My Weekend Cigar Review: CAO FASA Noche
A Night in Shining Broadleaf
This year’s PCA Show saw the launch of two new, full-production cigars from CAO Cigars: CAO FASA Sol and CAO FASA Noche. Spanish for “phase,” both FASA blends share the same binder and filler, but not the same wrapper. CAO FASA Sol (Sun Phase), is made in Honduras at HATSA and stars a Honduran Olancho San Agustin (OSA) wrapper. CAO FASA Noche (Night Phase), is made at STG Esteli in Nicaragua and rolled in a U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. Offered in 6x50 Toro and 6x60 Gigante sizes, both selections are medium bodied, full-flavored, and reasonably-priced.
“We built CAO FASA on a versatile, nuanced blend that combines a Cameroon binder with fillers from the Dominican Republic and three Nicaraguan growing regions,” said CAO senior brand manager, Ed Lahmann. “From this foundation, we set out to highlight the importance of the wrapper on the overall experience of the cigar. They’re literally like night and day, and still perfect for either occasion.”
Cigar Details:
Factory: STG – Estelí, Nicaragua
Size: 6” x 50 Toro
Body & Strength: Medium Plus
Wrapper: U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
Presented in boxes of 24
CAO FASA Noche Cigar Review
I found the CAO FASA Noche Toro to be well made, well packed, and firm throughout. The Broadleaf Maduro wrapper is dark brown with myriad black veins. The triple seam cap was textbook. After cutting, the draw was very good with a musty and tart prelight taste.
The cigar toasted up well and the first few draws had a chili pepper smack accompanied by that aforementioned musty note, but it didn’t last very long.
By the first inch the cigar revealed a very firm limestone-white ash with little black areas that reminded me of a white birch tree.
Creamy from the start, virtually buttery, the smoke was medium in body and strength with a pleasant, sweet ‘n tangy flavor that held up for most of the first act. This savory merger could’ve been due to the Broadleaf Maduro wrapper and Cameroon binder melding with the spicier Nicaraguan fillers. (high-priming Estelí or some Ometepe perhaps?)
My FASA Noche Toro also had a spicy aroma; but at the cigar’s midsection, with all layers in alignment, this is where the cigar really turned on the charm. The smoke became sweeter balanced by white pepper; retrohales had more of a chili powder sensation. Continuing through the midsection, more flavors entered including cardamom, roasted nuts, and a floral note.
With about two inches remaining, the Toro’s sweetness faded as earthiness and bolder spice darkened, issuing a more bitter flavor. The body kicked up to medium plus and the smoke was still very smooth, but that’s all she wrote.
Was the CAO FASA Noche Toro Weekend Worthy?
Having had two CAO FASA Noche Toros, they were consistent in flavor and body and I enjoyed them both. I don’t smoke that many cigars with Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, because many have been hit or miss for me. This wrapper was rich and sweet, burned beautifully, and had a nice aroma, too. So, kudos to CAO on that.
Speaking of the blend, although the fillers are undisclosed, they chose just the right ratio of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos. For me, everything fell nicely into place. And despite the earthier nuances, I enjoyed this cigar. It also reminded me a little of the Romeo y Julieta Reserve Maduro.
Bottom Line: The CAO FASA Noche Toro is for cigar smokers who want a top-grade Maduro cigar with a medium-bodied, full-flavored profile, at a very fair price (so fair, it even surprised me). This is classic CAO and I will smoke it again.
Please Note: Gary’s review was based on his experience and that your mileage may vary.