CAO Amazon Basin 2016 Cigar Review

This 6x52 stick is a re-release of what was originally a limited release a couple years back due to the wrapper yields being so low. It features a dark chocolate rustic slightly mottled wrapper with a firm dense pack, very oily texture like a fine sandpaper, minimal veins, tight invisible seams, large double cap, smokeable tobacco strand band and sweet earth and cocoa aroma. First light reveals a perfect draw with medium-full bodied flavors of a sweet light creamy earth both on the draw and long finish. The first third burns well enough with a slight wave but still good draw and smoke production. Body is down to a medium with the only change being the addition of a slight black pepper on the tail of the finish. Core flavors are still rich and smooth. Hitting the 1/2 way point at 40 minutes going to a very heavy, dark roast coffee and deep earth but still quite smooth while being thick and bold. The slight pepper is there but you can only taste it on the finish when the coffee start to diminish. Ending at 1:20 the last third added a subtle vanilla and twang on the draw just before the band, keeping everything else the same.