CAO L'Anniversaire eXtreme Belicoso Review

[tbateman]

This wonderful looking gem was gifted to me by the generous RJS (thank you very much!). This box pressed belicoso was solidly constructed with a firm feel to it's entire length. There were no lumps or soft spots to be found. The slightly oily wrapper was very smooth, almost veinless and was the color of milk chocolate. The cap was well applied but seemed to have been slightly folded in 2 spots causing a small, almost flag-like protrusion in these spots. It really did not matter as cutting the cap removed these minor imperfections. The pre-light draw was perfect as was the draw after lighting. It took to the flame easily, burning straight and true. It produced a firm medium-grey colored ash that has a slight brownish tint to it in spots. Generous amounts of smoke were produced which had a medium body to it. Initally I detected a straight chocolate taste which gradualy changed to a more peppery flavor that grew in strength through the 2nd half of the cigar. One thing to note is that I expected a stronger flavor/body profile to come with a cigar labeled "eXtreme". As the saying goes "your milage may vary" but this is an eXtreme-ly smokable vitola any way you light it.

[Brandon]

Great cigar...one of my favorite domestics. Although, it was the first releases of 2000 that got me hooked. I have found the ones from early 2001 on to be lacking the full bodied kick that they used to have.

[tbateman]

Brandon, this is the only one I've had but as I said above, it did not seem "eXtreme" to me (either).

[2chairs]

Nice smokes but ditto the views on not being extreme. As with so many sticks that have come out the last couple of years, the first release is the best; the one they hook you on to buy the next round. Kind of like movie sequels though....seldom if ever as good as the original.

JMHO

[radar]

Just finished my first one about an hour ago. I agree, having "Extreme" in the name is a little misleading. The taste was great though. Being a rookie, I do'nt know what you call the aftertaste that permeates the sinuses and makes you sit there a while after the smoke and grin, but this had it. The finish on this one was only about the last inch an a half or two inches of the smoke, the spice was very light, but the flavors that I got were absolutely delicious. I had to fight the urge to go ahead and light another.

[edisonbird]

Always leave em wanting more.}>

[radar]