Stogie Reviews: CAO La Traviata Divino

Among the dozens of cigars that recently debuted at the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association Trade Show, perhaps none was more welcome than CAO’s La Traviata. Many enthusiasts told us, both in person in New Orleans and via email since the convention, that they couldn’t wait to try this new release.

And why shouldn’t they be excited? With its rich and oily Ecuadorian habano wrapper, ultra firm touch, and hearty pre-light notes of leather and molasses, La Traviata makes a great first impression. And the price is even better. CAO is offering this three-vitola blend with a suggested retail of $4.95 to $5.75 per cigar—a welcome price range in today’s turbulent economy.

Adding to La Traviata’s appeal is the fact that it represents a departure for CAO. The Nashville-based manufacturer is best known for its slick marketing and innovative blends. But this new line, which “harkens back to pre-nationalization Havana,” is traditional with a classic charm.

The “La Traviata” brand was initially launched in Cuba over 100 years ago at the Tabacalera Cubana, Agramonte no. 106, in Havana. CAO built this modern-day incarnation to abide “closely to [La Traviata’s] original Cuban roots in presentation and taste.”

Marketed as full-bodied, it includes a Cameroon binder and two different ligero filler tobaccos from the Pueblo Nuevo farm in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

The five inch by 50 ring gauge Divino starts with a profile of mild leather, sweet cedar, and black pepper. With a dense yet reasonable draw, the taste develops after the first inch to include notes of cream and roasted nuts. Here, after the first inch, is where the flavor is most nuanced and satisfying.

The slow-burning Divino is fairly consistent to the nub in both taste and construction, the latter of which is near perfect. In order to counteract this robusto’s infrequent bitterness, a setback that should improve as this young tobacco ages, try pairing it with a sweet rum-based cocktail.

No matter what you drink, though, you’ll likely be impressed by La Traviata—even if it doesn’t remind you of a pre-embargo Cuban. It delivers in taste and performance far above what you’d expect for the price. For that, the Divino earns four stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

-Patrick A & Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys