Pros: Rich full bodied flavor in a perfect package.
Cons: Too rich for the average smoker.
The Bottom Line: Overall I would highly recommend the C.A.O. Brazilia only if you are a seasoned cigar smoker who appreciates the strong rich flavor that comes with this beauty.
If there is one cigar that I can say I have become addicted to recently, it is C.A.O.’s newest line, the Brazilia. This cigar is not for everyone as it is not the mild and light flavored cigar that seems to be the most popular. I, however, actually prefer the very strong cigars that remind you that smoking one is a treat and not simply a nicotine addiction.
The first C.A.O. Brazilia I smoked was the Samba almost a year and a half ago. I actually bought my first box, not because I heard it was good, but I was intrigued by the whole Brazil connection as my wife grew up in Brazil. A country that is so full of life and yet is so connected to the earth must make something exciting and exotic, or so I had convinced myself. I was not disappointed. I will note that the only thing really Brazilian about this cigar is the wrapper and the color of the box and band.
The Samba measures just over six inches long and has a ring gauge of 54 (54/64th of an inch). Although Epinions’ description is that the color is a medium brown, I consider this quite a dark maduro cigar; not quite as dark as the Partagas Black Label, but very rich none the less. The color comes close to reminding me of the cherry wood color of my wife’s piano.
The Samba is a very well built cigar packed tightly with binder and filler tobacco from Nicaragua while the outer wrapper is, of course, find Brazilian tobacco. Out of the two boxes of Sambas I have smoked, I have never had any problems with the wrapper splitting or the cap unrolling while I smoked, two common problems I seem to have with even the best cigars. I have stopped using a punch cutter and instead have gone strictly to a guillotine, however, there have been a few times where I have cut the cap with a pair of scissors (I can hear 411 cringing now.) Even with this abuse, the cap stayed in one piece during my enjoying smoke.
The most important part of a cigar is, of course, the flavor, and with this the Brazilia does not falter. This is a very rich and powerful cigar that I would not recommend for the weak of palliate. The flavor is overwhelming in its aroma of bitter chocolate, cedar, and espresso coffee. As you smoke the cigar it actually richens and becomes bitter in a pleasant way that I can best describe as the bitterness you would find in a good cup of coffee.
Many times I like to recommend a food or wine paring and with the Brazilia, one must be very careful as the strength of the cigar can risk overpowering many common partners such as sherry or a weaker port. I actually have found that a younger, less expensive tawney port taste best with the Brazilia because its flavor is not so complex as to clash or overpower the cigar. This also is a perfect cigar to have with coffee. I would avoid, however, risking smoking a Brazilia with dinner as you will have very little chance of tasting your food.
Something I normally don’t comment on in a cigar review is the box, however, with the C.A.O. Brazilia line I will make an exception. To put it simply, the box of the Brazilia line is beautiful, reminiscent of the Brazilian flag with its bright green, gold, and blue colors. These are boxes I actually keep on a bookshelf in my office. There is a recent trend to make women’s purses from old cigar boxes and this would be a perfect choice for this craft.
Overall I would highly recommend the C.A.O. Brazilia only if you are a seasoned cigar smoker who appreciates the strong rich flavor that comes with this beauty. If this is in your taste, I would also suggest the Partigas Black Label and the C.A.O. Criollo (both not listed on Epinions).
I would suggest buying the Brazilia as well as most of your cigars from JR Cigar Co. http://www.jrcigar.com as they have provided the best service to me for many years and it is obvious they care about the art of cigars. The current price of the Samba through JR is $105.00 for a box of twenty.
Recommended:
Yes
Cigar Name: C.A.O. Brazilia Samba Cigar Rating: A must - sensational Price per cigar ($US): 7.00
New Premium Cigars at Discoun...(Stock status: N/A)
CAO Brazilia Samba cigars present a vivid, complex-smoking blend of full-bodied Nicaraguan tobaccos seamlessly rolled in extra-flavorful, dark Brazili...More at Famous Smoke Shop
The CAO Brazilia Samba cigar is dark and oily with a beautiful torpedo tip. It has an easy draw and a rich aroma. The smoke is complex, with an earthy...More at The Cigar Hut
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.