Cigar Captain

There’s nothing I like more than a nice, tight ash.

The C.A.O. MX2 Robusto

Don’t try to read more into that than there is. But I’m always impressed with the better cigars that as they burn, they seem to be so nicely packed that the ash remains as tight and round as the cigar was before applying fire to the “fire-end.” (The “foot” – I figured if I was going to write a cigar review, I should actually look up some “honest-to-Poseidon cigar terminology.”)

“Pirates and Cigars!” It seems as natural a combination as “Zebras and The Slimming Effect of Vertical Stripes.”

Pirates and Cigars both hale from the Caribbean. Both dare to be a little different – bolder, brasher … rarer. And Sweet Neptune knows that they’re both soaked in rum!

But back to the C.A.O. MX2…

Here I am – about twelve minutes into this delicious treat and the ash still holds. The burn is even and while the first part of the smoke was very strong – a more mellow flavor has emerged about half-way through the cigar.

I usually remove the band before smoking – but it was on there pretty tight and some of the dark (beautiful) wrapping leaves peeled away when I tried to remove it … so I left it on.  At the twenty minute mark, I tried to remove the label once again – and while I was successful, my beautiful ash fell victim to the combination of my fumbling and gravity’s relentless desire to watch things fall. “Great Neptune’s Salty Man Nipples!!!” I bellowed as the ash box landed with a satisfying “thud” on my keyboard.

I hearken back to a replay of a conversation I’ve had a thousand times with me mate, the late, great Sandy “Cementhands” McCormack whenever anything goes wrong;

Cap’n Slappy: “I blame meself!”

Cementhands McCormack: “I blame ye – too!”

The name, “robusto” is apt – the C.A.O. MX2 robusto is a short cigar but the flavor is robust! This is one of the smokier cigars I’ve ever had. The smoke was billowing from the start and I thought it might dissipate over time – but it hasn’t. I normally smoke on my back deck, but I’ve decided to describe the experience as it’s happening which, as I have said, has resulted in some comical “ash-splash” and difficulty seeing the computer screen through the blueish haze.

The smoke rolls nicely in my mouth.

My early attempts at cigar smoking used to leave me with my mouth watering profusely and having to spit every few minutes. The smoke of the CAO MX2 gently coats my mouth and doesn’t produce any unnatural mouth-sweats.

At a half-hour into it I’m approaching the final third of the cigar. I have that wonderful – slightly dizzy – sensation. The last time I felt that kind of euphoric sensation I was being treated to some “special” cigars as a guest of a pirate group in Seattle (which shall remain nameless) and this experience is the first cigar that has rivaled that evening of debauchery and mayhem. Partying with pirates in Seattle can leave one with stories – but discretion is the better part of valor and it’s isn’t only “dead men what tell no tales.” It’s “men who don’t want to be on the receiving end o’ a right good taunting from his mates.”

So ye’ll get no tales from me – at least not this time.

As an “occasional” cigar smoker – I can’t be sure if I’m being a bit o’ a whimpy pirate or if the fact that I skipped lunch in preparation for a “linner” (late lunch/early dinner) has contributed to my current discombobulation. As I approach the nub – it’s as if I’ve become suddenly drunk. It must be the lack of food because I most assuredly am not a “whimpy pirate.”

I highly recommend the C.A.O. MX2 robusto – but only if you like a strong smoke and have about forty-five minutes to really enjoy it.

And eat something first.

Cap’n Slappy