Stogie Reviews: CAO La Traviata Maduro Intrépido
7 Dec 2010
When I spotted this cigar on the shelf, I went for it immediately. I’ve been a fan of the regular La Traviata from the beginning. If you haven’t tried it, you’re missing out. To find out how much, just check the earlier Stogie Guys review.
But you’ll then want to turn to the newer Maduro line. Priced as pleasingly as its lighter twin (about $5-6 per cigar), the dark La Traviata is another CAO winner.
Interestingly, the two cigars share the same Cameroon binder and filler tobacco from Nicaragua and the Dominican. One can only guess that the blending proportions are the same, too, with the difference being a U.S.-grown Connecticut broadleaf wrapper on the maduro rather than the habano from Ecuador.
While La Traviata isn’t a particularly complex cigar, it is a particularly satisfying one. I’ve been drawn to the fat Intrépido (7 x 54), though the robusto-sized Divino (pictured) is equally satisfying. Each one I’ve smoked has shared the same first-rate construction, burn, and draw while producing thick, full smoke.
For those who smoke maduros regularly, I think you’ll find this line representative of the type. It begins with a little pepper but quickly moves to the familiar tastes of chocolate and coffee paired with a tobacco sweetness. Occasionally, I get a little woody taste, too. While CAO rates the body on the fuller side of medium, I’d say it’s right in the middle of medium-bodied.
I think of this as a great complementary cigar, one that will enhance the time spent watching a football game or reading a book. You’ll enjoy smoking it without having to worry about touch-ups or problems, but it won’t demand all of your attention with flavor nuances and subtle changes.
Unlike the opera from which it takes its name, this cigar has been a hit from the beginning. The Maduro line is an excellent encore. As did the original, it rates four stogies out of five.
[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]
photo credit: Stogie Guys
I don't know George, I thought the maduro was a good smoke, but no where near as good as the original La Traviata.
Todd – That's what makes horse races!
I prefer the natural wrapper just a tad more than the maduro, but I agree, they are both really nice smokes for the price!
I too very much enjoy the original over the maddy, and thanks for the review!
I'm a huge CAO fan, but a relatively newer cigar smoker (at about 5-7 years now). So while I truly enjoy trying all kinds of cigars, and have even written a few guest reviews on a few sites, my palate is still in the medium-strength range. I think I'll pick up a 5er and put them in my humi to age a bit, as I continue my quest to finding the ultimate cigar!
TriMarkC – My guess — and that's really about all it is — is that a few years of aging won't make much difference with these cigars. I just don't think there are enough complex flavors to merge over time and the strength isn't particularly heavy, so it seems less likely to get much smoother. But I could be completely wrong. And if you do age them, let us know how it goes!
Crap! It's weak and has a flat flavor profile. I bought a few on sale for 2.69 a piece and grudgingly smoked the last one just to get rid of it.