"C.A.O.’s Criollo is an exercise in extreme patience. This extraordinary Nicaraguan wrapper has spent four long years in the curing, bringing out the robust flavors and intriguing subtleties reminiscent of the rich Cuban heritage from whence it derives its name. Originating in Cuba, the rich and sweet Criollo wrapper leaf formed the base for every spliced or hybrid strain of tobacco produced in the effort improve the strain. Finally, a winning combination has been developed that is true to the flavor of the original Cuban seed. It is just this wrapper, the prized Criollo ‘98, which C.A.O. uses to produce this truly outstanding cigar, worthy to take its place in the C.A.O. pantheon. To compliment this fabulous wrapper, the Ozgenar family combines it with the finest Cuban-seed Nicaraguan long filler blend. This is tobacco Cano A. Ozgenar personally selected for planting; personally supervised during harvest, curing, and aging; personally blended to produce the distinctively unique taste he sought. This is the kind of attention that earns a 90 rating, the attention C.A.O. is famous for. The C.A.O. Criollo is a perfect union of Cuba and Nicaragua, with a flavor that harkens back to a bygone era while representing the beginning of a new one" |
