A highly sought-after, limited-edition premium cigar, the CAO Amazon Basin Toro is known for using unique, organically cultivated Brazilian Bragüge tobacco that comes from isolated clearings in the Amazon rainforest. This medium-to-full-bodied cigar, which is 6 inches by a 52 ring gauge, is produced by General Cigar Co. at the STG Estelí factory in Nicaragua. Its rustic appearance, which includes a wrapped twine band composed solely of twisted tobacco veins that you can smoke straight through, makes it instantly identifiable.

Rare Harvesting: Only once every three years is the iconic Bragüge leaf gathered. Less than half of a typical tobacco harvest is produced by plants that are planted a yard apart in tiny rainforest clearings.

Ancestral Fermentation: The leaves are naturally fermented for six months after being manually squeezed into small tubes known as carottes.

First Third: Creamy and Sweet Start The main notes include velvety leather, rich cocoa powder, and creamy wood. Undertones: The Amazonian Bragüge tobacco has a strong, distinct raisin and molasses sweetness. Retrohale: A sweet, toasted marshmallow flavour counterbalances the mild black pepper.

Second Third: Transition to Earth and Spice Primary Notes: Dark chocolate, moist soil, and mineral notes take center stage as the sweetness fades. Espresso beans, roasted peanuts, and a hint of citrus zest are the undertones. Retrohale: The black pepper becomes much more intense, resembling a cinnamon or baking spice.

Final Third: Bold & Savoury Crescendo Main Notes: Dry hay, heavy charred wood, and a distinct flavour of dried tea leaves and herbs. Undertones: A hint of bitterness from the heavy oils and resins combined with savoury, bready overtones. The Band Effect: The tobacco-vein band offers a short burst of strong, rustic peppery roughness before a sweet, earthy finish when smoking straight through the wound.