CAO Brazilia Samba

I smoked at least 5 inches worth of Samba. I must mention also that I have kept this cigar for about a year before smoking. I do advise this for all cigars, but in this case it really served to abate the spicy character of the Brazilia. Since CAO changed the blend in this line it has been somewhat less spicy anyway but it is a better cigar for it. The wrapper is sweet and toothy. Excellent, straight burn with strong gray ash and perfect draw. Buy some and put them away.

Great looking cigar, construction was very good.Draw almost perfect,zero burning problems,very good ash.Tasted lots of sweet , earth and some leather. I found it to be a smooth, medium to full body smoke.Long end spicy finish.

I'd had this one in my humidor for about three years and it was probably two too long. There was a horrible rubber band or clover-like flavor on the finish that ruined any enjoyable flavors that came through. This was very disappointing because I had hopes for this cigar after ageing it.

I have found myself to be a big fan of CAO products, but this is, by far, my least favorite. A tad bitter, a rough burn, and a tough draw, I actually bough and smoked another just to confirm that I hadn't received a bad one initially. Obviously it's popular with some smokers, just not me.

a cheap cigar with cheap qualities.

Picture me on the cover of some cigar magazine schmokin this black beauty. What a looker the Samba is with it's dark Brazilian wrapper that makes the green and yellow band really standout. Too bad the taste doesn't quite measure up to the other aspects of this gar. It's very spicy for the first inch, then medium for an inch, then a pleasant, but unremarkable mildness for the rest of the cigar.

Construction is good but not impressive, flavor is consistent and meaty but not complex. Fairly one dimensional leather with some lighter underlying notes. I have a box, we'll see how they all work out, but the first one had a pretty tight draw that became more pronouced as it got shorter and downright frustrating by the end. I recented rated a $2.50 Grand Habano Corojo #5 that I would put above this $5 stick in all categories. It's not a bad smoke, but it's much closer to a 7 than an 8, and I don't think it's worthy of the 8.44 rating it has as I write this.

loosely rolled- green as grass. Save your money on this one.

Last from a box gifted to me in early '03. Nice draw. Medium body. It has developed some smoothness, as the tart bite from the wrapper has dissipated over time. But what's left is unremarkable. Slightly fruity, mild spice, some earth in the second half. Finish is on the short side. I got a better Brazil wrapped torp from a roller in the Palisades Park Mall. Seriously. These are fine, but uninspiring. I put these in the Gurkha, 5 Vegas "What's all the fuss about?" category.

This cigar has been consistently the most enjoyable I've smoked. Although young ones are a bit harsh, some time in the humi (even a couple of weeks) really mellows the cigar and allows for the complex flavors to come through. They're regulars in my humi. Of note, my father in law had 2.5 inches of ashes going before it fell. He liked the cigar so much, I thought he was going to need tweezers to hold the very last of the nub he was still trying to smoke!

An 8.49 average rating out of 104 reviews (as I write my own review) is incredible as it proves just how good and consistent this cigar probably is. I tried 2 Sambas recently and I was thoroughly impressed. I doubt though that I have anything to add that hasn't been written already about this cigar. Very flavorful with an imposing dark appearance, fans of maduros must absolutely love this cigar. Actually my only criticism of it is that as a fan of connecticut shade wrappers the Samba was just a little too bitter sometimes but otherwise it's just an excellent cigar.

Good looking, smelling, and tasting cigar. Slight irregular burn at times that seems to even up on it's own.

I love the Brazilias. These are the most consistent cigars I’ve tried. I let this one sit for 10 months and lit it up as the sun was setting. Had a mug of port along with it. Lovely smoke scent. The flavor hit the nine mark. Wonderful. Two hours of bliss. Burn was just a bit dodgy. Experience over the top. Still working through the ones and twos, but this one is at the top of a very short box wish list.

pepper and spicey profile. stays consistent throughout the cigar. just gets a bit stronger in the last third. still tasted some dark chocalate about half wa through but not as strong as the last cigar I smoked. this one was aged for about 6 months. did mellow it out. but still a strong cigar . very good.

I aged this one for a year. Made a big difference. More balanced then when I got them. Takes a little to get going, but by the 1/3 mark it started to get the coffee flavor. A lot more coffee and cocoa flavors and sweetness came out, especially around the 1/2 mark. Smoked it right to the nub. Another great cigar from CAO

Simple, tasty and dark. I think that the smaller version had a better experience for some reason.

great cigar, good burn, good smell, a little bit light on the flavour side, but goes great with a good stout beer.

First off, I have to second what Travis said in regards to the last couple inches tasting equally well, if not better, than the middle of the cigar. THere are VERY FEW maduro or oscuro wrapped cigars I've found that don't go bitter near the end.... making them infrequent candidates for nubbing. My beloved Sancho Panza DM Escuderos are a prime example of a wonderful smoke with a horribly bitter finish. The Brazilia however, is delicious all the way to the nub.
That said, The Brazilia Samba is one of my Top 5 cigars; I LOVE this cigar. Top notch Wood, Spice, Leather, all in a creamy, med-full bodied chewy smoke. This $6 cigar tastes like a $20 cigar should. A tad bitter when first lit, as many have noted, but goes away with a few draws and opens up into a delicious cigar. Draw on every cigar in a box of 20 has been perfection. I'm sure like any other cigar, there are some duds, which would account for the negative reviews occasionaly found here. I'm not usually a big CAO fan but this is definetely their flagship cigar IMO. Construction and appearance = impeccable and gorgeous. Razor sharp perfect burn almost every time.

Buy them and smoke them!

Not as strong or flavorful as the Ipanema but still a solid maduro. I wish it had been bolder.

I just don't think I'm a fan of Brazilian wrappers. I find their flavor to be a bit sharp, thin and one-dimensional. Brazilian wrapped smokes always seem to lack depth. Maybe it's a matter of blenders experimenting with complementary binder/filler combos? They're not there yet. These look dynamite, as other reviewers note, but I find the entire CAO Brazilia line to be terminally blah.

A lot of pepper and spice in this one. Hints of dark chocolate about half way through. Not for the mild cigar lovers who like Fuente smokes. Starts a little bitter but that fades almost immediately. Great draw , no need for corrections in the burn. Dark gray , almost black ash. The longer it burned the better it got. This is not an in between cigar. you will either love it or hate it. I love it.

Game, Set, Match...Wow....Enough said.

Beautiful looking. Draw was way too tight. The flavor far too subtle, bordering on bland. Could be a dud. The experience wasn't very pleasant.

The draw was painfully difficult. Taste was so subtle it bordered on non-existant; very mild spice and coffee. Burn and look were great.

In Jul 06, I focused on smoking 5 different cigars, all of which were aging in my humidor for at least 6 months. I only smoke about 15 cigars a month, so value isn’t that important to me, but I’ll rate each cigar that way on this site. However, just so you know, value aside, the overall standings for the month were, 1. La Gloria Cubana Torpedo (maduro); 2. God of Fire by Carlito 2005; 3. Don Carlos Belicoso, 4. CAO Brazilia Samba; 5. Montecristo Platinum Mini Belicoso (tubos).

The Samba is one of those cigars that I want to love, but it just leaves me wanting a different maduro or an Ashton VSG. A cigar tease I say. It's spicy in a good way, but not thrilling. It seems that's the thing with most CAO cigars for me. They're above average in appearance and construction. You rarely get a bad one. However, whatever line I choose, there is another maker that puts out a similar gar I like better. So anyway...it's a solid cigar that's priced right, but as for flavor, I agree with MisterSurgery on this one.

Excellent construction and burn, great appearance and nice aroma. But the flavor on this is just not my cup of tea. It's good at what it does (lots of pepper and spice) it's just not my style. I'm not a fan of the Brazilia line, but of the ones that I have smoked, this is my favorite.

Had my first couple of Sambas last week provided by a friend. It was pleasing to the nub and burned like a dream. Great taste and lots of rich creamy smoke. I now have a box of my own resting comfortably in my top-shelf humidor.

I smoked a Montecristo No. 2 a few months back and it was great, absolutely wonderful. The ash wouldn't fallen even if I flicked it.

But this stick is a good contender. It's very smooth well balanced full bodied cigar full of earthy flavors. A great draw and wonderful construction. Took me over and hour to smoke this puppy, so make sure you have plenty of time to spare.

Had my 1st Samba today. Going back for a box to salt away. Great taste, IMO nice burn. Wife liked the smell. Good stick for a very nice price

Only had one of these, and I was very much impressed. Great wrapper, excellent draw, and no bad aftertaste. Great looking ash - nice and compact, though I thought the wrapper was on the thin side, but it didn't affect the flavor. Complex taste: slightly spicy with earthy / coffee flavors mixed in (and when I mean spicy, I definately don't mean "harsh"). Slightly expensive (I can get a comparable Onyx Reserve for about $3.00 less), but still worth the money. This is a creme-de-la-creme smoke.

Not a whole lotta taste for the first inch. But quickly became more spicy soonafter. Decent construction, strong but good taste. No aftertaste. Good cigar.

A Good overall cigar

Strong, slow and handsome is what comes to mind with this fine stick. It is not in class of the Pardon or La Gloria R but is close.

I cannot stress this enough...age these babies. I bought a 10 pack and rushed to smoke a couple ... Good but a bit peppery and harsh. After 2 or 3 months in the humidor flavors spring up that went unoticed before in all that heat. Dark chocolate,black coffee, earth and much smoother than before.

Harsh, could still taste it the next day. Too strong for me.

This cigar has great flavor, construction and strength. It is a perfect balance.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this cigar. Will buy more for the humidor!! Smooth medium body. Creamy taste with spicy background flavor. Smoked with a glass of shiraz and moved to Makers Mark Bourbon. What a combo! Only complaints is the draw was too loose.

Stronger, earthy smoke. Slightly tighter draw than I like but not a defective stick. Beautiful oily wrapper- smells great. Eat something before- set aside an entire hour- burns slow.

Wow! C.A.O. impresses me with every cigar I smoke of theirs but this one takes the cake. It's flavor is of high quality tobacco earthiness with a spices. It is quite similar to the spiciness of the Mx2. The samba is a great shape for this cigar as it offers a great smooth draw (mine wasn't tight at all, like one reviewer put it). After only one month in the humidor, the cigar looked like it was covered in a glossy oil as it looked great. The only problem (I have to search hard for one) is that it came undone a bit at the end. This cigar is AMAZING.

The draw was a little too easy for my liking. It made for a short burn. I would have liked it to last longer. Spicy for the first inch. Mellowed after that and very good to the nub.

My first CAO was a tasty experience. Great overall look...sexy shape...nice oily, veiny, dark wrapper...and a tantalizing prelight aroma. Nutty, mellow but complex flavor...even burn...and a nice finish (no harsh, ass taste smacking on the back of your throat). I really enjoyed it (with an aged rum)...and would smoke one again. Not a Hall of Famer...but DAMN GOOD.

Sorry, my overall experience would certainly be a "8" or "9", however, I accidentally entered "5", not realizing till' the review posted. My apologies.

I have smoked many of these over the years but never really aged any of them. I did smoke my last one from about a year ago and it was unbelievable.The wrapper looked like it was dipped in olive oil when I took it out of the cellophane. I can't describe the experience, but I will say it was one of the best!

this was the smoothest smoke i ever had, the draw was tight, because the cigar was packed so hard, but it wasnt to bad, this cigar is very well constructed and looks beautiful, the taste was nutty, with hints of cedar, very sweeet, with a great taste left on the lips, the end got a bit hot but nothing bad, and this burned slow even and steady.

After a terrible first experience with the Samba, I decided to give this one another chance. This one burned perfectly unilke the first one, had none of the harsh notes, and was basically a joy all the way through. If they all end up like this one and less like the disappointing first experience, this has all the makings of a new favorite.

This cigar is great. Yes, its a dark wrapper but its a nice light Maduro. Very easy to smoke and it comes in all lengths. If you like to smoke rich, real dark smoking maduors, this may not be the cigar

I found this cigar to be a very enjoyable smoke. The cigar is list as a medium to full cigar & in my opinion in is slightly to the full side. This cigar is easily up there in quality & taste with the more expensive brands so highly rated by the major cigar publications.

This cigar is one of my favorites. Never harsh or bitter, but full of flavor. Lasts a very long time, but is not boring. Notes of spicy pepper.

I know I'm smoking something good when people who don't even like cigars want to come sit next to me! This was a beaut. Dark and robust and just dripping with oils- excellent craftsmanship went into these. And the taste kept changing, but stayed balanced throughout the whole 2 hour smoke. Every puff got better and the ash extended almost 2 inches. There was a core of cedar and leather and notes of tangy jungle-fruit. This cigar was truly unique and the Brazilian wrapper was very pleasing to all the senses and complemented this great cigar rather than overpowering it. I recommend everyone to try at least one of these.

I have smoked a few of these cigars when watching the news or movies and they have a wonderful, and sutble flavor. The notes are pepper, black cherrry and some toasty wood. I suspect these should age well with their black, shiny wrapper. As always with C.A.O. great construction, wrapper and price.

If you like drinking coffee you will like smoking this cigar. Strong coffee notes with a distinct pepper and vanilla flavor. Burns pretty even and really slow for the size, about 50 min smoke. Great cigar for the price

I dont know if my tastes have changed but this was a knock-out when they first came out. I remember cherry notes and earth and leather throughout. I loved them. Now they are still in my humidor and I like smoking them but not the same blast I remember. There some burn issues with every other one.

I was so looking forward to this one. Immediately disappointed by the acrid flavor in the first 5 minutes, I was rewarded by a rich flavor that opened up beautifully. The draw felt perfect. . . and then it happened. A runner that I couldn't compensate for appeared and caused the cigar to burn horribly unevenly, and basically ended up ruining the experience. . .Maybe more time in the humidor is needed, but I don't know. . .Perhaps I'll have better luck next time.

I smoked this on a lazy saturday while reading the paper. It matched well with coffee and was a great way to start the day. This mild torpedo has a slight pepper flavor in the back, but is extremely smooth. Great cigar for when you're in the mood for something mellow.

Cigar left me pleasantly light-headed by the last third of the smoke. Very nice construction on this cigar. If you pick up the ash, it's very dense, yet burned the same in every spot. Flavor is plesant. Cigar keeps you on your toes with flavor changing every inch or so.

Nice, mildly spicy flavor, but not nearly as strong or "peppery" as I've been hearing about. Good, smooth draw. A very nice attribute was that it never got bitter on me. I smoked it down to about 3/4 of an inch and it still tasted plesant. Any cigar that can do that is at least an "8" in my book.

Quite an attractive cigar. Started off with a nice peppery bite. This one was a little tricky, very smooth, but also fuller bodied. Well constructed, even burn. I'd buy these to smoke on a regular basis

To me its a great cigar to start the day. working in a cigar shop starting the day with a Cao Brizila Samba
and a good cup of coffee. Sooth but with a bit of mild taste. At first lighting it up with the first draw has a bit of a mild tase but then again after a little while of smoking it goes down real smooth, of course everyone is different on what they like but I highly recommend it and its not at a bad price. To those who have never tried it, Samba is a good cigar to get your day going or even at the end of the day when you are winding down from a long day of work or play.

Such a good looking cigar, I figured that it would probably not live up to the look...wrong! Creamy enough to smoke like a mild-medium, but with an excellent nutty-chocolatey taste. This one burned perfect with zero corrections needed, and even gave my a little euphoric feeling by the end. I had differing experiences with CAO before (positive with the Maduro, negative with the MX2), but will definitely smoke some more of these...have a couple piranhas that will burn next.

With all the hype around this cigar I was really excited to light up. But I have to say it was not the cigar people say it is. I am being generous with my rating. The appearance was stellar, a great looking cigar with a near perfect wrapper. When I would handle the cigar my hands would smell like chocolate afterwards. But the cigar was plagued with burn problems, which I had to keep correcting over and over again. When I first lit the cigar up a burst of chocolate came out then settled down with leather and cream flavors.

Even though this cigar is a maduro, it has a really smooth, creamy taste. Flavors were of a light to medium pepper, a really creamy smooth leather. Maybe a hint of coffee with a a really light walnut. Smoke was thick and aromatic, nice. This cigar isn't as strong as I thought it would be but I liked it. Draw was light and easy. I had some uneven ash but not a problem. Will definitely smoke this baby again and again!!!!

Snow falling, fire going pulled out a Samba
that had been aging around 8 mos. Dark black Brazilian wrapper, contained a few small
veins and very attractive ring. This Samba,
like so many I've smoked, had a great even burn with a very thick white ash. The cigar has great depth, full bodied and full flavored, but can be so smooth and creamy you'd thing it was a mild cigar. The Long finish that leaves you yourning for another snow storm.

This was a great smoke. I have heard a lot of talk about different flavors people taste while smoking, and now I really know what they are talking about. It started off like burnt carmel, and within an inch it had turned into a nice deep creamy chocolate taste. As I kept going, it developed a sort of coffee taste. The closer I got to the head, the more pronounced the taste was. It was bitter, but it was a good, like a nice cup of coffee. My only complaint is that the cigar was a little tight on the draw, but it was still a great smoke.

Today I tried the Brazilia. You ever have those bad days. Everything can't go right. No direction... Not even a smoke that can lift you up. well I hit that today.I figured I'de stray from my usual partagas 1845's and hit up a new smoke..what else could go wrong.
Boy I tell you . try one of these. Grab one.. take a good cd, sit in a remote place and relax. Because everything goes your way when you start puffin away. I'de have to say this smoke MAKES you happy. read other reviews for the details.. but if you want the psycology behind this one.. It costs less than a therapist and gets you off at the end!

This is one of my favorite cigars. It has a great rich flavor with a beautiful dark wrapper. If you like maduros and haven't tried one of these, go get some immediately. The samba lasts about an hour and burns evenly with a nice long ash all the way through. I smoke these things till my fingers burn. You just don't want the experience to end.

Mt favorite non-cuban cigar hands down. Sometimes the draw is a bit tight, but they are nicely constructed, have nice maduro taste, excellent burn. A real winner here.

Fantastic cigar!! Set aside 1.5 hours for this one. Dark, oily, gorgeous wrapper with miniscule veins and solid construction without soft spots. Easy light and good burn, though canoed about 1/3 way down - easily corrected by 1/2-way point (stored 3 months at 65/65). Started with rich spice and mild pepper and maintained spiciness throughout. Increased in complexity halfway down with hints of cocoa and leather. Gray ash that held its composure the entire length. Voluminous white, creamy smoke. Last 1-2 inches was outstanding - one of the few I nubbed to the fingertips, and left me wanted more!! Long finish with a pleasing aftertaste that dances on the palate (you actually feel the tingle!). I caught a nice buzz with about 1/3 left, and that wasn't from the Anchor Steam 2004 Holiday brew that it paired nicely with! I had actually gone out on a limb and bought a box of 20 before I had sampled even one based on it's reviews and reputation, and I'm glad I did. Definitely will make it into the core rotation, not only because it is affordable, but because the entire experience was outstanding! The hype is warranted in this stick.

I sampled a few and then bought a box. Always, a beautiful rich wrapper and wonderful smoke from start to nub. What a pleasure to puff on this one!

I tried two Samba's and found them to have a great flavor and aroma. Nice full bodied smoke, smooth and nice even burn. Bought a box and have not regreted my purchase. Each and everyone has been a Great Smoke down to the fingertips!!

I've had two Samba's and one Gol and I have enjoyed them all very much. I do prefer the size and flavor of the Samba over the Gol. Both have a good medium to full flavor profile but the Samba seems to have a bit more spice(which I like). It's time to buy a box.

This smoke lasted me about 2 hours. Real nice taste, even burn. Had a few that have been rolled a tad tight and are a bit tough on the draw, but more often than not, perfect. Always pay a little extra up here in Rochester, but not ready to buy a box yet.

This is a good cigar that I can afford to smoke on a daily basis.

What a great smoke! It was on my way back to the ship in Key West that I stumbled into this great cigar shop and picked up this bad boy because of the price for such a great looking masterpiece. I was not disappointed, this cigar proved to be without a doubt my favorite to date. Full bodied with plenty of earthy flavors and rich spicy taste thoughtout. Hats off to the people who roll these baby's and I mean the people who really hand roll them. I enjoyed a book on the back of a cruise ship for 2 hours with this GREAT CIGAR and have enjoyed many more since than.

Just did not live up to the reputation, do not get me wrong it was picturesque and the aroma's robust, but ultra spicey and complex it was not.

The Brazilan wrapper is a thick, leathery dark brown. Definitely full bodied. There is a nice spice tone & a burnt coffee flavor. The flavors build in the last 3rd, with the spice tone climaxing & the burnt coffee aspect freight training through the palate. The finish is long, with lingering burnt coffee & a woodiness. Wow!

Overall a good cigar. The draw was good and I didn't have any problems. The taste was very bold and rather strong until about a half of an inch into it. After that a woodsy, nutty and peppery taste developed. Very good but may be a little to bold for me.

One of my favorites. Had one after a year in the humidor. Excellent flavors. Excellent looks. Excellent experience. Some construction isssues though keep this one from being A+.

I always liked this cigar...however, I had saved a few up in my humidor and after a year of aging, I smoked one this morning. Oh it was nice...just as spicy in the beginning as ever, but my goodness what a nice job aging has done to this. VERY tasty. Nicely rolled. Easy to light, gorgeous wrapper. Love the label.

This has to be one of the best blends out there! Spicy beautiful wrapper,and a smooth full-bodied blend that is superior from start to finish.The only slight drawback is that I prefer more smoke. That will not stop me from buying a box though!

I have puffed some dandy's in my 4 year habit, ( lgc serie r, padron, cohiba xv, joya de nic. 1970, partagas black, oliva maduro to mention a few classics, but this SAMBA is almost perfect. Beauty oily wrapper, perfect draw,fantasty aroma and the smoothest, richest, toasty complex taste you can ever ask for. The snowy ash held on for dear life for 2 inches. I believe this cigar is the best I have smoked so far. I did forget to mention it is a full bodied delight!

Like others in this line the construction, burn and ash were perfect. Most important the flavor is a very rich and powerful with an aroma of cedar, expresso and bitter chocolate. The finish leaves you with fond memories.

I really like this cigar a lot, I have had several of them, was considering buying a box, but a tad too spicy for me to buy a whole box. Great draw, great ash and fun to smoke.

First, this is a big cigar--for what I'm used to anyway. Lasted longer than I was willing to go. But, great construction and appearance. Beautiful, slow, even burn/ash. Draw was a tad tight--three pulls for a full draw. Flavor is ultra smooth--borders on bland in that respect. Just even and mild all the way, nothing distinct or overpowering. BUT--as most cigars go, definitely one worth keeping around. I think I'll save it for nights around the campfire whan I have lots of time and nowhere to go and don't feel like taking chances. A must try for anyone--can't go wrong.

Perfect construction. Tons of smoke, good smelling smoke. Flavor...well lets see...it tasted like a pepper shaker for the first inch or so, became excellent balance of tobacco and spice afterwards. Hopefully with age the whole thing will blend better. I loved the Gol, and am pretty picking about only smoking torpedos, perfectos, or pryamides. So I am hoping that the next one is better. I also remembered that I was smoking the Gol at the end of a marathon poker session at a bar with a good beer. Maybe this cigar just taste better with a beer. I would advice on a beer that you like with spciy foods, or a guiness. that it

After really enjoying the GOL!, I was looking forward to this smoke. My expectations may have been a little high. Good burn and flavor, the draw was satisfactory as well. This cigar just seemed to be missing something to really make it leave you wanting more.

Excellent Smoke. Great flavor, an even burn. Even my daughter prefers the smell of this cigar. Have to get that humidor now......

One of my favorites from C.A.O. is the Brazilia line, and the Samba is my favorite cigar of the Brazilia. Very spicey cigar, always a good draw, and always a good burn. Very good value for a great cigar.

Wonderful. Flavor and finish were excellent. The smoothness of this smoke lasted from start to finish. Perfect draw.

Good smoke not too stong but still stout. Draw was a little to be desired, but it burned nicely and had a wonderful nutty taste with a hint of sweetness.

This is one of the best cigars I have ever smoked. It ranks right up there with the Padron Anniversario's and Fuente's finest. Great draw and flavor.

This was a terrific cigar. Great taste! Burned well! Very smooth and enjoyable. I only wish it would last longer.

For those who love this cigar and it is a good one. You can get the same quality and taste from Torano's Exodus 1959 Silver Series or La Flor Dominicana Double Leigro for a dollar less per stick.

At first glance this is a very attractive cigar from the rich color of the wrapper to the colorful band. I tend to like belicosos and torpedos and this was one to remember. This cigar has a tremendously easy draw and provides lots of smoke... a great start right? The taste was heavy and peppery on the palate, something I prefer, and yes, I did begin a slight buzz about half way through. All in all, this was a FANTASTIC smoke that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'll definitely be back for more 'Brazilia.'

THis was not an Amazon... I expected more.. but it is a good CAO smoke. CAO always ROCKS and this was a good smoke. Nice flavor with a smooth taste.

i received a box of sambas for fathers day.after dinner i went out to sit on the porch to smoke one of these gems .it started out great and about half way through my head was buzzing wow! i finished the cigar and finished watching the most relaxing sunsets in a long time .keep up the good work cao!!

The whole Brazilia line is a winner. Very complex sort of a cigar. I like bigger rings generally but glad to see the Ipanema line come out. Can't wait to try them. This smoke is very good

One of my favorites. I've smoked ~25 of these over the last couple of months. Everyone burned and tasted the same. Now, I'm not into all the foof descriptions of taste, but will assure you this cigar will curl your toes. This one has the most recommended cigar of the CAO family to all of my buds. A must try if you like a heavy, consistent cigar.

I was immediately aware this was going to be a spicy experience. Only a slight uneven burn stopped a perfect experience. Flavors of black pepper and allspice evolved into a mixture with burnt caramel and traces of vanilla. The wrapper is gorgeous to behold- meaty with a slight saltiness to the tongue. Very powerful toward the nub. It was a crime to have taken so long to try this.

This cigar should have been named "Mamba." after the snake. It crawled up to me and bit me around half-time. Paid $6.50 each for my sticks and it was well worth the price. I felt that I had a mouthful of pepper during the first half and then it mellowed out real nice and easy. Until the Nicotine hit me. So help me . . . I thought I had a flashback! Must get a box of these serpents. This stick will always have a favorite spot in my humidor . . . when I feel in a dangerous mood. Thank You CAO.

good burn and very spicy. was dissappointed with the gol. the samba was much more appealing.

I smoked an Amazon over a year ago, and was deeply impressed with the dark wrapper and flawless construction. I ordered a box of Sambas recently and was disappointed to see a completely different wrapper: it's not dark, I wouldn't even classify it as maduro. The flavor was not what I was expecting, but admittedly I smoked one right out of the box. I'll give it a month or so in the humidor before making final judgment, but be warned: the Samba might not be what you're expecting, if you are looking for the dark Brazilia wrapper.

I kept in the humidor for 3 weeks, because it was a bit dry when I purchased it from a tobacconist. This cigar has a dark, oily wrapper with few veins and subtle smell of tobacco. Good but a tiny bit firm draw, and it burned almost evenly. Did not like the taste the first few draws, but it got very smooth afterwards. Smoke smells very pleasant. I could sense a subtle floral aroma by the first quarter, as well as a little sweetness, and little pepperish taste. Ash is very firm, and gray. It tasted like a medium bodied cigar, but I prefer this one over Amazon. Does not burn hot, and does not go out easily. A good 90 mins smoke with complex flavors.

Very solid CAO construction. Smooth smoke, I tasted some anise from sticks that had aged about a year. Draw and burn are nearly flawless. Flavor is pleasing, but not very complex by my standards. A good buy.

Very nice cigar, with a full draw, fairly even burn, and medium-bodied flavor. This torpedo did not break down. I'll buy more when I expand my humidor. Highly recommend.

Flavorful and spicy with a peat-like undertone.

Jaw Breaker, Love maker. Complex enough, Strong enough, well made and tastes great too.

An incredible cigar, unique unto it's self! A strong start with lotsa spice and pepper, then a great medium middle smoke that finishes so strong, it almost made me woozy!GREAT original,clean smoke, this has it all at an honest price.Ranks as a top 10 smoke in my files.

Good cigar, but too spicy for my taste. Taste like earthy coffee but smells like flower. Beautiful construction. The only thing I didn't like too much about this cigar was the spicy taste, which tends to mellow out a little, but only a little.

Not as spicy as the gol, but this one is still satisfying. I store mine in a humidor, so there is no bite. lmao. these are great smokes.

Hate to disagree with the rest of the reviewers but I don't like this cigar. Burn was very uneven. Flavor was sharp and unrefined-maybe a little aging will help. Otherwise no particular reason to recommend this cigar.

I just bought a few of these beautiful looking logs and after smoking one, I'm hooked. Time to buy a box. Lots of blue smoke, complex flavors and a very fair price. Makes me want to hop a flight to Rio. Take an hour, relax, enjoy one of these with the boys!

This is a magnificient cigar. Very spicy to start, mellows out to a fine medium-bodied cigar. Angel-white ash, perfectly even burn (slightly less than perfect towards the last 1/3rd), wonderful draw, spectacular wrapper. This is one of my new favorites.

Perfect construction on this torp. A interesting floral note in a med bodied smoke. Some mild coffee flavors. ery mild spice notes. Smooth, smoke with intensifying floral/perfume aroma. A good smoke.