C.A.O. La Traviata radiante

[Don Fernando]

I never liked any C.A.O. cigar until I smoked my first C.A.O. La Traviata. That was a Divino and I liked it a lot. A friend gave me this cellophane wrapped Radiante, 6 inch long with a ring of 52. The cigar has a filler from Nicaraguan and Dominican filler, a Cameroon binder with an Ecuadorian habano wrapper.



The Ecuadorian habano wrapper has a leathery look and is dark, shiny and oily with a few veins. The band is simple yet tasteful. The construction feels good. The cigar has a strong barnyard smell. The predraw is good and I taste a spicy and full raisin flavor.



I get a strong coffee flavor, mild spicy and peppery. The coffee slowly changes into wood with a little bit of chocolate. After an inch the wood is dominant with a herbal spice and the chocolate disappeared. Halfway the structure of the flavors is mild creamy and the chocolate returns, the wood and herbs are still there.



After two thirds I still taste the wood and herbs, but now with a sweetness and some pepper on the back of my throat. The wood slowly fades away, just like the sweetness. All I taste are herbs, spicy but not peppery anymore.



This cigar lasted me for a long time, an hour and fifty minutes. I got a lot of medium thick smoke. The draw and the burn are good. The light colored ash is firm. The cigar is full flavored and medium to full bodied.



Would I buy this cigar again? Without a doubt

Appearance: 8 / 10
Construction: 8 / 10
Draw: 8 / 10
Burn: 7 / 10
Smoke & ash: 7 / 10
Aroma first part: 8 / 10
Aroma second part: 8 / 10
Aroma third part: 7 / 10