Friday, November 12, I and a friend from Chattanooga took a trip to Nashville to visit CAO's world headquarters one last time before the new owners moved it. We were privileged to sit down and talk for quite some time with Director of Lifestyle Marketing, Jon Huber, and Brand Ambassador, Susie Clark. Over the last couple years, I have come to know both of these people fairly well. Jon agreed earlier this year to have CAO sponsor the Tiki Bar Online and has provided great prizes to give away as well as some review samples. Susie is a joy to be around, bringing a light and enthusiasm to her job that is rare in a world that is increasingly cynical. The conversation meandered from the good times to the not-so-good times, great cigars, celebrity sightings, holiday parties, and the end of an era. I did not record the conversations and will not share most of the information here, but let's just leave it at this...next time you see Jon Huber, ask him to tell you about the time he met Hank Williams, Jr. Funny story.
Mostly what I wanted to bring you today was good memories, though, so I will let a few pictures do the talking for me.
More photos from the trip are posted HERE on my Facebook page.
Some time ago, I was also provided with a few more prizes to give away by our friends at CAO and this seems to be the right time. I have 10 prizes packages to give away...
3 People will win: a 4-pack of La Traviata Maduro cigars (Intrepido vitola), plus a La Traviata crystal ashtray, plus either a La Traviata Maduro cap or Rock + Rolled Tour cap.
7 People will win: a 4-pack of La Traviata Maduro cigars (Intrepido vitola) and either a La Traviata Maduro cap or Rock + Rolled Tour cap.
So...how do you enter?
First, you can enter by leaving a comment on this blog post. Talk about your favorite CAO cigar, your favorite memory of a CAO event, or just let any of the folks at CAO know what they and their cigars have meant to you. Warning: keep it positive. If you hate the company and everything they do...this is not the place to talk about it. I will delete any such posts...and why would you enter a contest to win their stuff anyway? When you leave a comment, you can leave it using several different methods, but if you choose "Anonymous" and don't leave an e-mail address or Twitter name, I will not know how to reach you, so please give me some clue as to contact info. There have been times when the comments section does not work correctly; if this happens to you, send an e-mail with your comment to tikibaronline@mac.com and this will count as leaving a comment.
Second, send out a Tweet telling other people about this contest. The tweet must include my Twitter name (@dmjones1009) so I know about it and should link to this contest page. I will be sending out Tweets once a day for the duration of the contest; you may simply Re-Tweet those links. I will count one Tweet or Re-Tweet per day as an entry, so there is an opportunity for several entries here.
Here's an example: The Tiki Bar is giving away Free CAO Cigars! Details here: http://bit.ly/femJs9 @dmjones1009
Here's an example: The Tiki Bar is giving away Free CAO Cigars! Details here: http://bit.ly/femJs9 @dmjones1009
Third, leave relevant comments on any other new blog post for the duration of the contest. That means anything that posts from November 30, 2010, through Monday, December 6, will be eligible.
You will have until Midnight Eastern Time on Monday, December 6, to enter. Sometime on Tuesday I will choose winners for each prize. I will notify all winners by whatever method they have chosen to give me...e-mail, Twitter, yelling really loud. If I do not hear back from any winners within one week, I will choose someone else for that prize. I have a limited number of each type of hat...first come, first served with regard to choice of hat. Because every prize contains a 4-pack of cigars, I need a U.S. address to mail these to. If I forgot anything or if you have a question, please send me an e-mail to tikibaronline@mac.com.
My favorite CAO right now is the La Traviata, with the flavor and price it is hard to beat. Have been to many great CAO events but the best thing about them all was the local Rep, Brian AKA Bigfoot. He is a great guy and a good friend.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I are very saddened by the thought of not being able to drop by and visit with Susie on our work excursions to Nashville. As you know I am a CAO homer/loyalist. I like the cigars they produce but really like the people that I've come to know that work for them. They just make you want to be loyal to them because they make you feel so at home and welcome.
ReplyDeleteA CAO has been my "victory smoke" for the Tennessee wins over Georgia and Kentucky in football the last few years when the Vols have won. I've had a lot of pride in lighting up a Tennessee company's cigar to celebrate. CAO's are my tailgate cigars also. I've got a lot of pictures with me enjoying one while wearing my orange UT pants. Always a good smoke. I've been stocking up on my favorite lines over the last few weeks when I have been out and about.
We wish nothing but the best for everyone at CAO. Especially Susie, Jon, and Jeff who we feel we have come to know in the last couple of years. All great people.
Thanks for the post and the photos.
Love the La Traviata, it's one of my favorites cigars for any occasion. Best wishes to Jon as he explores new horizons!
ReplyDeleteCAO has a great portfolio of cigars. Cameroon, Criollo, and La Traviata are at the top of my list. Looking forward to picking up a La Traviata Maduro at my next B&M visit.
ReplyDeleteI am somewhat of a newbie to cigar smoking. The only CAO cigar that I have tried to date are the CAO Brazillias. The cariocas (sp) that come in the 5 pack tin. What an awesome cigar! And they smell good enough to eat. Perfect for when I am short on time. I would love to try more from CAO and hope I win. @Dugrhill
ReplyDeleteThis past year I've been very fond of the CAO La Traviata. At the 2009 Las Vegas Big Smoke, CAO was cutting and lighting them for you with the promise to give you another one if you brought back the butt with band. I enjoyed my first on that night and the second once I returned home. Subsequently, I picked up a few each month at my local cigar lounge and didn't realize how much I liked them until they ran out. Now they're back in stock and they are my go to cigar!
ReplyDeleteI like the MX2 but when the LaTraviata Maduro came out, that became my favorite CAO.
ReplyDeleteRight now it has to be the La Traviata. There was on only one event held at my local small B&M. Heck I still have five OGs CAO Annies Maduro Churchills left from Don Douglas.
ReplyDeleteIt said to see the family go from the business (hopefully for a little while).
Oh yeah forgot to add I'm waiting to try La Traviata Maduro my local small B&M still hasn't gotten them in yet.
ReplyDeleteJust making sure on my info I forgot my info to subscribe cand contact info.
ReplyDeleteYours,
Andy K.
Man, where to start. Like many others in this sick, sick lifestyle of ours my first "good" (meaning not General or Altidas) cigar was a CAO. In fact it was a CAO Brazilia. CAO would end up being something I smoked to celebrate a lot of things- when one of my good firends found out he was going to be a Father, we smoked Sopranos. When I got engaged, I smoked the ole MX3.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite CAO stick is the La Traviata Maduro Robusto. It is a regular in my rotation and I was excited when I got a few pre production ones a few months back. Now the only CAO that can top that is the CAO 6-1-5 Corona. DAMN what a good smoke!
I've got 2 favorite memories of CAO events. One was just a CAO "Smoker" down at Cigar Station in Spring Hill. Rod, the shop owner at the time always had good deals worked out with Jeff, and to my memory, the Rod's last event while he owned the shop was a CAO event. Reason that is special was because Rod let me have about 20 guys hang out there the night before my wedding. It was the place I hung out at when I got homesick while adjusting to life up in Tn, and it would continue to be a positive mark on my week when I could go.
Second memory was the Rock and Rolled tour at Uptowns where I got to meet Huber. Well, got to meet him after Dave was done talking to him, poor guy! Great guy, loves his products and the old CAO Brand. I hate to see this happening to such great group of people.
My favorite CAO is the MX2.
ReplyDeleteCAO Cigars have quickly become my "Go To Cigars". I haven't come across one I didn't like. The La Traviata, Gold, & Brazilia are some of my favorites. I'm a little vain. I like my cigars to look good, as well as smoke good. CAOs are superior in both regards. Continued success, CAO.
ReplyDeleteI had the pleasure of meeting Jon this past year after becoming a fan of CAO after moving to Tennessee a few years ago. I can't think of a better manager for any brand in any industry.
ReplyDeleteThe La Traviata was a favorite of mine since it came out, but with the release of the La Traviata maduro this year, I'm in love. I also really enjoy the CAO America. I know it has its detractors, but I really enjoy the mellow smoke.
Best wished to Jon, Susie and the whole crew in the future.
Paul (paul5562@gmail.com)
CAO Italia Gondola is my favorite cigar.
ReplyDeleteLook at all those cigars!
ReplyDeleteWishing everyone at CAO godd luck in whatever the future brings. I have enjoyed many a CAO cigar over the years, going back to a CAO Gold Churchill my wife bought for me back in 1996!
ReplyDeleteI just had my first CAO about a week ago, an Italia Novella. I enjoyed it and look forward to picking up some more when I can. I think it's something about the Italian tobacco that is a part of its makeup, I know I definitely picked up on some chocolate.
ReplyDeleteAnd a comment on the meerschaum above.. doesn't that one remind you of the pipe from the movie National Treasure?-the one that was used as a "key" to open up the chamber that led to the huge underground cavern where they found the treasure. That is an awesome pipe... I know I miss my meerschaums, yet another item I lost in the divorce!
Make me a winner, please! Thanks.
The Brazilias were my favorites, now its the La Traviata maduro.
ReplyDeletecsa1226@yahoo.com
My favorite CAO now is the La Traviata Maduro. Nothing but really good people at CAO.
ReplyDeleteSo, like, I have tried the Cx2, Brazilia, & Mx2. So far, the Brazilia has been the most enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteI like the CAO MX2 about as big as I can get them.
ReplyDeleteThe Britalia is a very adventurous cigar.
ReplyDeleteCAO is my favorite cigar line with a wide range of cigars and all the ones I've tried have been enjoyable.
ReplyDelete