When looking at the Criollo Pato, the temptation to light it immediately is hard to resist. Its rich wrapper has a bit of an oily sheen and hardly has any veins that are visible to the naked eye. It appears to be constructed to perfection, and the pigtail cap looks great. The decorative band near the head has a vintage look of burnt paper, and it has the CAO logo and the Criollo name displayed over a beige color scheme. The Pato feels firm to the touch, and it has no soft spots whatsoever. Prior to lighting, its scent and cold taste both resemble tobacco.

Although it looks superb, once it's finally lit, the burn of the Pato is another story. It never gets completely out of hand, but there are touch-ups that are necessary. It also tends to need a re-light here and there. The draw is a tad on the tight side, but the ash is long and white in color. The burn is a bit of a letdown considering just how good the cigar looked before being lit.

The flavors experienced while smoking the Pato are not all that complex, but they are still enjoyable. It begins with some wood notes. A spicy pepper then kicks in and seems to dominate over the other flavors in terms of frequency. Later on, a nutty flavor resembling walnuts joins in that is a nice addition.

The Criollo Pato does have its negatives, but it is a solid cigar. Right off the bat, it looked great. The burn was not as desirable, however. Having to perform maintenance off and on was a bit of a drag and took away from being able to focus on the flavors. The flavor themselves were good, although complexity was lacking. The Pato seemed to lean a tad towards being full-bodied, but it never gets to be too overpowering. Therefore, a beginner may be able to handle it, and an experienced smoker should find it to be strong enough as well. While a single retails for around $7, the Pato can be found at a cheaper per-cigar price if purchased in a pack of five or a box of 20. If you enjoy Nicaraguan sticks or are a CAO fan, the Criollo Pato is worth a shot. It's not overwhelmingly great, but it also does not have enough negative marks against it to recommend passing on it.

The CAO Criollo Pato receives a rating of 2.5 out of four stars.