Theme Week 23 = CAO
While there is a wide range of CAO products, only a few are actually 'highly rated' by Cigar Aficionado. Of their various nationality-labeled series, I had found long ago that the "Italia" was, IMHO, the best of that series, thus I have maintained a few of them for occasional enjoyment. I also found the CAO Criollo (not actually made anymore like the ones I have from more than a decade ago) to be quite delightful, much like my preference for that particular series of Perdomo 10th Anniversary as I noted in week 20.

Other than the Italia and Criollo, nothing else in the CAO line ever seemed to "knock my socks off", so to speak. But the label is well-liked and notably successful. The few cigars of that label I choose to keep in my humidor are very enjoyable.

History
The history of CAO Cigars is marked by a number of notable events. Cano Aret Ozgener founded CAO Cigars in 1968 in Nashville, Tennessee. The company was originally named after its founder's initials. CAO started as a company that sold briar pipes and humidors. Ozgener, who had an engineering background, modified pipes to improve their performance. In 1980, CAO tried to enter the cigar industry with the Casa de Manuel line, but it was not successful. In 1995, CAO began selling cigars again with a Honduran smoke called C.A.O. General Cigar Co. distributes CAO cigars and all its lines. The ST Cigar Group owns CAO International, which is ultimately owned by two Danish foundations and Swedish Match. CAO Cigars is known for its commitment to crafting exceptional cigars, and for its diverse portfolio of blends. The company is also known for listening to fans and learning about their preferences and tastes.