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CAO Extreme

Description

CAO Extreme Ain’t Messing Around

Some say never judge a book by its cover. Solid advice, most time, but today I say eff that noise. Extreme delivers exactly what you’d expect from first glance — a cigar built upon complexity, and power. CAO is the keeper of the over a dozen different 90+ rated brands, and over 50 unique 90+ ratings. Rest assured, Extreme fits right in with the rest of the CAO family. 

It all begins with a dark and oily Ecuador Habano ligero wrapper, which graces a rich and spicy Nicaraguan binder. These tasty leaves conceal a robust combination of long-fillers from Honduras and Nicaragua, with a dash of La Estradas leaf in the mix. After significant post-roll aging, this eventful cocktail serves up a bouquet that’s rich and hearty throughout. Toast, charred oak, nuts, espresso and black pepper smack every last taste bud, and the strength is more than satisfying. Save this one for after a large meal, and you’re in for pure cigar nirvana.

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Size
Pack
In Stock
MSRPMSRP stands for "manufacturer's suggested retail price," which is the price recommended by the manufacturer or exclusive distributor for retail sale. This suggested retail price, also referred to as the "list price," serves as a guideline for pricing the product.
Price
Qty
Cart
Profile
Shape
Robusto
Wrapper
Ecuador Habano
Origin
Nicaragua
Flavored
False
Pressed
False
Has Tip
False
Binder
Nicaraguan
Filler
Honduran,  Nicaraguan
Sweet
False
Robusto (5.2"x54)
Box of 18
In Stock
$190.98
| save $90.99 48% off
$99.99
Profile
Shape
Robusto
Wrapper
Ecuador Habano
Origin
Nicaragua
Flavored
False
Pressed
False
Has Tip
False
Binder
Nicaraguan
Filler
Honduran,  Nicaraguan
Sweet
False
Profile
Shape
Toro
Wrapper
Ecuador Habano
Origin
Nicaragua
Flavored
False
Pressed
False
Has Tip
False
Binder
Nicaraguan
Filler
Honduran,  Nicaraguan
Sweet
False
Toro (6.0"x54)
Box of 18
In Stock
$199.98
| save $94.99 47% off
$104.99
Profile
Shape
Toro
Wrapper
Ecuador Habano
Origin
Nicaragua
Flavored
False
Pressed
False
Has Tip
False
Binder
Nicaraguan
Filler
Honduran,  Nicaraguan
Sweet
False
Profile
Shape
Toro
Wrapper
Ecuador Habano
Origin
Nicaragua
Flavored
False
Pressed
False
Has Tip
False
Binder
Nicaraguan
Filler
Honduran,  Nicaraguan
Sweet
False
Toro (6.0"x54)
Pack of 5
In Stock
$55.55
| save $13.56 24% off
$41.99
Profile
Shape
Toro
Wrapper
Ecuador Habano
Origin
Nicaragua
Flavored
False
Pressed
False
Has Tip
False
Binder
Nicaraguan
Filler
Honduran,  Nicaraguan
Sweet
False
overall rating 4.55 out of 5 True { } True { } True { } Based on 110 Ratings
Customer Reviews of "CAO Extreme"
5 out of 5
5 Star
71
4 out of 5
4 Star
28
3 out of 5
3 Star
11
2 out of 5
2 Star
0
1 out of 5
1 Star
0
Showing 1-50 of134 Reviews
5 out of 5
I love expensive cigars! Rich, leathery, coco and pungent smoke. Cannot miss with this cigar.
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5 out of 5
Excellent smoke- really packs a punch and full of flavor. Possibly my current favorite cigar :)
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4 out of 5
Full body/strength; solid ash with easy draw; spicy but not harsh. Tasty smoke and a good value
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5 out of 5
I got lucky on this one! The five sticks that arrived, all smoked great. Terrific construction. . . which is not usually the case with the CAO brand. A very nice smoke. . . well behaved. . . a pleasure for those of us that favor a full bodied cigar. I'd buy them again at that price.
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3 out of 5
Good cigar for the price. Fairly even and slow burn. Pretty consistent draw between sticks. Flavor is good without being too spicy or harsh. Would buy again.
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4 out of 5
even burn, good flavor
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5 out of 5
Great burning spice at the beginning very smooth thu the rest 👌
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5 out of 5
A supreme cigar! I love full flavored-full bodied cigars. This cigar has an incredible flavor and full or flavor! Very enjoyable, not harsh but still packs a punch! Top 5 cigar for sure!
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5 out of 5
Full body,great draw,solid finish
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5 out of 5
Great smoke
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4 out of 5
Cigar is well made and smokes well. The draw is good, but the cigar is not as smooth as I would have expected for the price. All in all, I would buy the cigar again.
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5 out of 5
good cigar
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4 out of 5
Pepper & spicy. Great smoke!
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5 out of 5
Wonderful tasting, great burn, outstanding value
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4 out of 5
Smokes not bad..flavor is not bad, smooth enough..burns good but seems like every 3-4 one really is pretty non smokable..like most cigars I've ordered from C-I is power for the course..
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3 out of 5
Just average
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5 out of 5
Burn is slow, smooth, and even…have never had reason to complain. Don’t change the ‘recipe’. 😉👌
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5 out of 5
Great
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5 out of 5
Good flavor, draw and burn! Normally out of my price range but glad I bought them.
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5 out of 5
I am a huge fan of the mx2. Now this is on my go to list. Get hints of different flavors throughout.
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5 out of 5
Great cigar. Perfect burn.
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3 out of 5
The draw on this Puro was very poor. It did however have an excellent flavor with a nice blend of tobaccos.
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5 out of 5
Very well constructed. Phenomenal burn. Made it part of my regular arsenal.
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4 out of 5
I was pleasantly surprised with this one. A good draw, nice burn, consistent throughout.
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4 out of 5
Good stick good price good draw even burn what you'd expect from CAO
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5 out of 5
Burns when lit. Draws when puffed on. Yes there's ash. But seriously, this is a great cigar for me. Full bodied good tasting already bought more!
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5 out of 5
interesting flavor. Received the shorter one in a CAO sampler pack. Like them so, I purchased a couple of boxed of Toros. A good buy. Good draw, nice wrapper and good flavor.
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5 out of 5
Love these little things
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3 out of 5
A pretty one dimensional smoke. Burn was smooth and consistent but there wasnt a good amount of depth to the cigar. Draw was fine. Strength is towards to full side. For a bargain price, this stick is not bad to have in your humidor.
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5 out of 5
Great cigar, love them!!
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3 out of 5
Cigars come over humidified. Soggy slow hot burn with low smoke output. I've let them rest for a couple weeks but only a little better. As far as a cheap smoke they are great. Really get into these when doing some kind of mindless task around the yard. Will be a good smoke in a few months in humidor I hope...
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5 out of 5
Nice thick rich smoke, even burn and good flavor that finish strong.
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5 out of 5
THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF MY GO-TO SMOKES FOR A WHILE. IT IS A STRONG SMOKE BUT NEVER ABRASIVE OR OVERPOWERING. IT HAS A SMOOTH FINISH RIGHT TO THE END.
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5 out of 5
Plentiful smoke, agreeable flavor, dependably constructed
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4 out of 5
Very good cigar and Great construction. I thought it would be Stronger but still a nice tasting cigar.
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5 out of 5
... some of my favorites... Great taste and flavor....
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5 out of 5
Very good smoke will buy them again great flavor
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4 out of 5
Good strong tobacco Burns a long time
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4 out of 5
Nice full body smoke. Most of them burn well. A couple in this box didn’t.
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5 out of 5
There's a reason why the delightful cigar is out of stock. It freaking excellent! Don't waste time put your name on the backorder list and get a box of them you won't regret a second of it.
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5 out of 5
Thick abundant smoke, pleasant flavor, well built and arrived in good condition
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4 out of 5
Fine every day smoke
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5 out of 5
Fine as frog hair.
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5 out of 5
Very nice and enjoyed !
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5 out of 5
Flavor 7 out of 10 Smoke. Mostly plugged Shipping. 10 out of 10
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4 out of 5
Good medium draw with a nice consistent burn. I get earthy flavor with oak undertones and a hint of sweetness. CAO continues to impress with another quality cigar.
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4 out of 5
Really enjoyed the smoke, great draw and even burn. Was expecting it to be a little bolder. Overall a very good smoke. Will reorder again.
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5 out of 5
We love all CAO cigars that we’ve tried. This one was new to us and it did not disappoint. We will purchase this again. The burn was consistent through the whole smoke.
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5 out of 5
The draw, burn and taste are all very good with the Extreme.
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5 out of 5
Even burn until the end with a perfect draw......Great taste!
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Hide Reviews
Steve R

CAO Extreme

Steve R
Welcome back, CAO
 
If you know me, you know I’ve always been fond of CAO. Brazilia, Sopranos, Black, Italia....hell, I’m man enough to admit I’ve even burned through a fair share of Moontrance and Bella Vanilla over the years. Bottom line is, CAO makes a damn fine cigar, but more importantly, CAO cigars are among the most consistent and reliable in the boutique realm. There’s a reason why CAO maintains 13 different brands with a rating of ‘90’ or better. Seriously, this brand was receiving 93s in 2001, when an ‘87’ or ‘88’ was considered high.
 
Good start, eh? Well, here’s the reality check. If you know I’ve always been fond of CAO, you likely also know I enjoy the older CAO releases when compared to the latest offerings. OSA never really did it for me, Concert missed the mark with my palate, and La Traviata is brick and mortar only so I never think of it.
 
But this....THIS....is why I stuck with CAO all these years. Waiting for and wanting something new from CAO that hearkens back to the old days, when Brazilia stole our taste buds and Sopranos set new standards in super-premiums. The something new is CAO Extreme, and I suggest you give it the long, hairy eyeball.
 
Everything about this cigar is oldschool CAO to the core. The simple box made complex through modern, eye-catching design elements. The oversized band and in your face branding. And then, the most important thing, the blend. Four different ligero varieties were used to create this blend, including a thick and flavorful Habano ligero wrapper from Ecuador. CAO has always been known for using rare or unique tobaccos in blends, and these ligeros – and the amount of them – is no different.
 
By now, you likely know how this review is going to go. I can’t lie....I’ve been burning CAO Extreme for a few weeks now....and by that I mean 1-2 a day, at least. I can’t get enough of them. The flavor isn’t revolutionary, but it’s unique and eventful....and the experience is extremely satisfying. From the thick, aromatic smoke to the top-notch quality, and right on down to the ever-changing flavor....in my mind, Extreme has what it takes to out CAO the mighty Brazilia.
 
The cigar opens which a rich, roasted blast of dark tobacco goodness and a touch of white pepper. The smoke is thick and chewy, smothering my entire palate like a blanket and filling my room with an oily, charcoal-like scent on the exhale. There are literally clouds of smoke lingering above my head....it’s like the smoke is too heavy for the far-too-expensive ventilation system in my ceiling.
 
After about 10 minutes of slow-burning bliss, I begin to pick up a sweetness on the sides of my palate. An oaky, almost syrupy sweetness. Basically, if you told me these tobaccos aren’t barrel aged, I’d call you a liar. If you said it again I’d likely demoralize you publically. There’s oak, there’s toast, there’s sweet cedar, there’s black tobacco, and there’s pepper. But here’s the really interesting part. Ligeros tend to add a ton of spice and power smacking you in the teeth. This doesn’t do that. There’s no doubt pepper and power, but the blend hits you in the gut and just feels powerful, from the weight of the smoke. That doesn’t make sense, I am sure, but think on it if you happen to try this....I think you’ll understand. If you want to feel it for real, exhale through the nose and prepare for a pepper blast that’ll make you want to check for blood. Ahhh....ligero.
 
I am now midway through and the charcoal aroma is really coming off the cigar nicely as the smoke escapes the foot. It’s literally going right into my nostrils with each puff and I love it. A trace of black coffee has entered the fray, and the pepper has moved solely to the finish – right on the front of my palate and tip of my tongue. This is where the brass kicks in. If you’re not feeling CAO Extreme behind the eyes at this point, you’re letting it rest in your ashtray far too long. Pick it up, man up, and enjoy the fruits of well-aged, perfectly processed, and expertly blended ligero.
 
An inch and a half left and I’m looking at the clock to see if I have time to burn another before heading out for the evening. Oak dominates, coffee has faded, and leather surfaces. Pepper remains and shows no signs of going away. The final leg is rich, smokey, and meaty, and the strength has no doubt tipped well into the full-bodied arena. I am ending this review. There’s an inch left and I want to enjoy it. Do yourself a (big) favor and try CAO Extreme, and welcome CAO back to the limelight.
 
Oh, I had the Robusto.
 
Last thing. Had a delicious beer this past week. Finally found Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) on tap, and it was well worth both the wait and the long trip to try it before the keg was killed – which literally happened 10 minutes after my arrival. This dark, 11.2% beast is loaded with rich, roasted flavors, including coffee bean, dark unsweetened cocoa, and a trace of (seemingly charred) caramel. Delicious and satisfying, with no trace of an 11.2% backbone. If you see this, order two immediately. The flavors pop a ‘lil more as the beer warms up.