CAO Italia Piazza

CAO construction, what can you say? Always first rate. A clean, medium-robust smoke that is designed for those seeking something certain, but also something different. Not one dimensional, like many CAOs. Beautiful cigar, that demands a nice Baileys on the rocks, cognac, coffee, or sparkling water. Earthy quality that reminds me of Tuscany, even if that is just the romance of the label. A fine smoke, not cheap, but can be had for a good price if you search. Enjoy and know if you are smoking this, you are becoming a finer person as a result. I know I am.

I have smoked boxes of this cigar and am always happy with the flavor, burn, ash, etc. It is consistant and a very good value.

Impressive looking, extremely even burn, a bit tighter draw than I prefer and developing some bitterness toward the end.

What a great looking cigar, what a great looking label, what an utter disappointment! Like a previous reviewer I got a nice flavor rush up front but after a few hits the thing just turned into a flavorless dud. Doubly irritating since I had saved it for my post Easter Dinner smoke.

ahh well, live 'n learn.

i would have to say last year this cigar was my absolute favorite. since the flavor has gone downhill. one thing that is very consistent is the aroma of this smoke. always have people asking what kind of cigar that is because it smells beautiful, as it does. but im in it for the flavor myself and not if it smells good to the people around me. sorry cao, love your products but the italia is fading here. have since moved on to a.f. don carlos as my number 1 smoke.

I guess this is why cigars don't come from Italy. Stick to suits and pasta. I really did not like the flavor. Bitter.

Maybe it's just me, but when I first picked it up I thought of a robusto: it's proportions are very similar. It is a toro - just a really fat one. It's big in pretty much every way: size, the amount of smoke it produces, and flavour. I very much liked the flavour, but would be hard pressed to say it was one thing. It didn't strike me as plain tobacco, earthy, like cocoa, etc: what I can say is it was rich, but not overpoweringly strong. Bottom line: I smoked this down to the nub and the flavour was still good. Obviously, at that point it was quite a bit stronger and it had some bitterness to it, but nothing compared to some cigars in their 'dying moments'. I had no burn problems, long almost white ash, and a great two hours. This is a 1st class smoke. And best of all? I only paid abour $4.50 a stick so these were fantastic value.

This Piazza had serious burn issues that I just couldn't keep up with. It also lacked much flavor at all. I got a decent kick of flavor up front but it came and left quickly and the only flavor to show up afterwards were hints of cream and a recurrent sourness. Draw was really tight for the first half. I think this will be my last try of CAO. Both the Brazilias and Italias I've tried left me wanting something with more substance.

I paid $8.25 to try one of these from a local shop and boy was it not worth it. Although the stick was not bad by any means, it wasn't that great either. The burn was pretty uneven and needed a lot of fixing and the flavor was very one dimensional. All I could detect was some kind of mild earthiness. At least I was having it with a beer which made up for the lack of flavor but on its own the cigar would have been a total bore. I am being pretty critical due to the price I paid but it actually was not a bad cigar. Just not an exciting one. And on the upside… the smoke looks great!

I went to my humidor after an excellent spaghetti dinner made by my brother. Since I was already full of Italian food I might as well go for the Italia I got in a sampler at my tobacconist. This cigar is great! It complimented the dinner I had very nicely. I got it for $3 because of the sampler, I would pay 6 any day. Great stick!

Handsome reddish brown Honduran wrapper. Jawbreaking size. Stick was aged for 90 days. Easy draw produced gobs of thick oily smoke. Aggravating, uneven burn that took many welds from the Colibri. First third had a dead "hole" spot inside the cigar. Very flakey, loose ash. Sometimes medium but mostly a smooth, full bodied experience. Flavor, however, was a mostly mundane one demensional straight tobacco with an occasional hint of cocoa and a "different earthiness" which I have never tasted before. This can probably be attributed to the Italian and Peruvian fillers. Flavor score would be higher if the cocoa and earth were more prevalent. Overall, a decent 2 hour and 10 minute experience. (especially while watching the Sabres embarrass the Flyers 8-2) I'd be willing to try more of these if I could score them in the $4-5 range. IMO Overpriced at MSRP of $7.50. Value rating based upon $7.

I really enjoy this smoke a lot, it's very smooth and very well made for a 60 ring gauge. It's also very flavorful. It has an easy draw with a stright burn and a decent ash. Overall this is a must try.

This is a very good cigar...period. I love the size (60 ring gauge)...and the looks had me looking forward to sparking it up. It did not disappoint...great flavor, smooth...medium to light body...great construction with even burn. Bravissimo...good value.

this is a very good looking and well constructed cigar. burns and draws well but a little lacking in taste.

Bingo, this cigar contains all the properties that go into the makings of a great smoke. Full bodied with a smooth and even draw. Do not let this one get away. Hats off to C.A.O. in creating another super product. Mouth watering!

Ash is a little differant as it is flakey but doesn't affect the burn at all. This smoke is amazingly great and is a staple in my coolidor.

I decided to smoke 2 of these cigars before I gave them a rating & I've come to the conclusions that this is one of the best cigars I've ever smoked & that includes most of the Cubans I've smoked & I've been smoking cigars since the late 1980s. I will definitely be smoking more of these.

This cigar was cocoa smooth and definately a great addition to the C.A.O. line of cigars. I've tried two Italia Gondolas and they were dissapointments. I guess size, ring gauge and taste really makes a difference. The cigar tasted great and was very relaxing. If the Piazza and the Brazilia Amazon cost twice as much people would still give them great ratings because they are better than cigars costing three times as much. I hope C.A.O. doesn't see that last line.

This stick gives you a good toothy exciting ride with lots of smoke. The foot lit well and held a alabaster ash that was even all the way to the nub. The notes were very nice with black-chery, and sweet wood with a spicy wheaty finish. A must try full body smoke.

could have been the cut, or the wind but I did not hace a good smoke out of this one.

first time smoking the Italia and it is a must try

amazing structure. unique but great taste. no complaints here

...well, maybe 6 bucks or so. The perfect size and the perfect CAO, definitely my favorite out of all of them. Right up there with the La Gloria Serie R maduro. In fact, if you like those I'd be willing to bet you'll like these as well. Oily, feels great in your hand, very well-made, medium bodied, not too harsh...just stands out is all I can say. Once you smoke one you'll know what I mean. Call me a cheapskate, but I think the price could come down a buck.

I have had a lot of cigars including Cubans, but far this is the most enjoyable cigar i have ever had. not only does it taste and smell great, but it s pure relaxation with smoking it.

Stocked up on cigars during a recent visit to the contiguous 48 states. Picked up some of these, some Davidoff Millenums, some Ashton VSGs, and a bunch of other great cigars. I've been happily smoking away at them for a few weeks.

The Italia stands out as perhaps the best. Of the three Italias I've smoked, they've all looked good, burned well, and provided a consistent (and awesome!) flavor.

I think they're a medium-to-full bodied cigar with a lot of complexity and details in the flavor. In short, without using fancy words that may not mean the same thing to other people, it tasted damn good and is a genuinely enjoyable smoke, start to finish. It was the kind of cigar where about thirty seconds after getting it lit you kinda grin and think, "Yeah... I think I'm gonna like this." Forty-five minutes later, I had the same grin on my face.

The Italia is well worth a try, if you haven't.

After smoking the Gondola I have smoked the Piazza (once again, awful names....). A confirmation, and some improvements: flavours were always there, strong, smooth and consistent, and construction this time was almost perfect. Draw was a bit loose at start, then either it got better or I got used to it, which in any case means it was not an issue. All in all, a very valuable smoke.

buttery, smooth --- great build, ash and burn

This is a beautifully constructed cigar with wonderful flavors and flawless draw! This is highly recomended even for those who shy away from a maduro wrapper

I like the Brazilias a lot, so I was pleased when I was gifted a Piazza and they became available in my local shop. Cigar was a beauty, well rolled, firm but not too firm, pretty dark chocolate colored wrapper. Smelled great out of the cello. Draw and burn were perfect. Taste was great, with a different maduro character from the Brazilias, but a nice solid toasted/coffee flavor. Looks like another winner from CAO.

This cigar was a "IN YOUR FACE" style cigar. I thought it had roasted coffee, earthy with peppery hints. A very straight forward tobacco taste. Reminds me of a El Rico Habano. Full bodied with a firm draw. Worth it's price!

Great cigar! Wonderful, full flavored cigar without the big nicotine punch that you get with the Brazilia line. Very well built and cool burning. Smoked for 90+ minutes, right down to the nub. Highly recommended.