Cano Ozgener had never smoked a cigar until he came to the United States. Born in Turkey, he was an adamant pipe enthusiast until that first, fateful cigar. After that, things began to change.
He built a company that joined a long line of cigar makers pursuing the American Dream. By the time he was done, his "little" company had been bought out by the giant Scandinavian Tobacco Group.
This is the story of a unique and innovative brand. It's living proof that thinking outside the cigar box can still get you to the top. Lets take a deep dive into CAO.
From Pipes to Cigars
At first, Ozgener’s new company concentrated on his beloved pipes. He was a consummate marketer and made sure to make friends with the right people. His pipes were subtly featured in a couple of high-profile movies. When humidors were added to the mix, several well-known faces helped boost this radical, disruptive brand, which was quickly becoming a hot favorite.
Ozgener saw a sure-fire repeat winner if he could break into the cigar market. In the 1990s, as the cigar boom took off, he introduced CAO’s first hand-rolled cigars. It took a while, but the launch of the CAO Black is what turned the tide. A very smokeable ‘house blend’ combined with a quirky, hand painted, anarchic box, some clever positioning and a superb price point all hit home. CAO was becoming the next big thing.
Building a Successful Team
Working alongside his son and daughter, Tim and Aylin Ozgener, Cano had created a formidable team. Rick Rodriguez, the archetypal road warrior, came on board as master blender. Eventually, big business came knocking. The company was sold at a considerable profit and has continued to blaze their own trail since, doing things that other companies cannot or will not.
Seek out CAO, it’s a fun brand with some seriously good tobacco. Here’s what you should be looking out for.
Top 5 Best CAO Cigars
1. CAO Flathead V770 Carb
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Shape: Gordo
Size: 7 x 70
Strength: Medium to Full
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Maduro
Binder/Filler: Ecuador/Nicaragua
Wrapper Type: Connecticut Broadleaf
This is a monster – a slab of a cigar. And it is supposed to be.
It is an homage to the classic American Hot-Rod scene, and the block shape represents the engine block. This sort of innovative fun is typical of CAO and what its fans have come to expect. The cigar lids are even painted with real engine paint. Hell, you can hang them on your wall when you’re done with the box, they’re that good.
These cigars have earned a strong reputation and are among the best-selling CAO cigars available.
There’s a pleasing creamy sweetness to those dark and oily wrappers, and you can expect sweet spice and complex earthy notes as the cigar warms up.
2. CAO Brazilia Gol!
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Shape: Gordo
Size: 5 x 56
Strength: Medium to Full
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Maduro
Binder/Filler: Nicaragua
Wrapper Type: Brazilian Maduro
When this cigar first came out, the cigar world blinked in surprise; Brazilian cigar components had not been talked about much before.
But its Day-Glo box, deeply alluring Maduro wrapper and excellent, fruity, intriguing taste was another winner for the stable. The cigar is strong, but not overly so; subtly sweet, but with some underlying depths of depravity which make you want to come back for more. Reminiscent of a naughty night in Rio, this is a cigar that is once tried, never forgotten.
3. CAO Italia Ciao
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Shape: Gordo
Size: 5 x 56
Strength: Full
Color: Colorado Maduro
Binder/Filler: Honduras, Italy, Nicaragua, Peru
Wrapper Type: Honduran Habano
If you thought Brazilian tobacco was unusual, wait until you get a load of this.
The Italia is yet another CAO launch that took the market by surprise. Italy is not a country associated with hand-rolled cigars. You may know that the country’s famous smoke is the Tuscan Toscano, a rough and ready dry cured smoke that you’ll either love or hate. But the good folks at CAO discovered some parcels of unique Habano seed tobacco that they could add to a Nicaraguan and Peruvian foundation which presents in the finished product with great earthy sweetness. Another talking point in your humidor!
4. CAO America Landmark
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Shape: Gordo
Size: 6 x 60
Strength: Full
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Maduro / Colorado Claro
Binder/Filler: Brazil / Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Italy, USA
Wrapper Type: Connecticut Broadleaf / Connecticut Shade
This cigar makes an impression before you even light it. The Landmark wears a bold barber-pole wrapper made from Connecticut Broadleaf and Connecticut Shade, and the band carries a full stars-and-stripes design that fits the theme perfectly. It looks fun, a little loud, and absolutely intentional.
The blend uses a Brazilian binder and a mix of ligero from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Italy, and the USA, so the flavor comes at you in layers instead of all at once. You’ll notice a mix of sweet cedar, a little chocolate, and a savory note that leans toward roasted meat as the cigar warms up. It’s medium to full in strength with a slow, steady build that feels strong but controlled.
A great choice when you want a cigar with some attitude and plenty of flavor to unpack.
5. CAO Consigliere Soldier Toro
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Shape: Toro
Size: 6 x 54
Strength: Medium - Full
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Maduro
Binder/Filler: Honduras / Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Colombia
Wrapper Type: Brazilian Matafina Maduro
This cigar has a bit of a reputation, and anyone who remembers its early days will spot the look right away. The Consigliere keeps that unmistakable style but brings back the original blend that made it a hit in the first place.
The Brazilian Mata Fina wrapper is dark, oily, and rich before you even strike a match. Underneath it sits a Honduran binder with fillers from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia, which gives the smoke a deep, slow-building flavor. You’ll pick up dark woods, a little cocoa, and a savory note that hangs around through the middle of the cigar. It hits the medium to full zone with confidence but stays smooth enough to enjoy at an easy pace.
A strong pick for smokers who want a cigar with presence and personality, the kind you sit back with and let unfold on its own time.
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The Atlantic Cigar Staff is a team of seasoned cigar aficionados with over 25 years of experience. As part of the Atlantic Cigar family for decades, our experts know cigars inside out. We share our passion for premium, handmade cigars with enthusiasts worldwide. Our friendly and knowledgeable team guides both seasoned smokers and curious newcomers to the perfect smoke. We're always eager to share our love of cigars with you.