Video review HERE.
(Description provided by General Cigar)
CAO has launched a blend called Pilón Añejo which pairs labor-intensive fermentation and finished cigar aging to deliver a cigar of great depth and character.
The limited-edition line began shipping to retailers in April and a total of 5,000 boxes will be released in the US.
CAO Pilón Añejo is made with the same circular pilón fermentation technique as CAO Pilón, the collection that launched in 2015. However, that is where the similarities end. CAO Pilón Añejo features a unique blend of tobaccos that are met with aging after the cigar is finished, to release an intriguingly complex smoke.
Rick Rodriguez, CAO’s blender/ambassador commented, “With CAO Pilón Añejo, we’ve combined pilón fermentation which does such incredible things to the tobacco, with a full two years of aging of the finished cigars. Together, these methods add a whole new dimension to the blend. We’ve ultimately created a layered smoking experience that we could not have achieved through any other processes. This cigar is just a pleasure to smoke, and the team and I are really proud of it.”
Handcrafted in Honduras at STG’s HATSA factory, CAO Pilón Añejo relies on the pilón process of natural fermentation to heighten the smoking experience and aesthetics of the Cuban seed Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper. The blend is rich and savory, consisting of Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers, beneath a Honduran Habano binder. CAO Pilón Añejo is a medium-to-full-bodied smoke that bears a deep, rich color and an array of notes including wood, earth and toast, with a touch of spice.
CAO Pilón Añejo will be presented in 20-count boxes, in the three sizes listed below.
CAO Pilon Añejo Robusto (5.5” x 54) -- SRP per cigar $8.89 REVIEWED TODAY
CAO Pilon Añejo Toro (6” x 52) -- SRP per cigar $8.99
CAO Pilon Añejo Gigante (5.88” x 60) -- SRP per cigar $9.29
The cigar is a dark brown and has an average feel in the hand.
The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were citrus peel, orange citrus, light nougat, and leather. There was black pepper rated at 7 1/2. Not a bad start. The lead flavor is citrus peel so I want to see if that changes.
At the first third (29 minutes) the cigar is a little better than it started. Now the lead flavor is a tangy orange citrus, followed by citrus peel, light nougat, light brown sugar, and leather. The finish is light nougat and leather with good lingering black pepper. The cigar is medium bodied. The cigar is pretty good at this point. I rated the first third 92.
As I moved through the second third (58 minutes) the leather and now, black coffee, are very elevated. The black coffee entered the picture at this point and it did not hold back. The citrus notes are very reduced, along with the nougat. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is leather and black coffee with good lingering black pepper. I rated the second third 89.
The cigar lasted 1 hour 19 minutes. The cigar made a slight improvement. The citrus notes came back enough to notice them. But the cigar is still very heavy on the leather and black coffee. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish has a touch of citrus and leather with very good lingering black pepper. I raised the score to 90. To compare this cigar to the original I rated the CAO Pilon robusto extra 94 in September of 2020.
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