Ozgener Family Cigars

If you started smoking cigars less than 12 years ago, odds are you don't know the Ozgener family name. That is unless you know that the C and the A in CAO stand for Cano Ozgener, the late Ozgener family patriarch who turned CAO into one of the most innovative brands of the 1990s and early 2000s. After selling CAO to General Cigar, the Ozgener family stepped away from the industry. But in 2015, Cano's son Tim returned with Ozgener Family Cigars, partnering with master blender Nestor Plasencia Jr. to create blends that honor his father's legacy while charting a new path.

The Ozgener Family portfolio emphasizes quality tobaccos, meticulous construction, and creative blending without chasing trends. Tim brought his father's philosophy—cigars should be enjoyable, accessible, and memorable—into a modern context, working with Plasencia's Nicaraguan and Honduran facilities to source premium leaf and execute precise blends.

The brand's releases tend toward medium to full body, balancing complexity with smoothness. Wrapper choices span Ecuadorian Connecticut, Habano, and maduro, each showcasing the Ozgener commitment to flavor harmony over brute strength. The cigars appeal to smokers who remember CAO's golden era and newcomers drawn to well-crafted, thoughtfully blended premiums.

For those who knew Cano Ozgener's work, the family's return represents a welcome continuation of his vision. For everyone else, Ozgener Family Cigars offers an opportunity to discover what made the name legendary: innovation, quality, and a genuine passion for the leaf.