Totem, 5" x 50 ring gauge, approx. $5.50
The CAO VR is an offshoot of the CAO Black that is produced for Cigars International. It features a Brazilian maduro wrapper around "well-aged" Nicaraguan and Mexican filler. I got one of these as part of my entrance fee to CigarFest. The construction was a bit sloppy but not too noticeable at first thanks to the very dark wrapper. I got aromas of leather and classic humidor from the body; sweet tobacco and chocolate at the foot.
Prelight the flavor was sweet with notes of cocoa and dried berries, which gave way to anise and a peppery retrohale after lighting. The first third continued to be sweet and spicy with some licorice and berry flavors, a medium body and an average finish length. Despite a reputation as a minor player in the CAO catalog, the construction was top-notch; the draw was great, the burn line straight, and the ash built for over an inch before falling.
The second third got a little bitter with some faint notes of coffee and cocoa powder, but unfortunately not enough sweetness to properly balance it. The last third started with a tightening of the draw and a flattening of the flavor. The bitterness was gone, but there just was not much to replace it.
All in all, this was not a bad cigar, but neither was it all that good. If I found them on Cigar Bid at a great price, I might pick up a 5-pack for what would amount to be a better-than-average Yard-gar, but I cannot see them becoming a regular addition to my smoking rotation.
I had one from Cigarfest and I enjoyed it. It could be in my regular lineup
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