CAO Colombia Tinto

Many years ago, founder and creator of C.A.O., Cano A. Ozgener, started making some of the best-known Meerschaum pipes in the world in his garage as a hobby. While traveling to different trade shows, he noticed the need for humidors and started making those as well. During the cigar boom of the 1990s, he was introduced to Carlos Toraño who then introduced him to Nestor Plasencia. The rest is, well, history as the pair began creating unique blends that have developed into the cigar brand that we all know and love today.

A recent addition to the star-studded “world” line, the CAO Colombia joins the elite cast of highly rated sticks in the already popular and unique line. The CAO Columbia follows tradition and uses premium tobaccos from a region that is not necessarily known for its tobaccos, the mountainous Colombia coastline. Cuban-seed tobaccos have been flourishing in the region since the 19th century and in the last fifteen years farmers have been meticulously cultivating and perfecting a Cuban-seed tobacco that was first grown in Colombia in 1820, known as “Ica Mazinga.” The Ica Mazinga is then combined with Brazilian fillers that are held with a Cameroon binder and a gorgeous natural Jamastran wrapper, all of which leads to flavors of toasted nuts, coffee, and a slightly sweet n’ salty finish. Pair this mild to medium stogie with a coffee.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.