All I have to say is you need to try it, worth a fiver. We will post a review later this week. It's a fruit bomb if I ever smoked one. One of the most interesting blends I've smoked, does need a dry box though or serious time down in a low rh humi.
Think I saw you mention these before and the band in particular but had never seen one. Now I know what you mean about the unique band and sounds interesting fo sho.
Ken Light 3K MOW Badge - 8/14 2015 Gang War - East Coast Enola Gay - Target #29
Yeah the band is tobacco, but you can't smoke it. One of our guys smoked it and it was nasty. Apparently, the cigar had Mande a significant change in a few weeks as well. I am
Very curious to see how this ages. This is an excellent blend honestly. Not my cup of tea, but damn it's good.
Sorry for being late on this guys, we posted it a while back in a group setting. I really think this is a cigar to at least get a fiver of, and was a big surprise to me.
Picked up 6 boxes of these bad boys. 100% agree with all catfishbluezz says about them. Very unique flavor blend for sure. Personally though, I smoke right thru the tobacco braid band and enjoy the burst of peppery flavor from it. Just a matter of personal taste, I'm sure.
My quick review, but please, your mileage may vary.
It does tend to burn a bit wavy, but with proper attention, it can be kept to a minimum.
The first 1/4 to 1/3 is peppery with very earthy woodiness. As you pass the 1/3 mark, and approach the halfway point, fruitiness and a definite cocoa (unsweetened Hershey's cocoa powder, not hot chocolate ) and coffee flavor takes over, and pretty much all pepper is gone, while the earthy woodiness remains all the way to the braid. As the braid begins to burn you get a burst of pepper and a heavy not quite harshness kicks in. At that point a hint of what I think of as anise or maybe even a fennel flavor mingles in with the cocoa/coffee and adds a very pleasant surprise.
They are definitely on the "fresh" side, so those that want a more aged smoothness might want to let them rest a few weeks to a month in the humi and then try again to see how the flavors change. I plan on doing that, and with 6 boxes, it will be easy to fight the urge to smoke them all up.
I've smoked 6 so far, and have given a few away to my closest cigar loving friends, and all have agreed, these are definitely a great smoke at a fantastic price. With all of the complex flavors, I would have expected them to be priced nearly double what they are (but am VERY glad they are not!)
I'm definitely a huge fan of these, and hope to see them continue for years to come.
OK, I ordered a box. And I'm gonna share. I tried to start a pass to mark my 2000th post a while back with a pass full of 4 kicks for anybody who wanted to try the 4 kicks. Well, the box of 4 kicks I had on hand had little stowaways in it. Yep. Beetles. (The box was not from ccom) Well that box went back and I lost interest. Now I'm coming up on my 3000th post and I'm gonna try the same type of pass but with the CAO Brazil Amazon Basin. So if you're interested in trying a few of these and want in on a pass. Watch for my pass over in the TPB section.
I'm enjoying the flavor but I've got a bad canoe problem with this stick at the halfway point. It's a little cold out here tonight and each of my lighters are scared of the cold temps and / or low on fuel. Guess I'll just have to keep paddling through. I don't hear any banjos so no biggie.
I tried to start a pass to mark my 2000th post a while back with a pass full of 4 kicks for anybody who wanted to try the 4 kicks. Well, the box of 4 kicks I had on hand had little stowaways in it. Yep. Beetles. (The box was not from ccom)...
Oh, Jeez. I ordered a tenner of these a while ago from C.com and put 'em in the humidor without Luken at 'em. Lordy, I hope they're Beetle-free....
Bob Luken:
I'm enjoying the flavor but I've got a bad canoe problem with this stick at the halfway point. It's a little cold out here tonight and each of my lighters are scared of the cold temps and / or low on fuel. Guess I'll just have to keep paddling through. I don't hear any banjos so no biggie.
I smoked a Luken CAO Amazon Basin last summer and it was just about the best "cigar I hadn't tried yet" this year. Not a fan of CAOs in general, but this one just had a great, strong, coffeesque flavor to it. Probably going to have to wait til the spring to try another one since I only somke outside. It's 18 degrees right now where I am and nothing will light. Even the banjo pluckers are staying put.
Just smoked one of these for the first time. It's so different than anything I have smoked before I really don't know how to describe it. It's definitely one I would like more of though. In my opinion it's a perfect smoke to have everyone 3-6 months to really switch it up. My local B&M had some when I was last in there. If they have more I will gladly pick up the rest and try to spread the wealth
Im hearing good reviews here about the Amazon Basin, but when I asked at my B&M about it, 3 different people said it was just average at best. Ive got a box coming today. I hope I agree with you, and not them.
Im hearing good reviews here about the Amazon Basin, but when I asked at my B&M about it, 3 different people said it was just average at best. Ive got a box coming today. I hope I agree with you, and not them.
It definitely has a unique flavor and I personally find them much better than average! Would love to hear your thoughts!
From what I've been told, limited and may only be a one time release due to the tobacco used. That's what I was told when I was making calls looking for them.
Just smoked one of these for the first time. It's so different than anything I have smoked before I really don't know how to describe it. It's definitely one I would like more of though. In my opinion it's a perfect smoke to have everyone 3-6 months to really switch it up. My local B&M had some when I was last in there. If they have more I will gladly pick up the rest and try to spread the wealth
Let me know if you score any more, Dougie. I'd be up to work out a trade with you.
"When I have found intense pain relieved, a weary brain soothed, and calm, refreshing sleep obtained by a cigar, I have felt grateful to God, and have blessed His name." - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Just smoked one of these for the first time. It's so different than anything I have smoked before I really don't know how to describe it. It's definitely one I would like more of though. In my opinion it's a perfect smoke to have everyone 3-6 months to really switch it up. My local B&M had some when I was last in there. If they have more I will gladly pick up the rest and try to spread the wealth
Let me know if you score any more, Dougie. I'd be up to work out a trade with you.
Will do sir. I think I'd rather be in the Amazon right now and out of this brutal cold!
Comments
2015 Gang War - East Coast
Enola Gay - Target #29
http://cigarfederation.com/profiles/blogs/group-review-cao-amazon-basin
My quick review, but please, your mileage may vary.
It does tend to burn a bit wavy, but with proper attention, it can be kept to a minimum.
The first 1/4 to 1/3 is peppery with very earthy woodiness. As you pass the 1/3 mark, and approach the halfway point, fruitiness and a definite cocoa (unsweetened Hershey's cocoa powder, not hot chocolate ) and coffee flavor takes over, and pretty much all pepper is gone, while the earthy woodiness remains all the way to the braid. As the braid begins to burn you get a burst of pepper and a heavy not quite harshness kicks in. At that point a hint of what I think of as anise or maybe even a fennel flavor mingles in with the cocoa/coffee and adds a very pleasant surprise.
They are definitely on the "fresh" side, so those that want a more aged smoothness might want to let them rest a few weeks to a month in the humi and then try again to see how the flavors change. I plan on doing that, and with 6 boxes, it will be easy to fight the urge to smoke them all up.
I've smoked 6 so far, and have given a few away to my closest cigar loving friends, and all have agreed, these are definitely a great smoke at a fantastic price. With all of the complex flavors, I would have expected them to be priced nearly double what they are (but am VERY glad they are not!)
I'm definitely a huge fan of these, and hope to see them continue for years to come.
Oh, Jeez. I ordered a tenner of these a while ago from C.com and put 'em in the humidor without Luken at 'em. Lordy, I hope they're Beetle-free....
I smoked a Luken CAO Amazon Basin last summer and it was just about the best "cigar I hadn't tried yet" this year. Not a fan of CAOs in general, but this one just had a great, strong, coffeesque flavor to it. Probably going to have to wait til the spring to try another one since I only somke outside. It's 18 degrees right now where I am and nothing will light. Even the banjo pluckers are staying put.