A "TWISTED" evening

skibumdc

Arnold is numero uno
I have been holding my Taboo Twist cigars in the humi for about 6-8 months and decided after dinner I should bring it down to my local B&M to hang out with my regular crew. The staff doesn't mind because we usually buy a smoke while there as well.

2 cigars were on tap for this evening
1) Taboo Twist Torpedo with 4 months of age
2) CAO America Monument (6.25"x54) bought when first released from the B&M.

I started with the Taboo twist torpedo.
Took a while to light but had a dead even burn and a decent amount of smoke. Not too much, not too little, and perfect draw. Tasted creamy with a bit of earthiness. Not any spice that I could find. Overall a decent cigar.
I had a spicy dinner before the cigar and I think it may have masked some of the flavors from the Taboo. Not to worry, I have 4 other Torp's and 5 Robusto sticks as well. I was hoping for some more flavors to pop out. If I had 1 more flavor pop out it would have made this cigar a "Classic"

SO noticed in the travel humi that I had the CAO America as well, and I thought to myself. DEATH MATCH between the barber poles cigars!

cao-america-monument.jpg

This cigar was MUCH darker. The flash makes the maduro wrapper lighter than it was in person.
Nice draw, excellent wrapper construction. This has been at 65% humidity @ 72 degrees the entire time it was in the humi. The reason I note that is because after smoking about 1/2 inch the maduro wrapper seemed to lag behind a bit at times. I tried to let it self correct, but eventually I had to correct. I wound up doing that about 3 times during the smoke. Not too bad, but not perfect like the burn of the Taboo. The big difference is that is is actually 2 wrapper leafs rolled as 1. Not 1 main leaf with another left cut and wrapper on the outside of the main wrapper leaf.
Initial toast and light I tasted pepper, leather.
It overall was a DARK cigar taste, specifically taste wise. No bright flavors like cinnamon, or even coffee, creamy, butter, honey. Nothing like that.
Good draw, and average smoke, but I kind of wanted more from this cigar.


I enjoyed both cigars with the gang, and it was a fun showdown. Overall I will give it to the CAO, but I will give the Taboo another few chances, especially in the Robusto size.:ss
 
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Hmmm, I would agree with you that the spicey dinner may have hurt the Twist. I like the flavors but they aren't the "in your face" types - at least to me. On the CAO - can't smokem....
 
Very nice job with the reviews, liked the concise format. Interesting perspectives and opinions on the tastes.

Personally I found the Taboo much richer in flavor than the CAO. Neither is very spicy flavor-wise. What's really nice is the fact that if I have to buy it, the Taboo has the better price point.

Add the two together and it isn't any wonder why I have Taboo Twists in my humidor, and the couple CAOs I had, while enjoyed, haven't been repurchased.

It is great that we don't all go gaa-gaa over the same cigars.
 
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