18+ only · Tobacco is harmful and addictive · This almanac sells nothing

Cigar Almanac crest: tobacco leaves and a rolling knife in gold

The Cigar Almanac

A classical cigar encyclopedia · English and Traditional Chinese

Home · Brands · CAO

Nicaragua

CAO

Original entry · Not for sale · Prices are approximate

Still life of wrapper colors for the CAO entry. Not that brand’s packaging.
Still life of wrapper colors for the CAO entry. Not that brand’s packaging.

Lines named for wrapper countries (Brazilia, Italia) make origin easy to compare.

BrandCAO
CountryNicaragua
Typical strengthMedium
Typical price bandMid
Founded1990s
Typical wrappersBrazil, Italy, Nicaragua

Flavor tendencies often mentioned

  • sweet wood
  • coffee
  • dried fruit
  • spice
Flavor notes summarize public talk. They are not scores from this almanac.

Five-axis editorial estimate

Strength follows the strength field; price follows the price band or approximate USD. Body, flavour richness, and smoothness are editorial estimates from the taste notes—not ratings.

StrengthBodyFlavourrichnessPriceSmoothness
Editorial estimates, not ratings or lab scores.
Strength3 / 5
Body4 / 5
Flavour richness5 / 5
Price2 / 5
Smoothness3 / 5

CAO entered North America in the 1990s with bold packaging and origin stories. Brazilia is sweet earth. Italia uses a rare Italian wrapper. It now sits under a large tobacco group.

Notable models

Approximate price per stick. Tax varies widely.

Brazilia Gol

StrengthMedium
Typical vitolas5 × 56
Taste notessweet earth, coffee
Approx. USDapprox. US$6–12
Approx. HKDapprox. HK$45–95
Price bandMid
StrBodyFlavPriceSmooth
Editorial estimates, not ratings or lab scores.
Strength3 / 5
Body4 / 5
Flavour richness4 / 5
Price2 / 5
Smoothness3 / 5

Italia Ciao

StrengthMedium
Typical vitolas6 × 50
Taste notesdried fruit, spice
Approx. USDapprox. US$7–13
Approx. HKDapprox. HK$55–100
Price bandMid
StrBodyFlavPriceSmooth
Editorial estimates, not ratings or lab scores.
Strength3 / 5
Body3 / 5
Flavour richness4 / 5
Price3 / 5
Smoothness3 / 5

Consigliere

StrengthMedium-full
Typical vitolas6 × 54
Taste noteswood, pepper
Approx. USDapprox. US$7–14
Approx. HKDapprox. HK$55–110
Price bandMid
StrBodyFlavPriceSmooth
Editorial estimates, not ratings or lab scores.
Strength4 / 5
Body4 / 5
Flavour richness4 / 5
Price3 / 5
Smoothness3 / 5

Flathead Steel Horse

StrengthFull
Typical vitolas5½ × 60
Taste notescocoa, toast
Approx. USDapprox. US$8–15
Approx. HKDapprox. HK$65–120
Price bandMid
StrBodyFlavPriceSmooth
Editorial estimates, not ratings or lab scores.
Strength5 / 5
Body5 / 5
Flavour richness4 / 5
Price3 / 5
Smoothness3 / 5

Back to the register