CigarMind

CAO

CAO FASA Sombra

CAO FASA Sombra is a medium strength cigar made in Honduras at Honduran American Tobacco. It pairs Ecuadorian Shade wrapper; Cameroon binder; Dominican Piloto Cubano, Nicaraguan Jalapa, Nicaraguan Estelí, Nicaraguan Condega filler. The catalog lists 2 sizes, from 6 × 50 to 6 × 60.

Maker
CAO
Wrapper
Ecuadorian Shade
Binder
Cameroon
Filler
Dominican Piloto Cubano, Nicaraguan Jalapa, Nicaraguan Estelí, Nicaraguan Condega
Country
Honduras
Factory
Honduran American Tobacco
Strength
medium
Sizes
2 · 6 × 50 to 6 × 60

Blend details are claims from manufacturer and trade sources. Blends can change between releases.

What it tastes like

what the wrapper usually brings

CAO FASA Sombra uses an Ecuadorian Shade wrapper. Connecticut shade wrappers tend toward cream, cedar, nuts and a light, smooth finish. That is the leaf's general character, not a tasting note for this cigar.

How to smoke it

rules of thumb
  • Time: plan on about 1 hour to 1 h 30 min for a 6-inch size.
  • When: Medium strength suits most of the day, including an afternoon with a drink.
  • Pair with: coffee with cream, a light beer, or a sparkling wine.
  • Pace: about a puff a minute keeps it cool and lets the flavors change from third to third. Do not inhale.
  • Before lighting: cut just above the cap line, toast the foot evenly, and take a cold draw to check it.

Sizes

2 in the catalog

What to try next

matched on wrapper, strength, origin, factory

From the desk

reads and news on CAO
Seven Hundred Fifty Cigars, One Price Increase, and a Tariff Bill That Keeps GrowingRead · 2026-08-20 · Scandinavian Tobacco Group raised prices across nearly 750 SKUs on August 3, the broadest single-day hike in recent memory. The increase hits Alec Bradley, CAO, Macanudo, Cohiba, and half a dozen other brands. But the wholesale bump is only half the story. A separate import charge, tied to tariffs, climbed from 6 to 7 percent the same day, meaning even cigars whose base price did not change now cost retailers more.›Two Hundred Fifty Candles, Lit at Both Ends: The America 250 Cigars Worth ChasingRead · 2026-07-08 · The semiquincentennial has its own cigar category now. Here is every commemorative release we can verify, what is actually in them, and which boxes deserve a spot in the humidor after the fireworks fade.›Waiting On The Box: Rocky Patel And The America 250 MomentRead · 2026-07-31 · A crowded field of semiquincentennial cigars is about to gain a release from one of the most prolific blenders in the business. Here is what we know, what we can infer, and why this toro matters even before the bands arrive.›The Maestro Steps Out Front: Esteban Disla and the Rise of DomainRead · 2026-07-17 · For decades his blends carried everyone else's logos. With Domain, the man behind some of boutique's cult favorites finally put his own name on the band.›CAO's Cult Amazon Basin Gets an Extra Year of SleepNews · 2026-09-26 · One of the most talked-about blends of the past decade is back in rested form.›CAO Goes All-American for the SemiquincentennialNews · 2026-07-17 · CAO has released a limited edition of its America line built entirely from U.S.-grown tobacco, timed to the country's 250th anniversary.›CAO Puts American Tobacco Front and CenterNews · 2026-07-15 · The original CAO America line has been running since 2007 on a blend that pulls binder from Brazil and filler from four countries.›

CAO FASA Sombra questions

What does CAO FASA Sombra taste like?

CAO FASA Sombra uses an Ecuadorian Shade wrapper. Connecticut shade wrappers tend toward cream, cedar, nuts and a light, smooth finish. That is the leaf's general character, not a tasting note for this cigar; log a smoke in CigarMind to record your own.

How strong is CAO FASA Sombra?

CAO FASA Sombra is listed as medium strength. Medium strength suits most of the day, including an afternoon with a drink.

Is CAO FASA Sombra good for beginners?

Usually, yes. Medium strength is manageable for most newer smokers who smoke slowly after eating. Smoke it slowly, a puff a minute or so, and do not inhale.

Where is CAO FASA Sombra made?

CAO FASA Sombra is made in Honduras at Honduran American Tobacco, according to manufacturer and trade sources.

What wrapper does CAO FASA Sombra use?

CAO FASA Sombra uses an Ecuadorian Shade wrapper over a Cameroon binder, with Dominican Piloto Cubano, Nicaraguan Jalapa, Nicaraguan Estelí, Nicaraguan Condega filler. Blends can change between releases, so check the band year if it matters to you.

What sizes does CAO FASA Sombra come in?

The CigarMind catalog lists 2 sizes: Toro (6 × 50) and Gigante (6 × 60). Each size has its own page with the full blend.

How long does it take to smoke CAO FASA Sombra?

For a 6-inch size, plan on about 1 hour to 1 h 30 min. That is a rule of thumb of 10 to 15 minutes per inch at a relaxed pace, a puff about once a minute.

What drink goes with CAO FASA Sombra?

With a Connecticut shade wrapper, common pairings are coffee with cream, a light beer, or a sparkling wine. Match the drink's weight to the cigar's: lighter drinks for milder cigars, darker spirits for fuller ones.

What cigars are similar to CAO FASA Sombra?

Cigars with a similar build include 7-20-4 The Hustler, Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur and Rocky Patel Decade. They share Connecticut shade wrapper, medium strength, made in Honduras. Similarity here is by wrapper, strength, origin and factory, not by a tasting panel.