CAO L’Anniversaire “eXtreme” Toro

Of the C.A.O. L'Anniversaire line that I've tried, this is my favorite. Looks, burn and draw very nice. Glad I let this one sit a while, it was worth it.

Complex notes of coffee, honey, caramel, burnt toffee, cocoa, and vanilla combined with a medium to full body. This baby has developed into something special. The best CAO by far I've smoked. Easy, easy draw with an uneven burn and an ugly dark gray ash. If the wrapper burned even with the filler this would be damn near a 10.

This cigar struck me as very similar to the Sancho Panza Fuerte line, but not quite as strong. The burn was decidedly mediocre and required a lot of attention to keep it even. The taste was toasty and oaky with coffee bits sometimes, and a spicy lipfeel to start. Overall a good cigar but a little pricey.

I have smoked the beli, robusto, and now the toro. The robusto was the best right off the bat. The toro was very good and the beli was lagging behind for months in the humi. Now they are pretty much equal in quality and taste, though burn problems sometimes show up. It's great having a selection that you can depend on you just have to pick the one that fits the time you have to enjoy it.

Hard to tell, the draw was tighter than a cartoon character who has eaten some alum...

The wrapper is pretty. Had a real hard time getting any flavor out of it since I had to suck so hard to get anything, so I can't comment on too much else. It produced very little smoke, unless A disappointment.

A good full bodied cigar. Very smooth and complex. Spicy and sweet. Had a slight burn problem but nothing major. Bought a mess of them at Cigarbid for about $3 each.

This was a very full bodied smoke. Pretty smooth though for one as strong as this. Head was spinning and did not feel so good afterward. I also experienced an uneven burn with this one.

Purchased a box of the VINTAGE PRE '02. These were very powerful full bodied cigars. Not recommended for beginers! Started out harsh, after an inch of ash these powerhouse smokes blended nicely into a smoother leathery, toasty type flava. Still, very full bodied. Draw was perfect, be careful your head will spin. Smoke after a big meal to really appreciate this cigar. The only thing I could do with out is the uncomfortable box pressed shape. Horrible idea! A special cigar IF YOU LIKE EM FULL.

Of all the heavy ligero filler blends out their this is probably the smoothest. From the very start till the very end this was the most consistent cigar in flavor and smoothness. Not as spicy or peppery as many other power-smokes. More of a nutty leathery flavor ,instead of spice. This is a better early day smoke than the other ligero blends.

A solid cigar; nice, silky wrapper. Had flavors of almonds, a little spicy at times. Coludn't forgive the uneven burn; that turned me off from making this a possible mainstay.

Pleasurable smoke that just keeps building with flavor. Complex cedar, toasty, a little sweet, but rich. Smoke it right down to the nub. Nic filler and Cammy wrapper makes for a nice combo. Had to take points away for the funny shape.

A rich smoke, full range of flavors from sweet to nutty, never peppery.