CAO MX2: Review

CAO MX2 Toro
$5.50 USD

6x52

Wrapper: Conneticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Brazilian maduro wrapper leaf
Filler: Blend of Honduran, Peruvian, and Dominican

The CAO MX2 is an intimidating cigar. Its dark. Its oily. Its stylish.

Don't be fooled.

The MX2 is a good stick, but its a stogie for the people. The start is the only time in the whole cigar you taste any spice at all. It soon mellows out into a smooth, sultry smoke with hints of sandy earthtones and a deep note of the vanilla char one would find in the barrel of a small batch Kentucky bourbon. Its a difficult flavour to peg with a sweet picante feel. The medium body is on the cusp of being full, and the flavour is mellow enough to not overwhelm the palate. The moderate to good draw couples with an even burn that leaves a delightful salt and pepper ash. A firm cigar, the MX2 stood up to the substantial chomping I am occasionally guilty of. For the price, this definately comes away with one of my Best Value awards.

My whisky pairing for the MX2 is Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon Whisky. The vanilla char notes will well compliment the sweet char flavour explosion of Blanton's, and the mellow flavour won't overwhelm a good bourbon.

I give the CAO MX2 a 3.8 out of 5. The smoke falls little short of full bodied, and the wrapper as a binder leaf, on rare occasion, can lead to some wrapper cracking. But if you want a smooth smoke that never fails to please, the MX2 is an old faithful you can rely on. Also available in a Robusto (5x50, $5.00USD) which draws a bit easier, and the Belicoso (torpedo, 7x54, $6.00USD) for a long lasting smoke.

Final Rating 3.8/5
Best Value award

Coming up next week, I take on the Rocky Patel Vintage Series 1999