CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke
If there is a reason to be proudly South African, then we do it. From Rugby to the beautiful country we call home. But when a cigar is available with South African and Zimbabwe tobacco, we take note.
Warmer winter days, a light breeze, a creamy coffee and an exceptional cigar. This is a Thunder smoke to experience.
In 2021, General Cigar Co. announced a new limited edition CAO line named Arcana. It means mysteries or secrets. The idea behind the new series was to release blends including tobacco from around the world.
This cigar includes andullo tobacco in the filler. Andullo is a Dominican leaf that is traditionally fermented by being wrapped with palm tree pods into long rolls after harvest. It’s called yaguas instead of the more traditional method of placing the tobacco leaves in large piles.
General released the CAO Arcana Firewalker in 2022, which included Nicaraguan filler that had undergone an ageing process called chincagre. This is an archaic process of primary ageing used by local tobacco farmers in Western Nicaragua. These filler tobaccos grow in the Masatepe region of the country. After harvest, the leaves go onto a large pile called a pilón before being buried deep in volcanic soil for two months. After two months, the tobacco goes through a second round of fermentation for nine months.
The latest addition to the Arcana series is the CAO Thunder Smoke, a 6 1/2 x 52 toro extra covered in a Honduran Olancho San Agustín wrapper and a Mexican San Andrés binder. However, the most unusual part of the cigar is the filler blend, which includes tobacco grown in Cameroon, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The CAO Thunder Smoke takes its name from Zimbabwe’s iconic Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls. In a native Bantu language, it is known as Mosi-Oa-Tunya, which translates to the smoke that thunders.
With CAO Thunder Smoke, it’s a venture to push boundaries of cigar making, venturing into uncharted territories.
This release is not just a milestone for CAO, but a bold leap forward for the entire cigar world.
The CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke Limited Edition is a medium-bodied cigar. It’s a unique blend of African tobaccos, offering a complex and enjoyable smoking experience.
Cigar lovers highlight its balanced flavour profile, consistent burn, and smooth draw, making it suitable for a range of cigar smokers.
The Story behind the CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke
Cigar Review: CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke
- Wrapper: Honduran San Agustin
- Binder: Mexican San Andres
- Filler: Cameroon, Zimbabwe, South Africa
- Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
- Factory: General Cigar Dominicana
Tasting Notes
Unique African Tobacco Blend:
- The cigar incorporates tobaccos from South Africa and Zimbabwe, a first for premium cigars, according to the manufacturer.
Medium Body and Strength:
- The Thunder Smoke is a medium-bodied and medium-strength puff. The CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke has a rich aroma. Dark chocolate, tobacco, raisins and toast on the foot. The colour resembles a maduro. Lots of veins.
Flavour Profile:
- Early notes include earthy and vegetal flavours, transitioning to cocoa, toas, and hints of nuts, raisins, and sweet spices as it progresses.
Burn and Draw:
- The cigar is praised for its even burn, smooth draw, and ability to hold a long ash.
Smoke Time:
- Expect the smoking experience to last between 55 and 75 minutes, depending on your smoking style.
Thunder smoke experience:
Dry aroma
Removing the cigar from the cellophane immediately releases wonderful, punchy aromas.
- Hay bales
- Chocolate brownie
- Peach fruit sweetness
- Tobacco baryard moisture
CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke First Puff
First Flavours
The light is toasty and creamy. The first puff offers a light, creamy experience. Very toasty. It’s like a sip of a creamy cappuccino.
The texture is fluffy but offers full, bold flavours without being overpowering. It’s a smooth cigar, and the fluffy complexion is perfect for cigar enthusiasts and first-time smokers.
AROMA & Tastes
- Chocolate Brownie
- Fruit sweetness
- Hay Bales
- Moist Barnyard
- Fried nuts
- Toasted bread
CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke evolution
The cigar progression is super smooth and creamy.
What do you enjoy pairing with your cigar?
I kept it simple. A cappuccino coffee, and toast with olive spread as a snack.
The olive toast adds a salty and creamy complexion with a sip of water to add the toasty cigar flavour as a rounded creamy pairing taste to bring the cigars’ flavours to the foreground.
I smoke very slowly, which keeps the cigar colder and the flavours evolve at their own pace. As soon as I give a few bigger puffs, the cigar releases bolder, warmer flavours. I prefer the slower smoking style to experience the incredible creamy complexion of this cigar.
- Toasty
- Creeamy
- Fluffy smoke texture
- Fruit Sweetness
CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke Final Third
During the final part of this cigar, the flavours combine the nuttiness and toasty flavours. There are hints of charred meat, coffee beans, and dry hay, but the fruit sweetness fades a bit. On the retrohale, there is a light spice combined with the nutty toastiness. The flavour remains at full, the body remains at medium, and the strength stays at medium, making this one of the most recent enjoyable cigars to light.
The draw and smoke production on this cigar continues to be excellent until the finish.
Confession:
I enjoyed this cigar over two days. And even with the relight, the cigar flavours kept evolving, offering the creamy profile enjoyment from start to finish.
This is one of my new favourite cigars to invest in.
CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke Final Thoughts
I like the concept of the Arcana Series. The roots of CAO are innovation. This is an outstanding job at marketing a cigar with tobaccos from non-traditional tobacco-growing countries.
CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke
Thunder Smoke features an all-African filler. It is a rarity in the cigar world. The South African tobacco adds a unique flavour and profile to this incredible CAO cigar.
If you want to light up this beauty,
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Thunder Smoke features an all-African filler.
Thunder Smoke features an all-African filler. It’s a unique blend from CAO cigars. This cigar offers you a perfectly constructed smoke with a creamy and fluffy smoking experience from the first light to your last puff. Why do I rave about this cigar? It’s smooth with a medium body structure but packed with flavour, which is rare. Usually, milder cigars tend to lack a bit of flavour profile. But what would you expect from CAO? Only the best construction paired with a perfect profile and a full blend of flavours. This is a must to keep stock in your humidor.
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