan Esteli and Jalapa, and rare Brazilian Matafina, and a hearty Connecticut Broadleaf binder. There’s a lot of sweet flavors and it burned exceptionally well. This would be a great early cigar. Dunhill is not c cigar I generally reach for, but this was a pleasant diversion, for sure.
Last night I smoked one of the new CAO Margaritaville cigars. These are licensed under the Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville brand, and are available in two versions, a Piña Colada flavored cigar available in a corona and petit corona with a Cameroon wrapper and a blend of Dominican tobacco, which will fall under the Flavors line, and the one I smoked, the Havana Daydreamin’ line, which is a blend of Nicaraguan tobaccos wrapped with an Ecuadoran Connecticut wrapper. As I smoked this I couldn’t help but think that it’s targeting the occasional smoker, someone who picks up a cigar once in a while on vacation, at a bar or concert, as it was a nice enough cigar, but fairly middle of the road as far as the flavor goes. It burned quickly, but evenly, and left me a bit underwhelmed. Certainly it’s mild enough to smoke several in a row on the beach. I’ll give the flavored version a try one of these days.
Tonight I went with a personal favorite lately, the CAO Flathead in the new Steel Horse size. This was the “Apehanger” size, a 5½” x 58 cigar in a round format. I’ve mentioned this in a recent post, so I won’t spend too much time on the specifics, but it’s a lovely cigar. It’s got a Connecticut Habano wrapper that is dark and oily, with the signature flat head that just about demands a punch cut, which works well (I recommend a larger bore punch if at all possible, the ScrewPop 2.0 worked well). The fillers are Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican and the binder is a Brazilian Arapiraca, making it a five country blend. I’m a fan of the whole line, and this shape is a great addition. Very rich and satisfying with lush flavors of espresso and dark cocoa. As I said, I’m a big fan of he Flathead line in all sizes, and this is a very nice addition.
Contest
Here’s your chance to win some of the cigars mentioned above. There are five packs of both the CAO Magaritaville cigars, as well as the CAO Pilon and Flathead Steel Horse, the Dunhill Signed Range Selección Suprema, the new Macanudo Estate Reserve Jamaica, which I haven’t gotten around to smoking yet, but the last Estate Reserve was really good, so I have confidence in this one, and a couple of the Leccia Luchador El Gringo Frog Splash (and a Luchador El Hombre for good measure). It’s hard to say what else might fall into the box while I’m packing it up, it’s happened. 33 cigars in all, not a bad little prize pack! Many thanks to my friends at General Cigar Co. for their generosity this year. Same rules as always, leave a comment on this post to enter, and I’ll select a winner next Wednesday, August 12, 2015. It’s been a while since I had a contest, so everyone is eligible, must be 18 to enter, one entry per person please.
That’s all for now, until the next time,
CigarCraig
Pick me! I just got a new humidor that needs filled!
Really great prize this time. Thanks for all you do.
Wow. The best prize pack ever. You know we Ward B boys and girls will be all over this. THANK YOU!
Pick me!
What are the odds of your random number generator coming up with the number ONE ??? Somewhere betweeen slim and none, but like they say about the lottery, the odds are a million to one, but they are a LOT longer if you don’t buy a ticket, so … here I am. I’ve heard good things about the new Dunhill !!!
Good stuff!
Wow, this sounds awesome! Thank you for the contest.
Wow very generous and a great giveaway. Good luck everyone!
Love it!!
Excellent offering of Cigars Craig, I’m not sure what I would like most – The Davidoff has the rep, but CAO has been making very interesting cigars lately. The Frog Splash is a real kicker and Macanudo can bring some excitement as well. Its like “let’s make a deal?” Door #1,Door #2, OR Door #3!
Can I have them all please, Montie!
Great reviews and thanks for the contest.
Wow, great stuff here!
Flathead looks good. Whether win or lose that’s gotta be something to check out!
Wow! That’s a lot of awesome smokin in one package.
General Cigar is one of the most generous cigar companies out there… Thanks for extending their generosity with your generosity!
Boom, slammin variety prize pack!
What a great prize pack!
Awesome contest.. Thanks, good to see you in Nawlins..
Excellent reviews. always enjoy reading them. And thanks for the opportunity to win some yummy cigars. The Luchador line is one of my favorites.
Once again thanks Craig for the contest! I have never won but I think this is the lucky contest! I really want to try that Pilon and Steelhorse!
OMG yes….
Cant wait for you to try the AA OV Euro my friend!!! (Get ready for all the Cigar Federation weasels!!! HAHA)
Really want to try those new flat heads.
I’m dangerously low on cigars, Craig! Maybe I’ll luck out on this one. Thanks for the great commentary during the show.
I’m lookin forward to the Frog Splash. I love the lines he has produced the last few years.
Nice run down on the smokes Craig.
Wow, that’s a nice humidor stuffer!
Holy crap that’s a helluva giveaway…..thanks for the contest Craig!
Nice review of some of the show stuff. I’m looking forward to finding the new Luchador, I really enjoyed the original version. The new CAO Flsthead looks good too. Nice reviews and back story on some of these.
Dang. Well done. Thanks for your reviews and the contest.
Craig, thanks for the service you provide! Thanks also for the opportunity to be a contestant and possibly win some amazing cigars!
Looking real good Craig. That Dunhill sounds like a cigar for my tastes. Thanks again for another great contest.
Craig, you always have the best contests and cigar news!! Thanks for all you do!
Great job Craig, thanks.
Awesome prize package I would be honored to win especially since my humidor is a little on the thin side at the moment
Awesome man! Thanks for the excellent giveaway!!
great prize pack Craig, thanks
do you ever do anything with pipes, or are you strictly cigars?
Wow another great contest from Craig. This is just like your 12 days of Christmas. Thanks for the reviews and the great giveaways and good luck everyone.
Craig you are very generous with your giveaways! thanks very much for the opportunity to win! good luck to everyone 😀
Outstanding prize pack, good luck everyone and thank you General……. 🙂
What a great selection of cigars. Thanks for the contest, and good luck to all.
Thanks for the chance to try the latest and greatest from General Cigar.
That’s a great prize pack….thanks for the contest Craig!
Cool! Thanks!
Hey Brother, Give an old retiree a brake, and todays my birthday.
Great contest and prize pack. I agree the Flatheads are a very good cigar. Would love to try the others. Thanks for the contest.
craig, i hope you have recovered from the New Orleans heat.
nice review, I have enjoyed reading your comments.
I know I’ve said this before, but I truly enjoy smoking cigars I’ve never had the pleasure to enjoy vicariously through your blog. Thanks!
Craig – Really curious to hear your thoughts on the Margaritaville Pina Colada. My wife has been trying to get into cigars a bit so she can sit outside and smoke with me on nice nights, and I know she’s a big Jimmy Buff fan so the tie-in might work, but I wouldn’t want to spend the money on a box if its going to suck! 😉
Nice smokes
Great looking cigars, I would love to win them .
Great Prize
They all look good,but I have my eyes, and my taste buds, on the Luchador El Gringo Frog Splash. Stay Smokey!!
Incredible selection for the contest! Thanks.
I would love to try some of these new smokes. Thanks for the contest
Love reading this page! I rely on it a lot when shopping for cigars!
These do sound like great cigars, and I have enjoyed the Flathead line myself. Those Margaritaville’s would be good to hand out to guests who don’t normally smoke so they could join in and not be overwhelmed. Thanks for the reviews!
Nice review and nice selection of cigars from GC. I can’t wait to try Macanudo Jamaica reserve, that’s sounds totally delicious.
Awesome new cigars! Excited for a chance to win… Thank you!
Looking good
Good Selection. Look good!
Could make some space in the ol humidor for this awesome prize
WoW😎 what a Blessing of a contest!
You do have some fantastic give- a- ways! Thanks, and you do a good job on the reviews.
Thanks for the contest. What a great opportunity to try some new cigars.
Great prize man! I hope we can met up at another cigar event soon.
Awesome contest
What an awesome contest! I. MUST. WIN.
Count me in!
must…to…win…cigars!
Hey Craig! Nice quick reviews! You know I’m a fan of CAO cigars, so would love to try these!
Wow, Craig, you are more than generous! I would love to try the Macanudos.
Great cigars. It’s like being a kid in the candy store.
Thanks for the contest!
Great contest! Thx!
I’ll take all of them off your hands!!!
Awesome reads!! Awesome contest! ! Thanks!!
So many good cigars to try!
Love the blog! Thanks for the contest!
I’ll bite.
can’t wait to try the new cAmp’s and leccia
Love reading your posts Craig! It was a pleasure meeting you and Jennifer at the Belly release party! Stay smokey brother.
Looking forward to firing up the new CAO’s – was really hoping the new Steel Horse line came in a gas tank style box ! Thanks for sharing your experiences Craig.
Be sure to enter this CigarCraig giveaway, Bill!
Impressive looking bunch of cigars. Thanks for the contest.
Would love to try some
Love those Luchadors! Thanks for the contest.
Great prize pack, really hoping I might be able to win!!
I’d certainly enjoying winning this prize pack.
I love me some CAO. I need my humi refilled and this would do the job very well. 🙂
Stellar Craig!
Great contest!!
Good luck to everyone who enters
That Dunhill sounds like a winner for me! I like some sweetness, but not usually the flavored variety! If I win, I’ll smoke a pineapple one and give you a report back on it!
Incredible giveaway! Count me in!
What an outstanding selection your giving away. Just in time for football season, the time when I share smokes with my buddies.