CAO La Traviata (Divino 5x50)

I just want to go on the record in stating that a 93 rating from Cigar Aficionado is not reason alone to run right out and buy a particular cigar. In prior posts on here I have expressed my love hate relationship with CAO cigars. Some are great, some... not so much.

The opportunity presented itself yesterday however to enjoy 18 holes of golf at a country club normally not open to folks like me. This opportunity along with the ability to bring 3 of my friends made the prospect even more enticing and as such I accepted the invite and headed out.

I met up with my buddy Matt and we headed for Stogie's to buy some cigars for the day. Matt graciously offered to buy the cigars so I was cognizant of price point. He quickly settled on 2 CAO's, an Italia and a Brazilia - one for the front nine and one for the back. Agreeing with his logic, I selected the CAO La Traviata for the front nine, however strayed from CAO for the back nine choosing a Perdomo Grand Cru Habano, a cigar that will be reviewed at a later date.

We arrived at the country club, and found waiting stewards there to help us from the car to the greens providing one of the nicest golf carts I have ever seen. This thing was decked out with a course specific GPS, an on board cooler and plenty of secure pockets to hold our valuables while on the course.

We had also brought along a 6-pack of Woodchuck Limited Release Draft Cider. As a side note, the cider was excellent and a surprisingly good pairing for the CAO I was smoking. I typically like to get the cigar going prior to teeing off, and this was no exception however my torch lighter started acting up so I did my best to get it lit prior to it dying on me. I did get a good cherry going and drew in on the cigar.

Due to my haste to get it lit it was burning hotter than I would normally prefer, but after a few quick draws it settled into a cooler smoke. I again discount the first couple draws and their relative harshness as a byproduct of the lighter going dead on me, however once past the initial char I created, the CAO settled into a really good medium bodied smoke.

Tasting cigars on the golf course is a lot different from tasting at home as there tends to be so much else going on, however the CAO exhibited a toasted nut flavor that finished with just a hint of spice.

As the afternoon progressed, the CAO itself continued its burn, covering the "sweet spot" and finally finding me letting it burn out with about an inch and a half left on the cigar. All in all it was a good smoke.

Given the price point it certainly is something I will smoke again in the not so distant future, it is well balanced and other than the fiasco with my lighter on the front end, was smooth throughout. Given how poorly I play at golf one could argue the CAO was the highlight of the day, a fact I wouldn't dispute - however I look at it this way, the CAO enhanced a good day making it better.

Combining friends, drinks, cigars and almost perfect outdoor weather, perhaps I'd give the entire day a high ranking. Of course you're here to hear about cigars, and for that I would certainly suggest a CAO La Traviata find its way through your cigar rotation in the not so distant future. Hopefully as it did for me, it will enhance whatever it is you are doing.

Until we smoke again.