CAO Orellana

Founder and creator of CAO, 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 1990’s, 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.

CAO went back to the basin, the Amazon basin to be exact. The CAO Amazon Basin series is of the most popular new cigars to come out of CAO in years, so it was only a matter of time before a follow up hit the scene. With that said, we would like to introduce the fourth installment of the series, the CAO Orellana. The name Orellana is the name given to the Amazon by explorer Francisco de Orellana. (Why not name it after yourself, right?) Starting from the outside and moving in, this smoke features a stunning Brazilian Cubra wrapper that has been patiently aged, a Nicaraguan binder, and is full of Dominican, Colombian, and Brazilian Bragança. The Bragança tobacco goes through a process in which it’s compressed into tightly wound tubes and fermented for six months. Full bodied, this smoke has unique and complex notes of spice, dark fruit, and leather tones. Enjoy this smoke while planning your next adventure with a cream soda.

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.