In 2008, as part of CAO’s Escaparte series, the then Nashville, Tenn.-based company released a specific line of cigars to Serious Cigars of Houston, Texas. Four different sizes of a Colombian puro were crafted, aptly named the CAO Escaparte Colombia. After the establishment of STG Group and the inclusion of CAO in General Cigar Co.’s portfolio, the CAO Escaparte series was ended and as such, no one thought much of the older blends. That is of course until this year’s trade show, when a familiar yellow, red and blue band returned as one of the new CAO releases. While the CAO Colombia will once again be offered in four sizes and features very similar packaging, many things have changed. The cigar will now be made in Nicaragua, as opposed to Honduras, it will be sold to all accounts and most importantly, the blend has changed. Representatives for General Cigar Co. told halfwheel that they did not believe Colombian wrapper was ready to be used on a cigar, somewhat contrary to what the old CAO claimed about the old blend six years ago. Instead, the new CAO Colombia uses a Honduran wrapper from the Jamastran Valley, a Cameroon binder and filler ...
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