cao issues

wahooschock

I love cao Brazilia. Its what got me into hand rolled. But lately I've had issues. Some are very green...some are tight...some are nearly perfect. Anyone else notice? I had some vrs in yellow cello that were incredible. Are those just old? Ive wasted 3 now cause draw alone. Just hurts too much.

Lee.mcglynn

Let them age!! Cao rott is pretty horrible IMO. Not sure what it is besides general screwing up another brand but yeah all cao's need a nice nap

wahooschock

Thanks. I kinda figured that would be the case lol. Had to ask though.

youngryan216

Yeah, just let 'em rest a while and maybe consider setting up a "dry box" (a humi with very little or no humidification, depending on outdoor conditions) to help isolate problem smokes.
I have a half-full xikar gel puck in my "dry box" this time of year and it stays around 61-63 which is too dry imo for some smokes, but perfect for certain other sticks.

I always have problems with AB Prensado, 5 Vegas gold, MF La Antiguadad etc. . .so I put them in my smaller, purposefully dryer humi and they smoke like a dream when I reach for them.

Seems like some sticks (like those with thicker maduro wrappers) just like lower humidity better.

And I do love a nice, well rested CAO Black, but CAO as a company in general is very inconsistent in construction in my experience. #drawmachine?

wahooschock

I actually left one out over night to let it dry up to see if that fixed it but it still couldnt draw. Tried a poker..nope. tsall good. Ill just get what I lnow is good from now on and give em another chance down the road.

First Warrior

I've had draw issues with CAO also. i t happened in the high humidity of the summer. i tried a dry box first then a poker but couldn't loosen up the draw. Had to pitch almost half of what i bought. I like the taste when they burn true but no more CAO's for me.

Bob Luken

I'm not happy to hear that You have problems with your Brazilias. I've had draw problems with just one type of CAO. I did a box split of Soprano Soldiers and all seem to be rolled too tight. My Brazilias have all been OK so far but I have well rested them all. I happen to be smoking one right now that's about a year old It's doing great.

First Warrior

My draw problems were only with the Lx2.

wahooschock

Ive had issue with the brazilia, black and the gold. Ring size doesnt seem to matter.

Krieg

wahooschock:

I love cao Brazilia. Its what got me into hand rolled. But lately I've had issues. Some are very green...some are tight...some are nearly perfect. Anyone else notice? I had some vrs in yellow cello that were incredible. Are those just old? Ive wasted 3 now cause draw alone. Just hurts too much.

Sorry to say this, but I'm not surprised considering who bought CAO...

onestrangeone

First Warrior:

I've had draw issues with CAO also. i t happened in the high humidity of the summer. i tried a dry box first then a poker but couldn't loosen up the draw. Had to pitch almost half of what i bought. I like the taste when they burn true but no more CAO's for me.

IMO and meager experience dry boxing or leaving out overnight won't help and can make thing worse, only the wrapper dries out then the burn is really off, I keep most of my humis at 65-67 and I think this is too high for some sticks (most have been mentioned) The ones I have found to be a problem get pulled out about a month before I plan to smoke em and brought down to around 60 and allowed to acclimate. I think 60 or lower is too low for storage but fine for smoking some of these (problem) sticks.

Amos Umwhat

Krieg:

wahooschock:

I love cao Brazilia. Its what got me into hand rolled. But lately I've had issues. Some are very green...some are tight...some are nearly perfect. Anyone else notice? I had some vrs in yellow cello that were incredible. Are those just old? Ive wasted 3 now cause draw alone. Just hurts too much.

Sorry to say this, but I'm not surprised considering who bought CAO...

My thoughts also. I must say, though, that the Extreme Ismoked the other night, fairly young, was ver good. But it had been at about 63% for amonth.

jsnake

Krieg:

Sorry to say this, but I'm not surprised considering who bought CAO...

I agree with this.

SM0K3Y

Smoking my first Cao right now (camshaft 554) and it's fantastic! Not sure one stick is enough to judge any company by, but this one is greatness It's absolutely rock solid and tastes great

Krieg

I have a CAO Mx3 in my humi that I have been aging for about 5 years now. I hope it is as good as everyone says it is.

brianetz1

i agree on the brazillas being green lately. I always keep them in my humidor, but the newest ones i bought (3 months ago) are still not ready to smoke. I grabbed one about 2 weeks after getting them and it was like puffing a mouthfull of ammonia. tried one this week and it was better, but still there.