CAO Italia Ciao

Nothing wrong with this one. Like others I think I kind of expected some Euro extravagance to shine through. It was just a decent pleasing cigar. Didn't burn all that well. Wonderful smoke scent. Good draw. What else should we expect? This one was like a good ol' Sunday dinner at moms. Just what you expect.

I liked this stick a ton--I've had 3 different sizes in the Italia line and I've enjoyed each of them a great deal. Very consistent smoke across the different sizes, and this on just has a certain flavor profile--there is like a mellow, sweet tang once you get about an inch in--that I just can't put my finger on or find a good comparison. It's a flavor I enjoy, and I've not experienced the same taste in any other cigar.

I will continue to get these, and look forward to lighting them up. Along with the MX2, the Italia is now firmly entrenched in my regular rotation--I love it.

Well, I can't speak too much about the flavor or other properties of this cigar because the draw was so tight that I could get no smoke out of it. I tried everything to get the draw to lighten: expanding the cut, massaging the cigar,...probably one of the most frustrating smoking experiences I have had. I had to throw it away after almost reaching the half way mark.

Excellent draw and burn. Full bodied and rich. Had a semi sweet with coffee and cocao flavors which lasted throughout. It was more along the high medium side in strength although it had a nice leathery profile as well.

The prelit smell was strong and a little spicy, almost exotic. I noticed serveral people commented on how the draw was tight, but mine was just fine although not altogether smooth either. The burn wasn't bad, but not great as well. The flavor was strong, which met my preference, and the prelit aroma matched its flavors. I dont think I'd buy a box of these, but I wouldn't turn one down for sure.

If you want this taste but better, seek out a Bratalia. Still, this is a good cigar. A bit of an exotic taste (Italian?). Decent though a bit irritating aroma. Good construction.

This cigar looked good. The prelit aroma was some leather and tobacco. The draw was tight....way too tight. The flavors were okay at first, but this cigar never had a chance with the draw. I had some earthy/nutty flavors. I might try this again....probably not though.

If I practiced what I preach on not banging a cigar on one sample I wouldn't be typing this. Regardless I owe it to myself to grab a couple more of these. Great appearance, a bit firm on the draw, but the construction turned south after close to two inches in. Before that the flavor was unique and very good. Couldn't describe it with any justice but high side of nedium with great depth. Unfortunately the firm draw got firmer and it was hard to keep lit, got very acrid from puffing so hard so much and it just went from sugar to $#@&. Like I said not typical CAO so I will give this another try. I gave the flavor the benefit of the doubt on my rating since it been so good and failed due to the construction on this sample.

This surprised me. I Tried another shape in this line years ago and found it just barely OK and not worth the hype. I aged this thick stick about a year and a half. I was rewarded with a meaty chewy yummy cigar. Some very unique notes of something floral, nice spice, wood, mincemeat, and sambouca. I found this to be medium in body. This prince of frugality did not like the $5.75 price tag. If I could get these at about 4-ish I'd buy about ten of them and let them rest a long time. Get some if the price is right and you have room at the bottom of your box.

Great looking, well constructed, and a great value; but in my book it still falls short of the flavor I enjoy so much in the Brazilia line.

Very good complex Cigar. Nice construction and burned well.
Just the right amount of spice!

It was "The Tale of Two Halves". The Ciao was very delicious for the first half, hints of spice, vanilla, and a few unidentified, but pleasant flavors. Unfortunately the second have not so terrific, it was very mild, and the formerly nice taste was replaced by something that was not good. It's possible this stick got hot toward the finish, I don't know. From the looks and the name of this gar I guess I had unrealistic expectations. Maybe I was thinking there would be expressions of oregano, garlic or olive oil? Anyway, my ratings, especially in flavor are a compromise between the two halves. This cigar is beautiful and I did not experience any substantial burn problems. I was just expecting more - Ciao.

An incredibly well built cigar. Hard as a rock and heavy in the hand. Very even burn with strong, white ash. Draw was pleasantly firm. The flavor started out spicy then mellowed with an aftertaste of pepper which lasted to about halfway through. Notes of coffee and wood and maybe some cream on the aftertaste followed. I did not expect such flavor changes out of a vitola this size and enjoyed it.

This is the best CAO i have smoked to date, but i have yet to try the America. I want to let that one get some age on it before i smoke it. the flavor was very pleasant, a little pepper (no were near the pepin's), nutty, with some ceder tones. Produced lots of smoke, and the ask burned perfect.

kinda hard to describe this one as i never tasted anything like it before, but thats a good thing as this cigar was really nice and smooth. at best i would say it tasted herbal. burn was straight, draw was awsome aroma was pleasant. as i rarely smoke to the nub, and this was no exception, but if i had to i probably could go all the way with this one

A smoke bordering on superb in my opinion. Great construction, draw, burn and taste. My favorite of all the CAO offerings I have tried. There will always be a CAO Ciao in my humidor, as long as I can buy them. My only criticism is the price is probably about 20% too high.

Solid construction and good looking. This one started out a bit to the mild side. It had a nice draw and good amount of smoke. About half way through it developed more of a peppery quality. Toward the end it developed some very nice flavor. It had almost a mint tinge to it. This was one of the better CAO's I've had. Good cigar if you're looking for something to the mild end of mild-full. I will buy again.

enjoyed a nice night on the boat with a very good stick... never had to be re-lit nor an uneven burn enjoyed it very much for a cao

Picked a Single up from local spot. At first look cigar looks intimidating to say to least.Had a great pre-light smell and draw. Flavors were awesome and smooth, which was a surprise. Burn was crap though. Had to constantly touch this smoke up the whole way until the bottom 1/3. Really made the experience aggravating. Im going to pick 1-2 of the smaller ring gauge up to see if I get a better burn.

A bit a tight draw for a large ring...Pretty band..Was ok at best

I like the pepper in this one, but it is still mild enough to smoke w/o a beer or good steak in your belly. Needed a few touch-ups here and there, but flavors remained earth and consistent.

Looks fine. Light in the hand, but the bunch looks solid. Generous draw, thanks to the massive ring gauge. Peppery and earthy from the start with a dry finish. A vanilla note crept in along the way, but so did a charry cigarette-like quality. I agree with previous reviewers. It isn't awful, but I can't think of anything good to say about it either. Another in a long line of so-so offerings from CAO.

This is cigar started out okay, with a medium/full body with a bit of pepperiness and some twang to it. As the smoke progressed, it got harsher and harsher and just was not enjoyable at all. Coupled with a draw that was way too tight, I tossed this one a little over half way through. It just wasn't enjoyable, flavorwise, and it seemed to suffer from the same construction issues that I find in many of the CAOs that I've had. I have to give this the thumbs down, especially when you factor in the $5.50 price tag.

Very bland, I thought it would have more flavor like most of the other CAO lines(Brazilia). Was not impressed at all, decent draw but very awful uneven burn, tried to fix a couple of times, the burn was so awful that after I fixed it, it would burn on even again.

This is a good smoke, very CAO-like if you've tried some of their other ones...sort of has that earthy/floral/sweet spice taste that seems to appear in CAO's. Fairly flavorful, but not as much as say the Criollo or the Brazilia. Medium-bodied with a loose draw and good construction. If you've like other CAO's you'll probably like this one, however I wouldn't say this is their best cigar. Somewhat forgettable; I dont think I'll be buying another one of these, just not interesting enough.

Good Smoke, Good flavor and spices. A little too bold for me.

I had solid expectations for this cigar but twas not to be. A good looking cigar but the draw was tight from the get-go. Burn needed readjustment a few times. Good ash and an ample volume of smoke, the taste was medium-bodied and lacking in complexity and subtleties. Not at all harsh, but not at all memerable either. Go for the Brazilias or the L'Anniversaire Cameroons.

I'm a BIG CAO fan, and I've loved most of their cigar's I've tried, but this one was a let-down. It looks good and has easy draw (which you can expect from a CAO cigar) but the burn was uneven and had to be constantly re-lit, the flavor is lacking. It's strong but has no character (unlike the Brazilia). I don't recommend it.

I have picked these up now and then for about a year now. The first few I smoked had about a week or two of age on them. Needless to say I wasent impressed. The one I just got done smoking had a over a year of age on it and let me tell you either they are inconsistent. (could be) , the older ones werent rushed like they are now. Or age really makes a diff with these.

Yes I had to keep touching it up here and there but, the flavor is out of this world. I've never tasted such a toasty & creamy cigar like this one. There was a strong aroma and taste of wallnuts through out. Wish it was a bigger cigar and I was still smoking it. The draw was not loose like some of the others, but I did notice that the band was loose, like after a while the cigar has compressed a little bit. Still to pricey and would like to wait only about a month instead of a year to have the same experience.

Having enjoyed the Brazilia line and other CAOs, I figured I would give the Italia line a whirl. Very loose draw on this one, and a burn that needed to be touched up throughout the cigar. Earthy flavors in this mild-medium smoke, nothing special and certainly one-dimensional. If I want a CAO again, I'll smoke a Brazilia.

Looks pretty average, nothing special. No veins is a plus. Burned with a uniform white ash. Lots of smoke. Easy draw.
Got some oak, forest floor, hay, and citrus hints.
Smoothed out after the first inch, but burn got erratic and needed several corrections throughout.
Finished unfavorable with a bitterness in the back and top of my mouth.
I wasn't a huge fan of the brazilia and didn't find this any better.

I expected a bit more from this cigar. While the stick produced plenty of smoke and had a good draw, the flavor was not as complex as I was expecting. In addtion, several burn problems needed to be corrected. A good cigar it is but not a memorable one.

I tend to like CAO cigars, but not this one. This is the worst CAO I have ever smoked, by far. I had been wanting to try this one out for quite some time (I purchased this one from a member of the forums). Never again. The wrapper had very small cracks throughout and the taste was just BAD.

This medium bodied stick provided lots of smoke and a unique flavor that I enjoyed. My only complaint is that in the few I've had, I've consistently run into burn consistency problems. This is unusual in my experience with any CAO line. But with a slight touchup here and there things proceeded fine - just a pet peeve of mine. Otherwise, the ash looked great, overall appearance of the wrapper was a nice consistent oily dark brown. I may have to go back and try the Brazilla again, but the uniqueness of this smoke really struck me. IMO, its lacks the spice of the Brazilla but has a tangy flavor with floral notes. A little high in price to be an everyday smoke but certainly one to give a try.

CAO did it this time. I'm not sure which of the filler blend makes this a winner, but I hope it's the Italian tobacco.

After being a Brazilia smoker for some time I decided to try the Italia. What started out as average lost points toward the end. Construction was poor and the finish was not pleasent. The flavor was good for about 1/3rd of the stick, but became bitter. I'll stay with the Brazilia line.

Great draw with lots of smoke. More on the bitter side. Mellowed out towards the nub. Was an okay cigar. Won't buy again.

I smoke Brazilias a lot ... the little fish is one smoke I always have in the humidor. I'm not as big a fan of the larger Brazilias but I was excited when the Italias were released. I've smoked several of these in the past 6 months and like them too, they're different in taste. They have burned well, generally sitting months @ 65% before I smoke them with a nice taste. I'll stick to the fish for box purchases but these are an interesting diversion.

This cigar was smooth and oaky with maduro overtones throughout but not terribly complex. It had a slightly irregular burn but was otherwise pretty consistent. It was med+ in body but definitely not full-bodied. Smooth to the nub.

This was a Freebie at a show. Not bad just a little short on taste. But that's me I like full body only.

I've been a staunch Brazilia fan, being my favorite CAO. Thats changed, this CAO really hits the mark for me. Medium to full bodied smoke with tons of smoke. Perfect draw and razor sharp burn. It has a very subtle sweetness with floral notes and some other stuff I'm crazy about. A big meaty stick with a dark beautiful wrapper. A definate go to smoke for me..

A colorful band adorns this dark and well-rolled cigar. Other than a slightly firm draw, it smokes extremely well with a consistent, even burn, solid ash, and lots of aromatic smoke; it performs well even down at the last 1 1/2 inch. It's a hearty smoke, with earthy spices and dark cherry and licorice flavors; fairly complex and definitely balanced. Medium to full-bodied, with a long tangy finish and a small buzz afterwords. This Italia line, just like every other CAO, has its own distinctive character which I found quite enjoyable.

I've yet to come across a poor constructed or less than attractive cigar from CAO. And this is no exception. The taste, however, was a big dissapointment. Fully bodied but very bitter. I was waiting for something to happen as I drew down the stick but the more I smoked it the more I wanted to put it out. I'm wondering if I got a bad one given all the other positive ratings. In any case, I didn't like the taste at all and don't have any desire to purchase another. I love the Brazilias but these tasted nasty, IMO.

This was a really good cigar. I found the flavors hard to describe, but defiantly very pleasant. There were some floral notes, but they were not overwhelming like many of the Fuentes. There was also a slight sweetness to the stick, but this too was quite subtle. Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience. The only negative was the taste in my mouth over the next day and a half. This cigar seemed to stay with me a lot longer than normal. However, this could be due to any number of other factors, so I cannot say for sure that the cigar was to blame. I’ll definitely buy a few more of these.

When I first tried this cigar I liked it, that was about a year ago. At that time I put a couple in the humidor to rest. Had one last night.......WOW! It was perfect, one of the top 5 cigars I've ever had.

I like these. Not as strong as the Brazilia and they have a smoother, less spicy flavor. Tends to burn a little hot during the last 1/2, but overall a good cigar with a full flavor but only a medium body.

This is a good cigar, not great, but good. Mild to medium-bodied, decent smoke and white/grey ash. Slight spice flavor. Burned fairly true. Good draw. Got this stick on a business trip at a fine cigar shop in Jackson, MS., of all places.

nice coco flavor. like the rest of the italia line, the cigar had good construction. no major complaints here

This is a less spicy version of the Brazilia line, in my opinion. Attractive rich dark brown toothy wrapper with medium veins and no soft spots. Solid construction. Subtle prelight aroma. Easy light. Even burn without the need for correction. Slightly firm draw. White smoke and a dense white-gray ash. Started with pepper and spice, which softened into woody notes by the end of the first third, particularly oak. Then transitioned into an earthy flavor with a hint of burnt coffee in the middle third (still with elements of the initial flavor profile). Finished with a medley of the above with an herbaceous note that became more prominent. All in all, this 1 hour 15 minute smoke was pleasant but did not grab my attention as much as the Brazilia line, which is my favorite from CAO. Still, it was an enjoyable experience and a vitola that was just right for a late afternoon/early evening smoke after a long day at the office. Paired well with a summer lager.

I certainly hope this cigar is no indicative of the CAO line. I didn’t get past the second inch on this thing and I RARELY put ANY cigar out before the final 2 inches EVER.

This cigar embodies every bad stereotypical nuance used to describe cigar smoking, usually by nonsmokers. It smells bad, it tastes bad and lingers forever. On the plus side it has a pretty band.

A nice mild smoke that can be enjoyes anytime. I thought it was less flavorful than other CAO cigars I have smoked but enjoyed. I would smoke again but would buy the brazila or cameroon as my favorites. Had a slight burn problem also.

The Italia has good flavor with more body than the CAO Brazillia line. They are obviously designed by CAO to complement each other, the Brazillia is meant to be smooth and flavorful, but if you want a little more spice, you can move up to the Italia. Personally I preferred the smoother flavor of the Brazillia, but both were very good. Unfortunately the Italia had a bit of a burn problem which required a little doctoring before it straightened out. Generally CAO’s have flawless construction, so I chalked this one up to an anomaly, and since I smoked it straight from the cigar shop it may have had uneven humidification. I’m going to let the other one I purchased rest in the humi for a while, which should hopefully even out the humidification.

I like the Brazilia line. The Italia is a very good smoke. The main dissapointment was the amount of 'soft spots' in the cigar. It affected the eveness of the burn. The flavor was great and I would try them again... but not as one of my very favorities

After trying most of the other CAO's (gold, brazilia, extreme, etc...) I think this one stands out as the best, which is quite an accomplishment considering I think CAO is one of the best cigar manufacturers around. This cigar burned extremely well and had a nice, toasty medium-bodied flavor. The finish was strong, but not at all harsh. For the price, these are tough to beat.

Never thought I would be smoking a cigar with tobacco from Italy, yet this cigar is right at the top of my all time favorite cigars. The construction is beautiful, with an oily wrapper and a great cap that leads to a very even burn and a great draw. The aroma is magnificent and the flavor is medium to full with hints of spice. CAO produces fantastic cigars and I enjoy all of them, but if I were to pick one, this would be it!

I picked these up a couple months back...and was expecting alot more from CAO. It is a good cigar, far better than a lot of whats on the market, but compared to other CAO cigars, it just dosen't cut it. It's almost more enjoyable to have someone else smoke it around you as it does give off a plesant aroma, but the flavor just isn't there

I have to say that CAO has got a real winner here. The Cuban seed Italian tobacco developed for this line as well as the other's used in the blend are very tasty. Construction is top notch,wrapper was georgous, solid stick with no soft spots. Burned conical and even, down to the nub. Flavor that caught my attention was pencil lead, and as it warmed up roasted nuts, and caramel.Wonder if they will ever market a Italian Habano with Cuban seed Italian components. I think they really would have a tough time pulling that project off because of the wrapper. But I'm sure if done they will have a market for a true Italian Habano. This is a must try, wonder how they will taste after a long nap in one of my D'ors. Ciao es bella!

I love the brazilias. Now I love these. Not sure how to describe but say it has a slightly sweet beginning and then gets more 'earthy' as it goes. Reminds me slightly of the Gurkha Class Regent but a better flavor and construction. Big smoke and reasonably priced. A box is on order.

this was a very pleasant surprise, it has nice oils and is a very unique tasting cigar, great construction like all CAOs i prefer it much more than the brazilia line

As with other posts here, I also believe the Brazilia robusto is the best of CAO...however the Italia is as good even though it is somewhat milder. I am getting a box of these puppies as soon as I can....I think they'll be even better after resting for a few months in the humi.

This cigar had a wonderfully rich sweet flavor with a hint of leather similar to pipe tobacco. However it did have some draw and burn problems. An enjoyable full-bodied smoke. The only drawback was the construction, but the taste was fantastic.

I received this treat in a cigar pass I was in. Man, was I glad to pick this lovely cigar. The appearance is dark and oily. The construction was perfect and it was easy to light and the draw was great. The flavor is quite full and rich, one that is quite complex as the flavor changed as I smoked it. Highly recommend this cigar if you enjoy a full bodied smoke.

Before I tried one of these, I thought that the brazilia line was the best of the best. These are more flavorful, although not so spicy. There are flavors here that I haven't seen in other cigars. I have had several and have enjoyed every one. There is plenty of smoke as well and it seems to linger around for awhile, heavy and thick.

This is not quite as strong as the Brazilia line, which is good. Its a solid, well constructed cigar that generates lots of smoke. It held a long ash and burned very well.

Its a bit spicy but well rounded and overall a favorite.

I really liked this a lot. You can't go wrong with CAO. I've enjoyed everything that I've smoked that they've made. I also got a little hint of port from this which i really liked.

Like one of the other reviewers; my local retailer talked me into trying this cigar. I now have another favorite. Good burn and a pleasantly rich flavor.

I have smoked about 5 of these cigars in the past month, and every one has been excellent. Quite spicey and full-bodied, with a great construction and burn, this cigar is definately worth trying. Generally a good value, too, although being as new as they are (Sept 04), they are a bit difficult to find, the price may reflect that.

I let a guy at my local cigar shop convince me to try this cigar. I was really disappointed. While i really LOVE a fullbodied cigar, I found this cigar a bit overwhelming.

...or should I say hits another home run? This is a great cigar--perfectly balanced. Smooth, perfect draw and burn. Has a nice bit of kick w/o being overpowering. Reminds me a tad of a Gurkha Class Regent but not as 'weedy'. A real mellow undertone--and a killer aroma. My wife loved the smell--a major cigar factor 🙂 Must buy more...

Great idea! Looked forward to this for a while. The flavor was very even with a nice smooth finish. Even when I really heated the cigar up, the smoke was still smooth. That says a lot in my book. Have the other two sizes and plan on trying them soon. Only complaint was a slightly tight draw.

Great stick! inbetween the MX2 and the Brazilia as far as the flavor profile. Unlike some others, I detected a nice complexity to the cigar... vanilla and orange peels notes and no harshness whatsoever. Beautiful cigar and presentation. Only complaint is the uneveness to the burn and a somewhat sloppy cap.

I tried this cigar. I am a regular smoker of the MX2 and Brazillia. I was not happy with the cigar. It started off very mild. It strengthened along the way but it was not as satifying as Brazillia. It burnned unevenly throughout. Regarding taste, I felt it was flat, woody but no pazzazz. I am encouraged to try it again. This was from a new shipment so it may need more humidor-time.

These are very good cigars. The Ciao is similar in performance to the Piazza. Full flavored, but not overpowering. Flawless construction. Starts off peppery and hot, mellows in the middle, then ends with a strong, dark, and complex flavor. Better than the Brazilia line.

Very nice cigar. Nice color and wrap. A bit of pepper on the light and then its mellows out with a slightly sweet taste. A smooth easy draw with lots of smoke. Another hit for CAO.

solid peppery taste. somewhat one dimensional, but good