CAO Pilon Tasting Notes
Prelight
After learning what long a process it is to
create one of these decadent CAO Pilon smokes, you must be dying to know what
the flavor profile is like. I can tell you for free that the result is an
excellent medium-bodied cigar featuring a genuine cubanesque distinction. For this review, I decided to go with a
Robusto The wrapper is a rustic, veiny, matte leaf
with a little tooth. Upon pressing, the shaft is on the firmer side with
uniform give all through. The veins are completely flat and have no bearing on
the general feel on the stick.
On the shaft is an off-white minimalist band
with Rick Rodrigues’ signature and various other writings. Off the wrapper, I
detected strong dark chocolate notes as well as some cedar, spice, and an
implicit sweetness. There are also notes of cocoa, barnyard, herbs, and a shy
fruity nuance from the cap and foot. I can already tell this is going to be one
heck of a smoke. Let’s light this baby up!
First Third
Right from the first puff, complexity oozes
from every draw. This stick is bold and profound with immense billows of smoke
output. I was met with earthy notes, red pepper, chocolate, cedar creaminess,
and roasted nuts flavors. A few draws in, and I still have not fully
grasped the beautiful blend of flavors backed by a ferocious boldness. There is
a subtle pepper and spice on the Retrohale.
This cigar burns likes a champ. The burn
line is beyond reproach and the strength is at a palatable medium. Even though
I am in boldness central, there is no harshness whatsoever. The nicotine kick
is like a gentle nudge which is very interesting.
Mid Third
Twenty minutes into my thoroughly enjoyable
Robusto, I came upon a deliciously overwhelming earthy note. Interestingly, this
earthy note carried a rare tobacco plant nuance. I have tasted tobacco flavor
in many cigars but for some reason, this one felt different. I still don’t know
why and I am obsessed with it. At the risk of jumbling my words, this
cigar seems to drop and pick up different flavors at will. Through the mid
third, the earthy flavor with the tobacco plant carry-on is surrounded by a
bold sweetness (kinda like a chunky candy bar).
Towards the end of the mid third, my
complex Robusto hit me with coffee, and a complex myriad of malts. I may have
tasted B malt, Vienna malt, as well as Chocolate malt. This is definitely a
jumble of flavors right here but do not think it is at all confused. No. The
balance is beyond comprehension. I keep wondering to myself why more cigars
are not fermented the pilon way because clearly, we need more of these babies.
Final Third
The beginning of
the final third is introduced by raisins and nuts enveloped in the complex concoction
of malts. All these flavors dance in the bold sweetness that made its mark in
the mid third. Whoa!
This is truly an
exceptional smoke. The nub carries
malt notes, creaminess, cedar, spice, earthy tobacco, raisins, chocolate coffee,
and roasted nuts. I really cannot bring myself to put this cigar down. It is
perfectly balanced to the last draw. I am definitely
going to be having lots and lots more CAO Pilons. Heck, I might light up
another one right after this.
All through this
smoke, my CAO Pilon Robusto maintained an impeccable burn line, excellent draw,
perfect ash, and immense clouds of smoke. I really couldn’t find anything wrong
with this smoke.
CAO Pilon Pricing
CAO Pilon comes
in three Vitolas,
Corona (5.5x44), Robusto (5x52), and Churchill (7x48). They
are packaged in boxes of 20 and go for between $7 and $10 depending on the size
and where you buy.
If you ask me,
this price is a steal considering the pilon method of fermentation is one of
the most expensive. So, by extension, this cigar should be more expensive.
Plus, that flavour profile is way better than lots of cigars in the higher
price range.
Final Thought
A CAO Pilon is
the ultimate gift you can offer yourself, whether you are looking for an everyday
smoke or a special occasion stogie. You should never be without this cigar in
your humidor. If your humidor is full, then you’ll just have to get a new one.
Trust me, it is worth it.
