CAO Italia Review

[MooseToga]

It was absolutely gorgeous outside yesterday, nicest day we've had so far this spring up here in Western NY. A bit brisk but sunny. I decided to throw a couple of logs in my chimenea and enjoy the first nice-weather smoke of the season (I've already hurriedly choked down a couple of small cigars on cold days just out of spite). Unwisely, I chose a cigar that I'd never tried before, a CAO Italia. I got it in a gift box from my wife for Christmas. I love CAO cigars generally, and their Criollo blend in particular, so it didn't seem like a risky pick at all.

It was the most disappointing smoke I've ever had. Just... blah, boring. Did absolutely nothing for me. And believe me, I was in a mood to appreciate a cigar - I even tried convincing myself that it was good. No dice, that 'gar sucked. This review pretty much nails it; I wish I'd read it before I used this cigar to kick off my smoking season.

[MithShrike]

Your impression was more favorable than what I experienced. I smoked about an inch, it tasted like someone had taken a handful from a yard refuse bag that had sat in the sun for a few days and rolled it into a cigar.

[Gargoyle]

The Brazilia and L'Anniversaire Maduru rock, so I had a similar anticipation when I smoked my first Italia as well. I made a big production of lighting it up with my wife nearby, who is mostly Sicilian. Too bad the cigar was such a letdown.

[skibumdc]

I usually enjoy a CAO cigar, but my feeling was the same.
The Italia, I had a Piaza citola, is not good.

The draw was so loose I felt like no smoke was coming through. Ring gauge big enough to dislocate your jaw, and no flavor.

Give me a Brazilia Gol!, Soprano, Criollo, Vision, Britalia anyday, bu not the Italia.

I may try another one down the road of the 5 pack I won from the devil site, but other than that it's been relegated to WINDY golf days.

[MooseToga]

Glad to hear I'm not crazy. After perusing the reviews in this section a bit more, I realized I left some info out of mine, so I'll include that here:

Humi: 3 months @ 65%
Size: 5 x 56 (Ciao)
Drink: Labatt Blue Light, then an Ithaca Pale Ale once I realized I'd need to look elsewhere for something interesting to enjoy
Ash: Medium-to-dark gray, very flaky
Burn: To its credit, this was very good. Very even throughout, stayed lit even though it was windy out and I stopped paying much attention to the cigar halfway through.
How I'd describe the flavor, in a nutshell: Even the light beer completely overwhelmed it. It didn't have anything to offer. It tasted like a cheap cigar, basically.

[skibumdc]

Originally Posted by MooseToga

Burn: To its credit, this was very good. Very even throughout, stayed lit even though it was windy out and I stopped paying much attention to the cigar halfway through.
How I'd describe the flavor, in a nutshell: Even the light beer completely overwhelmed it. It didn't have anything to offer. It tasted like a cheap cigar, basically.

I agree on the construction and burn. Top Notch.
But to add to my review before, I recently attended a CAO cigar dinner with the President of CAO present. In the 5 pack sampler was 1 vision, 1 Brazilia box press, 1 Britalia, 1 Italia, 1 Mx2.

The guy sitting next to me lit his Italia up and quietly said to me "This taste like nothing"
I asked if the draw was loose and he nodded.

Pretty common unfortunately.

[yayson]

I have to be in the mood for these. So many people I respected raved about them so I smoked quite a few, like you said OP, trying to like them.

I've acquired a taste for them now as a change-of-pace cigar but it's not a go-to for sure

[Rudder]

I dislike all CAO's

[silversvt01]

It is kind of weird. I like the Italia, but dislike the brazilia. Of course, I haven't experienced too many cigars, so I may be missing out.

Danny

[tnip23]

i like most cao's and the italia is one of my favorites. i usually smoke the novellas or the piazzas and i find they have a richness about them with a little amaretto flavor that i usually don't find in maduro cigars. in contrast to what several in this thread have said, the burn is the only problem i have had with the italia's. i find the flavor to be quite enjoyable if not complex. sorry you had a bad experience.

[TDIvey]

I really enjoyed my first brazilia a week or so ago - was very nice and smooth for a stog ranked as medium to full (more on the medium side of my newbie pallete). Had smoked an American a few weeks beforee and thought it was "ok" (looked pretty though; LOL) but after reading these posts, think I'll stick with the Brazilia or the more mild route of the Gold and skip the Italia's all together unless I get a deal I just can't refuse for a lil' 5-pack sampler...seems to be a majority that think they are just "blah"

[Mark C]

I smoked a piazza in Myrtle Beach last summer, and I did enjoy it. In fact, about halfway through my wife and sister-in-law stole it and finished it off. It might have been the second or third cigar either of them had smoked, they both liked it also.

(To be fair, we were about halfway through a bottle of Jack at that point... maybe that helped)

[NittnayLion]

I do enjoy the Italia... especially the nozella and ciao. I haven't had burn issues yet, but will keep an eye on it and rotate my 'gar next time I enjoy one.
Sorry about your experience.

[ja3480]

Ciao I care for very much!! Love that smoke on the boat not a bad smoke and not afraid for it to get wet!!!

[houdini]

[quote=ja3480;1558044]Ciao I care for very much!![quote]

Ditto.....Its not a Brazilia Gol! but I like it...Harry