"Local man hit by duck"
How can you go wrong with CAO, right? I've enjoyed them all. First Pato was, well... 'interesting'. The next two made me SICK. Never happened with ANY cigar. Threw the rest out. Moral: don't duck, you might get hit!
beaker in Whidbey Island October 3, 2008
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"Tasty with an asterisk"
Like Italia's these have a flavor all their own. They have a dark yet sweet flavor that is perfect for a post dinner smoke. Know this though, you will *probably* NOT enjoy these right off the truck as much as you could if you give them some time to sleep. The filler is quite oily and, as a result, the draw and burn will frustrate many. the best bet is to allow them to sleep at least 6 months. If you can't hold out that long give them 2 weeks to rest then dry-box them for 3-4 days. return them to the humi for another 2 days then enjoy. This will allow the oils to harden enough to get a decent draw and will allow the cigar to stay lit without countless re-lights.
BrillKill in Rhode Island January 6, 2008
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"Nice mid-bodied smoke"
Just finished my second one from two sampler packs I got. nice solid grayish ash, even burn and wonderful flavor, now my second fav,. from Cao after the MX2,
Looking for a box right now.
Rob in New York October 6, 2007
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"Not another Cuban!"
I brought twenty of these down Mexico way and I've now run out and have resorted to Cubana Romeo Y Julieta, Partagas & Cohiba's. Tonight I have to endure a Cuban Montecristo while I dream of my Criollo Pato's waiting for me back home.
I have found that like most cigar deliveries a week in the humidor will do wonders for the wrapper / burn problems described by others here. But I find that true with all brands.
If your honest with yourself you'll admit that these little jewels compare with the best Habana's. (well maybe not the Cohiba's, but those are $32 apiece at Sanborns)
JCPH3 in Guadalajara March 13, 2007
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"My New Cuban Replacement"
I just tried my first CAO Criollo Pato as part of a sampler. Within two puffs, I said to myself is this a "legal" cigar or a Cuban Partagas 8-9-8? Or a Cuban RyJ Exhibicion #4? I like my Fuente's, but Nicaragua seems to be producing cigars closer to the Cubans I like. This is even better than my Padrons. This is worth every penny of the $3.00 I spent for it at Famous and a whole lot more!
Jeff in Albuquerque August 5, 2006
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"Excellent flavor, wrapper and burn problems"
The wrapper is medium reddish brown and translucent, very thin and lightly veined. It has a wonderful pre-light aroma, damp and earthy. It lights evenly and easily, with a creamy almost malty aroma. But the binder was heavily veined and expanded along the veins, cracking the wrapper and causing a very shoddy, scraggly ash. There were runners which had to be corrected. But the flavor remained wonderful and was worth smoking to the nub.
Overworked in CA May 16, 2006
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"BAD WRAP"
I smoked this cigar and enjoyed it. So I bought a box. I was a disappointed in the wrapper,fell apart as I smoked it,but nice ash,good taste other than that I have enjoyed this smoke. I did solve some of the wrapper problem after putting the cigars in a humador for a couple of weeks. Over all about a 8 out of ten. However the box they come in is very COOL
John Aull in Ca January 11, 2006
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"smooth, medium body, very flavorful, burns evenly."
One of the few cigars I buy by the box. Not CAO's best cigar - but VERY worth the money. I store these a few months usually and they take up a slight cedar aroma and smoke very smoothly. Haven't had a bad one yet.
paul stokely in maryland April 3, 2005
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