Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

This re-blended version of the CAO Gold features a golden wrapper with some prominent dark veins and soft spots. It’s a mild smoke with roasted nut, butter, and subtle grass notes. As with most CAO cigars, the Crémant (6 x 52) is well-constructed with a sturdy ash. All in all, while it’s a tasty smoke, it doesn’t have a lot of depth. I’d be interested to see if this new version of the CAO Gold develops more complexity with time.

Verdict = Hold.

-Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys