CAO Criollo Mancha

Complex and smooth this Mancha, delivered much more than when I reviewed it 14 months ago. It can stand alone, but is also good with an adult beverage. I smoked this one with the black dogs around the campfire with a good "sippin whiskey". It had an excellent burn, and for some reason this stick is always the most humid cigar in my humidor, its like a sponge regardless of the location or length of time in the box. Still they need about a year of age to morph into a pretty good cigar.

Beautiful construction. Such a smooth wrapper. Felt great on the lips. Easy draw and holds a dark grey ash very well. nice thick white smoke. Full-bodied with a lot of peppery tones and spicey on the finish. Loved it

I give this cigar a try. Name Mancha, almost like my first name. Cigar was heavy in hand, for such a small diameter cigar. Soon as put fire to the cigar it hit with spice and great flavor. I going to bum another from my cigar friend again. He not answering my phone call lately. I'll have to use his girfriend phone next time.

Given the reviews I eagerly anticipated this smoke. Overall, I ws not disappointed. The flavor was full, peppery with a long last. The construction was near flawless with a solid ash, easy draw and even burn. It is a smoke for an experienced palate and for someone who appreciates the power of Nicaraguan leaf.

I'd been waiting for the Pampa to come down in price, as I've been anxious to taste it. When I saw the Mancha for the same price, I thought what a deal! I thought wrong. It had the flavor of leather, but not good leather. More like an the seat of an old Ford Mustang, (don't ask). I did not taste pepper as the other raters did. Not that the taste was horibble, just below CAO's usual standard. Even the construction is not up to the CAO name. I hope the Pampa is better, but now I'm not so anxious to taste it.

I loved it. A unique cigar I got as a gift. Excellent appearance and construction. Pronounced pepper and wood flavors that barely changed till the last third. Burned for a full 45 min.

Terrible play on words. The cigar is still spicy but a bit smoother after being in the humidor for a couple of months. draw and burn were good. Tastes were not quite as good top me compared to the first one. Still a decent smoke.

I expected more. I guess I will stick with the Brasilia and Vision. The flavor profile did not agree with me. Blah.

Had one of these a a cigar gathering. Reminded me of a Upman #2(Cuban). Only thing missing was the Cuban twang. But I am not sure I missed it. Loads of spice dominate this smoke. Also got some coffe hints as well. Burned great. Draw was prfect. Wet out a couple of times due to me running my mouth. Did not notice that foul taste you sometimes get on a relight. This is definetly worth a rty if you like strong, spicy cigars. I did get a slight rush from it!!

Picked up one of these for cheap at a local shop. I had one of the bigger sizes and it was too great either. Looks great and construction is good, but that isn't why we smoke is it. The taste was so bland. I felt like I was smoking a big cigarette. I think I am done with CAO except their Italia line.

One word to describe this cigar for me was unbalanced. Construction wise, it was flawless. Very small veins, white ash, perfect burn and draw. Flavor profile was a different matter. I found it to be rather simple. Didn't get a whole lot. Medium-bodied, probably due to the bitterness I experienced, hints of plastic, some creaminess in the first third, but not a whole lot else goin' on. Disappointing.

if looks were everything this was a beautiful cigar,an oily silky wrapper with nice cap construction but... the cigar was loosely constructed, had tight draw all the way down the stick as if i were trying to suck a marble through a garden hose, had to be relite multiple times, ash was dark and flakey. taste was better than construction. had a nice peppery flavor that finished nutty.

A solid go to smoke with lots of spice, earthy with hints of strong coffee dominate this well made cigar. Burn and draw were very good. I've had other sizes of this cigar but I'll gravatate more to this vitola. At the end of it now and flavor is still quite good but it did go out, relight brought it right back. I waant more.

This is a ok stick comeing from CAO. The foot lit well and had some trouble with the burn and had to relight it one time, But that was the only thing that was wrong. The notes were of wood and some cream that was a little spicy. A ok performer.

This one was not as good as other CAOs I've tried (Brazilia, L'anniversere). A bit of spice but not much more for flavor. Won't likely smoke any more of these.

Nice smoke with a good peppery flavor, well constructed, nice draw, and lots of tasty smoke. Excellent value

A great cigar if you like it spicy and with strong flavors. You will feel this one on your tongue.

This stick was just ok for me. I do like the spicy and pepper flavor of it, just not quite so much of it. It did have great CAO construction with a perfect bern and draw. It heald a long pepper gray ash tool. It's quite rich and mellow too. Overall a good smoke.

First time trying the Criollo line and I was impressed. As is with the CAO Anniv Cameroon line, this was very woody, earthy some pepper notes. Rich and mellow. Burned exceptionally well with lots of smoke. This stick was aged almost 1 year in the humi. Some minor unravelling of the wrapper despite ideal humidification but this did not detract in any way from the smoking experience. Solid smoke.

one of the best cigar lines on the market, the price is low compared to the value of the smoke. great taste, draw, and burn, CAO proves once again why they are the best.

The Mancha is a great midsized smoke. It’s a little shorter, and a little smaller ring than the Bomba, which allows the flavor of the wrapper to come through in vivid detail. All the Criollo line are excelent smokes, and the Mancha is no exception. I prefer some of the other size offerings from CAO, but I’ll still keep a few of these on hand, if for no other reason than to hand out when friends drop by.

took me by surprise --- complex and tasty --- kept me chewing the air in my mouth puff after puff and felt sad when it was over

Great stick! My Tobaccoist gave me one to try. I read a lot of reviews and assumed it was just average. I was wrong. My palate was shocked by the different flavors. Spicey and pepper then mellow and smooth and last 1/4 mix of both. Contruction was good, burn was cool with a 2 inch white ash. It did go out toward the end! I am going today to by some more. Great with a bold coffee.

This is one of my favorites. Good all the way around.

I ususally do not like C.A.O. cigars but this one reminds me of some old bonded Havanas. It shows what can be done with Nica tobacco

Seemed like a medium strength cigar. Very nice flavor, almost reminds me of a Monticristo No. 3. Flavor tails off towards the last 1/4 of the smoke. Overall I will Buy these again

Nice presentation and beautiful appearance. Pre-light aroma hightened my anticipation for what was about to begin. Great multi-dimensional smoke that burned well. FLavor built upon itself but never overwhelmed.

Tasted great and very unique. Seem to vary somewhat - some from the same box are spicey , some smoother / milder . Overall very good

What a let down, I was hoping for something great in the new line and ended up with a stick I wouldnt even throw to my dog. The box was interesting but I dont smoke the packaging...maybe I should have.

finally got a CAO that burned evenly. mellow and smooth. light aftertaste. mild, slightly sweet spice.

It starts out with a smokey hickory like flavor that I found to be unique and rather pleasant. Suddenly, 1/2 an inch into this smoke, it got spicey and was dominated by a black pepper flavor. The wrapper was a nice shade of coco brown, with a modest amount of tooth. It was a little bit veiny. I wonder if this cigar would be a better value if they went with simpler packaging.

Even burn, white/blue medium smoke, comfortable size & draw. Rich flavor, lightly peppery at first, then grew herbal, grassy (must be the criollo), and creme finish. Only negative; wrapper loosened in places.

Absolutely fantastic cigar. Presentation, construction and flavor were all top notch. Medium to full body and very smooth. Burned perfectly throughout. Shopping for deals on boxes of these now!