Since many of the IPCPR 2011 samples I received were pre-release samples, I’ve done some pre-reviews which allow me to document my experiences with a cigar and provide my thoughts. Once they have arrived on retailers’ shelves, I like to give them a try again and see how they smoke post-production. The following three cigars […]
CAO OSA Sol The CAO OSA Sol marks the first new blend released under the CAO brand since it was integrated under the General Cigars portfolio last year. When I previewed the CAO OSA Sol, I was on the record saying I think the brand is in good hands. Late last year, it was announced […]
CAO OSA Sol Following the acquisition of CAO Cigars into the General Cigar Company family, there were many concerns about the future of this brand. Those concerns would be amplified with the departures of Tim Ozgener and Jon Huber – two of the most creative minds in the industry. However, late last year when it […]
The month of May was probably as dynamic a month as there has been in a while in the cigar industry. As always, I’ll highlight some noteworthy events that happened in the world of cigars. The main focus will be on the happenings I explored on the Cigar Coop website, but there was plenty […]
Things have been pretty quiet on the CAO front for 2011, but today Cigar Aficionado has reported some information around the brand. It’s not huge news, but it’s some news from the brand. Cigar Aficionado mentions two key points made by CAO Senior Brand Manager Ed McKenna. First, all of the vitolas in the La […]
If you have been a fan of CAO Cigars over the past few years, you know that the brand has been one of the leaders when it comes to innovative marketing. Cigars such as “Sopranos Edition”, “Brazilia”, and “La Traviata” have truly become iconic labels within the brand. When you look at the brand, one […]
In a move that was not unexpected, Gary Hyams formerly Chairman of CAO Cigars is leaving General Cigars. This move comes just a little over four years he was named to this position. With the departures of President Tim Ozgener and Lifestyle Marketing Director, Jon Huber over the past three months, this has was not […]
Back in December, the cigar industry was rocked when one of its icons, Jon Huber announced he was leaving the CAO brand. Huber was the Director of Lifestyle Marketing and had a lot to do with the “edge” that CAO brought to the table in their products. I just saw a link to an interview […]
While most of the gripes I’ve had with Cigar Aficionado’s Top 10 are still valid, there were some pleasant surprises in the remainder of the Top 25. I was pleased there were at least two of my Top 30 sticks to be mentioned. I didn’t go and comment on every stick, just the ones that […]
Best Vitola: Oliveros King Havano Black Knight Mace One thing that I done differently from Cigar Aficionado in ranking cigars for the year is to distinguish ranking the blend from the vitola (size/shape). For my Top 30 list, every cigar represented a new blend (while Cigar Aficionado includes new vitolas in their countdown). However, there were […]
