Cigar Geeks - CAO Arcana Mortal Coil Toro

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

CAO Arcana Mortal Coil Toro
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: junglepete

90
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Member sponsored Geek Critique generously sponsored by our member Cfickter (Chuck). The cigar provided for this round is the CAO Arcana Mortal Coil Toro.

To honor the "old-world tobacco processing methods", CAO is revisited the unique old and rustic fermentation process of Andullo tobacco into their cigar the CAO Arcana Mortal Coil. Like the name states, this cigar takes a rustic leaf of Andullo tobacco and rolls it into long cylinders, then wraps them tightly in palm tree pods and hangs them up like a sausage to undergo fermentation for two years. This results in typically sweet, dense logs of concentrated Dominican tobacco. These "logs" are then combined with a Connecticut shade binder and a filler blend of Honduran tobacco from the Jamastran Valley, Nicaraguan tobacco from Estelí and some Dominican Piloto Cubano and encases it all inside of dark Connecticut broadleaf wrapper.

CAO Arcana Mortal Coil Toro

Brand:: CAO
Name:: Arcana Mortal Coil Toro
Length:: 6.1
Ring Gauge:: 50
Country of Origin:: Nicaragua
Filler:: Dominican Republic
Honduras
Nicaragua
Binder:: Connecticut Shade
Wrapper:: Connecticut Broadleaf
Color:: Maduro
Strength:: Full
Shape:: Toro
Average Member Purchase Price:: $9.24
Average Member Rating:: (3 Review(s))
Notes:: This cigar takes a rustic leaf of Andullo tobacco and rolls it into long cylinders wraps them tightly in palm tree pods and hangs them up like a sausage to undergo fermentation for two years. This results in typically sweet, dense logs of concentrated Dominican tobacco. These "logs" are then combined with a Connecticut shade binder and a filler blend of Honduran tobacco from the Jamastran Valley, Nicaraguan tobacco from Estelí and some Dominican Piloto Cubano and encases it all inside of dark Connecticut broadleaf wrapper. https://www.smallbatchcigar.com/cao-arcana-mortal-coil

Pre-Light: 8 Points of 10 Possible

An interesting looking stick here with a giant band. It has quite a rustic appearance and not an overly smooth surface. There is a little oiliness on the wrapper and a few bumps along canon and firmly filled. The cap has been applied well and the head held up to the straight cut. There are a few noticeable veins and the seam looks to have loosened in a couple of small spots. The bunching at the foot is even. The aroma is heavy in the fruit compote and honey category.

Lighting and Burn: 15 Points of 15 Possible

No issues presented themselves when it came to lighting up and burning its way down. The burn was slow and even. No touchups or relights were needed. The smoke volume was more than ample. The ash held well enough.

Construction: 27 Points of 30 Possible

With 30 points worth of value I need to say something here and try not to repeat what I've already said regarding construction. The draw was great. I thought that the looser seam would have affected the draw with escaping air but it was not the case. Although the stick was well filled, the even bunching left for a perfect draw.

Flavor and Aroma: 40 Points of 45 Possible

First Third: Starts off mild in the very beginning and builds up to medium by the end of the first third. Quite smooth, not dry, not spicy, a little nutty and some sweetness.

Second Third: Builds again from medium body to medium plus body by the end of the second third. Flavors presented some herbal notes, but not floral. and some fruit sweetness and just mild earthiness.

Final Third: The body continues to build and by the end of the cigar it reached just a little past medium plus. More earth notes and some charred wood come into the mix of flavors. The sweetness moved to the background but was still present as was the smoothness.

Summary

This was a pretty good cigar. It's been a while since I have had something from CAO and I was interested in trying this blend. Thanks goes out to Chuck for sponsoring this critique. The flavor profile seemed somewhat unique, even if I may not have captured that in my review. Just now, brandied fruit comes to mind. This was one of those cigars that I'd like to smoke again, and maybe even one more after that to get a better understanding of my own assessment.