CAO Black Gothic

This is a solid cigar with no major weakness or significant flaws. The flavor is above average with pepper, some cedar and sweetness and a hint of cream. It does lack the complexity of a first tier smoke (IMHO). This lack of complexity is typical for the CAO Black line. The Gothic is a handsome cigar that had an excellent burn and draw. The price is not too bad if you shop around. Overall, a very agreeable stick.

I picked up trio of these at the end of the year and have gone through them all in a week. I'm a full-bodied fanatic and while these are a solid medium they deliver a lot of great flavor. Great construction across the samples and always a balanced draw with a nice toasty aroma. On the rare occasion when I actually still smoke an Ashton Classic; this is what I am always expecting and never get. If you like lots of flavors that are silky smooth on the palate give this a try!

One of my all time favorites. I think a hair over priced considering the number and quality of cigars out right now.

A very nice looking stick. Good taste and an even burn after some initial irregularities.

This was not at all an impressive stick to me. The appearance was nice (it seems this is the one constant I see on CAOs), and the pre-light aroma was okay. This was a full bodied cigar with strong notes of pepper and earth, with a little bit of a cedar undertone. It was a very dry smoke, not to my liking, which left a bad aftertaste on the mouth after each exhale. It never really got smooth (had this in the humi for seven months, by the way) and I just did not enjoy this smoke. With about an inch and a half left it went out and after two re-lights, I let this one go. This sure didn't live up to the hype, at least for me. I'll have to pass on this one.

Dry, earthy, medium-bodied cigar. Consistent burn. Semi-firm draw, but plenty of smoke and flavor. After taste is a kick of pepper.

I recently had a CAO Black Bengal and this is quite different in comparison. Where the Bengal had a smooth coffee/chocolate flavor and was medium bodied, this cigar was more towards the fuller side and had a strong spicy kick with only hints of the sweeter flavors in the Bengal. It almost reminded me of a CAO Brazilia at times. Very strange... Unfortunately I have to say I liked the flavor on the Bengal a lot better and this one didn't quite agree with me. Also the wrapper on the Bengal was completely different. That one was smooth and delicate while this one was thick and a little veiny. On the other hand this Gothic had much better burn/construction overall. Overall, I liked the Bengal better despite the construction flaws I had in mine due to the totally different (better) flavor I experienced.

This cigar burned well right down to 1". The draw was very easy, but not hot or harsh at all. Big clouds of smoke! I liked the medium body. Tasted great too. I especially liked the torpedo shape, which also looks spectacular with the cedar wrapper. I will be buying more of these. This was included in a $10.00 CI sampler (!) with 7 other cigars, so the value rating is based on the $5.00 I'll probably be paying in the future.

Although I like the Storm a bit better, this was definitely a very nice cigar and a pretty good value. It was medium in body to start with a toasty spiciness, and some cedar and nicaraguan earth throughout. Most of the other flavors died out towards the end and it turned a bit harsh. Not a fingerburner, but good down to about 1.5 inches. Personally at $1 cheaper the Storm is a better value.

I must agree completly with Don Belicoso and Scotty; one of the most attractive wrappers I've ever seen Topped off a steak dinner with a super-Cab, followed by a Gothic and a glass of water. The particular stick had been aging in the humi for around 13 months, and lit beautifully, but burned unevenly. Touched it up a couple times to keep it even, but the flavor was very consistent. Wood flavors with light vanilla made appearances, but there was little sweetness in this cigar. The strangest thing was the ash; it was like pumice! I've never had an ash that you almost had to chisel off the cigar; super dense.

Terrific medium bodied smoke. Great flavor and nice easy draw throughout. I enjoyed it all the way to the nub. This is the fourth Black that I've had in two weeks and my opinion of these only gets better. Great stick for the money!

A go to early day cigar. Nice smooth medium bodied smoke with a nice balance of spice with some chocolate undertones. Excellent burn and draw, very consistant thru the entire box. Pretty good value and I'll get more.

More of a medium bodied stick in my opinion. But Scotty was right on. Good flavor, although not mind-blowing. Loads of smoke. It is, however, an absolutely beautiful cigar to look at with great burn characteristics. A fair price too. My top shelf smokes are Partagas Black Label, Ashton VSG and Cusano Exclusivo. These are a step below that, but good enough for my humidor!

solid smoking stick on the medium to full side. Lots of earthy wooden vanilla hints throughout the "gobs of smoke" experience. Looked great. Smoked great.

I'd like to thank my buddy Glenn for giving me this stick out of his sample pack. I will enter 5.50 in the price paid. It might be more.