Video review HERE.
(Description provided by General Cigar)
CAO announces that Zócalo will return, this time as a full time addition to the CAO lineup.
CAO Zócalo, named for a celebratory city square in Mexico, was a limited edition blend released in just one size in 2018 and at that time marked the first CAO cigar to be made with a Mexican wrapper. Today the blend returns with three classic frontmarks.
CAO’s Blender/Ambassador Rick Rodriguez said, “Two years ago, we tested a blend with a wrapper from Mexico, launching Zócalo in a 6 x 60. The response was very positive. The only negative feedback we received was that the blend came in just one size. Our fans told us that they would definitely support Zócalo if we had more sizes to offer. Fast forward to 2021 and here we are launching Zócalo as a permanent, three-cigar line.”
CAO Zócalo features a special Morron wrapper leaf grown in the San Andrés Valley, with a Cameroon binder and a filler of entirely Nicaraguan tobacco. The blend delivers earthy spice and subtle sweetness.
Zócalo will be presented in boxes styled with the vibrant colors of the Mexican flag, each containing 20 cigars.
Available sizes:
Robusto (5” x 52); SRP per cigar $7.99 REVIEWED TODAY
Toro (6” x 50); SRP per cigar $8.49
Gigante (6” x 60); SRP per cigar $8.99
CAO Zócalo is made at STG Esteli
When the Zocalo came out in 2018 I reviewed it. That was the original 6 x 60 size and it received a score of 92.
The cigar is very dark and has a nice feel in the hand.
The test draw after cutting the cap was good with a touch of firmness. The initial flavors at light up were a semi-sweet chocolate, light citrus peel, peach notes, nutmeg, and a lot of straight black coffee. There was nice black pepper rated at 7 1/2. The cigar is very dark noted but has some sweetness.
At the first third (25 minutes) the flavor notes are very much like they started. The sweetness is ample to counteract the darker notes of semi-sweet chocolate and black coffee. The nutmeg works well with the peach and citrus peel notes. The black pepper is at least 7 1/2. It's very good. The finish is citrus peel and a sprinkling of chocolate. The lingering black pepper is very nice. The cigar is medium bodied. I rated the first third 91.
As I moved through the second third (45 minutes) the black coffee notes are really coming out. The peach notes seem a bit sweeter. The citrus peel and the nutmeg work with the peach notes nicely. The chocolate now seems to be a dark chocolate. The overall mix in the cigar is a little more enjoyable so I raised the score to 92.
The cigar lasted 1 hour 2 minutes. The final third had some changes. While the black coffee is very prominent the sweeter notes have decreased. The peach, citrus peel, and nutmeg notes decreased. The dark chocolate and black coffee make up the majority of flavors. I very much like straight black coffee. I drink it that way. But in my cigar I want some sweetness to counteract the black coffee. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish, oddly enough, is still one of peach and very nice lingering black pepper. The cigar lost some appeal with the decrease of sweeter notes. I rated the final third 90.
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