CAO has announced that it will debut its new La Traviata cigar brand at the International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association's annual convention, during August 8 to 12, 2009. The IPCPR event is not open to the general public, but is of great interest to cigar smokers because more new cigars are announced prior to and during the event than at any other time of the year. According to CAO:

The La Traviata brand began its life at the turn of the 20th Century in Cuba or, more precisely, in the Tabacalera Cubana, Agramonte no. 106, in Havana. Over 100 years later, CAO has resurrected the La Traviata name, abiding closely to its original Cuban roots in presentation and taste. CAO La Traviata is a full-bodied, full-flavored cigar that combines an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with a Cameroon binder and incorporates two different ligero filler tobaccos from the Pueblo Nuevo farm in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. "The inspiration for La Traviata came from smoking numerous classic Cuban cigars," said CAO President Tim Ozgener. "We wanted to create a cigar that appealed to sight, smell, and taste. The oily sheen of the Ecuadorian wrapper compels you to pick it up. The pre-light has a distinct pepper and leather nose. The flavor bombards the palate with intense, rich notes of cedar, anise, and leather, evolving along the way into a lush and creamy finish. We've also stayed true to the original La Traviata vista and artwork circa 1901-1904."

Packaged in 24-count boxes, CAO La Traviata will be available in three shapes: Divino (5" x 50), Radiante (6" x 52), and Intrepido (7" x 54), and will have a suggested retail price range of $4.95 to $5.75 per cigar.

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That sounds great!:-) And I like the look of it too. Its not all overdone like most CAO products.
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What? A new cigar from CAO that isn't gimmicked all to hell? I'm amazed.
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Ex-Cuban is arguably a gimmick. I'm interested in this, I only enjoy their Brazilia and I enjoy The Sopranos edition every now and then.
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They have me intrest peeked.
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Meh, nothing under a 50rg, that's pretty lame.
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I've liked the Brazilia, Black, and VR. I'll probably try these.
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Yeah the recent trend of a lot of brands releasing nothing but 5, 6 and 7x50 sometimes with a torpedo is really disheartening. I wish Corona and Lonsdale would be more popular, but I do enjoy Toro.
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Tell me about it, Robusto's are fine, but any cigar can be a whole different experience in a smaller rg and I'd much prefer the option.
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Hmmm... Resurrecting a CUBAN brand with a matching Cuban flavor profile. Wow! No less than an Ecuadorian and Cameroon tobacco used. Amazing anyone is even listening to the sales pitch and more amazing CAO had the balls to claim "Cuban flavor" profile. So, what's next? Swiss watch with parts made in China?

Why not just buy all those pre-embargo cigars at heirloom sales, I see tons of those still in circulation, rocks and all.
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Yeah but so many other manufacturers do that to. I mean, I would think it fair to say that Pepin does it with a large portion of his cigars and he uses Ecuadorian tobacco as well as Connecticut...etc. But when CAO does it, its a marketing gimmick? If its a good cigar then its a good cigar, leave it at that.
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Ooooo... NOM! Thanks for the hot story, TMC! I heard someone twitter about these but this is the best summary so far. I've enjoyed several boxes of CAO products and would really like to try the Traviata.
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Well, all I can say is that if a Nicaraguan Puro is advertised as "Cuban" in profile, I can see that, same soil and climate. Take a look at Nic ashes as you smoke one, same magnesium content and all.

DPG using Ecuador tobacco? In which of HIS lines? Connecticut? 601 and a few others, OK. And to be honest, 601 Conn is by far my least favorite to the point that I do not buy any. Precisely because of lack of taste.

Read Pepin's recent interview, he clearly states that his ultimate cigar would be 50/50 Cuban and Nic tobacco. Any wonder that another recent ex-pat, Fernandez, ALSO settled in Nicaragua and makes cigars there? And Pepin's partner in tobacco farms they own in Nicaragua, ALSO a Cuban ex-pat. I do not believe in coincidences.

But Ecuador and Cameroon? They look different and taste different. Especially from CAO, who couldn't produce a full bodied smoke if their lifes depended on that, at least none by now. You could play all you want with non-Cuban/Nic tobacco, it won'd deliver full body. Yeah, I know some will point to the likes of LFD and all I can say is that I do not believe they are 100% Dominican tobacco no matter what is being claimed.

Anyway...
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Pepin uses Ecuadorian wrappers in a few of his blends including Cubao made for 601 which is a Ecuadorian Oscuro and the Cabaiguan made for Pete Johnson which is Connecticut seed grown in Ecuador. Also I think its interesting that the Cabaiguan is the cigar that's most identified with having a Cuban-esque profile. And what does full bodied have to do with it. I certainly don't think full bodied smokes when it comes to Cuban tobacco. Full of flavor and complex, yes, but as far as nicotine goes I've never gotten the impression that they were full bodied save for maybe a few vitolas here and there.

The point is that just because CAO is doing it doesn't mean its a gimmick. Just because they use a wrapper from Ecuador doesn't mean it can't have a Cuban-esque profile. And, lastly, just because CAO isn't owned and operated by Cuban ex-pats doesn't mean they can't do it either.:-)
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You seem to completely miss my point. Go back to my second post and see that I made it clear that yes, I do understand that Pepin uses non Nicaraguan leaf for his CLIENTS, but none in his own lines. Main reason I gave a specific example (601 Conn).

Complexity wise, Cuban cigars have as varied a mix of complex and non-complex cigars as Nicaragua (I only go back smoking Cuban cigars for 20 odd years, and have on occasion smoked 30-35 year old Cuban cigars, so I am probably not be up top par with your own experience). Your statement that Cuban cigars have nothing to do with "full body" is precisely the reason I think we are talking apples and oranges, Cuban blends have been GREATLY adjusted starting in late '90s and if you have not smoked (much) earlier versions of these you have no idea of what I am saying. I have moved on to Nicaraguan smokes ever since just to get that full bodied cigar.

Nicaraguan cigars can be, AND ARE, as complex as Cuban, it simply depends on how one grows the leaf, seeds used and how blends are then assembled.

Just read that Pepin interview, many things will fall into place in regard to this discussion. And come to think of it, Pepin himself does not advertise "Cuban" anything, at least not in anything I have seen, nor have I seen Fernande do so, they simply do what they know best.

I do not disagree with you that too many these days advertise their products as "Cuban" in flavor, its a shame IMO, but of all people CAO is one company that should not do so, none of their cigar lines has ever resembled anything "Cuban".
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Very neat - I am a fan of CAO.
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:-) And stunned too ! Just a simple package is nice for a change with their recent history , the blue light special box comes to mind .
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okay...

Refresh my memory...

Gurkha has how many blends??

Rocky has how many blends??

Pepin has how many blends??

Drew Estates has how many blends??

And some of y'all wanna complain about CAO coming out with a new blend??....that's what, all of FOURTEEN blends now?? (okay, add 6 for the flavored lines)

:-)
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i disagree. the very fact that CAO is doing it, almost by defintion, makes it a gimmick. CAO - great marketers, mediocre cigar makers. just my opinion, man...
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How dare CAO make money by using standard business tactics.

How dare their customers buy their cigars. Don't they know that King Don Pepin has a thousand million blends which are of course better??

How dare they sell a decent product at a decent price (considering sales, CAO are generally $3-4 a stick) that people are willing to buy?

:-)
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