The flavor department is a solid one for this Gold Vintage offering. Leather is detected first, and there is also a mild spice that joins the mix. Some really enjoyable flavors such as vanilla and cream also pop in. Nuts, a sweet flavor, and even some butter can also be detected. The variety of the flavors is pleasing and so is their mild nature.

When it's all said and done, the Gold Vintage Crémant is a stick worthy of a purchase. It looked great, and the flavors were superb. The burn had some issues, so if having to perform maintenance on a cigar is a turnoff, some may be disappointed. When it comes to price, you can find a single for around $7 to $8, depending on where you shop. Some may find that price point a bit much, but if you really want to try a smooth cigar with plenty of flavor it might be worth picking up a single. It can also be found in boxes of 10.

The CAO Gold Vintage Crémant earns a respectable rating of three out of four stars.

Alec Bradley Tempus Terra Novo

The Tempus line from Alec Bradley has been highly rated by many critics in the industry. The Tempus moniker was used to reflect the Latin translation for time, since the cigar's entire production process spanned a lengthy period of seven years.

The Tempus Terra Novo measures 5 x 50. There are plenty of other sizes to choose from within the line as well: the 5 1/2x 42 Genesis, the 5 5/8x 46 Inceptio, the 6 1/2x 54 Magistri, the 6 1/8x 52 Imperator, the 7 x 49 Centuria, and the 7 1/2x 41 Creo. The cigar's filler is a blend of tobaccos from the Trojes region of Honduras as well as Nicaragua. Meanwhile, the binder and wrapper both are composed of Honduran Criollo 98 tobacco also from the Trojes region. To finish off the cigar, a Cuban style triple cap is used. The cigar's production takes place in Honduras at the Raices Cubanas factory. To ensure the quality of the line, Alec Bradley only allows one-fifth of the factory's rollers to aid in its production. Medium to full-bodied is the category used to describe the Tempus.