CAO Flathead Steel Horse Cigar Review

Cigar Reviewed: CAO Flathead Steel Horse Apehanger

Country of Origin: STG Estelí

Factory: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Connecticut Habano Grueso

Binder: Brazilian Arapiraca

Filler: Dominican Republic, Honduras & Nicaragua

Size: 5 1/2 Inches

Ring Gauge: 58

Vitola: Gordo

MSRP: $8.99 (Boxes of 20, $179.80)

Release Date: Aug. 15, 2015

2015 IPCPR Covention CAO revealed to the world the next step of the CAO Flathead. This time they were aiming for those motorcylce fans. So The Steel Horse made it's appearance, the wrapper is a proprietary Connecticut habano grueso leaf, while the binder is Brazilian arapiraca and the filler tobaccos are from the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua.

The appearance of this cigar is noticabled the flat cap, then the thick red-espresso brown wrapper that is slick with oil. The cigar is quite spongy when squeezed, and while it is mostly smooth to the touch, there are a multitude of bumps running up and down the length. Aroma from the wrapper is a combination of strong dark cocoa, barnyard, cedar, grass and raisin sweetness, while the cold draw brings flavors of espresso beans, cedar, hay, dark chocolate and the same raisin sweetness.

The First Third - features a very dominant earth and oak, leather, wheat, anise and dark chocolate. There is some slight vanilla sweetness as well as some black pepper on the retrohale,

The Second Third - the burn is decent, but the draw is a bit more open than I would like. The smoke production is massive, and there is a nice—albeit light—creaminess on the finish.

The Final Third - there is a new dominant flavor combination: creamy cedar and dark chocolate.