CigarMind

CAO

CAO Thunder Smoke

CAO Thunder Smoke is a medium strength cigar made in Honduras at Honduran American Tobacco. It pairs Honduran Olancho San Agustín wrapper; Mexican San Andrés binder; South African, Zimbabwean, Cameroon filler. It comes in one listed size, 6½ × 52.

Maker
CAO
Wrapper
Honduran Olancho San Agustín
Binder
Mexican San Andrés
Filler
South African, Zimbabwean, Cameroon
Country
Honduras
Factory
Honduran American Tobacco
Strength
medium
Sizes
1 · 6½ × 52

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

What it tastes like

what the wrapper usually brings

CigarMind has no sourced tasting notes for CAO Thunder Smoke yet.

How to smoke it

rules of thumb
  • Time: plan on about 1 h 5 min to 1 h 40 min for a 6.5-inch size.
  • When: Medium strength suits most of the day, including an afternoon with a drink.
  • 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.
How to cut a cigarWhere the cap line is, and which cut suits this size›How to light a cigarToast the foot for an even burn, with a guided timer›
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Sizes

1 in the catalog
Toro6½ × 52 · Honduran Olancho San Agustín›

What to try next

matched on wrapper, strength, origin, factory
A step milder: CAO Goldmild-medium · Ecuadorian Connecticut›A step fuller: CAO Braziliamedium-full · Brazilian Arapiraca›

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 Thunder Smoke questions

How strong is CAO Thunder Smoke?

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

Is CAO Thunder Smoke 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 Thunder Smoke made?

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

What wrapper does CAO Thunder Smoke use?

CAO Thunder Smoke uses a Honduran Olancho San Agustín wrapper over a Mexican San Andrés binder, with South African, Zimbabwean, Cameroon filler. Blends can change between releases, so check the band year if it matters to you.

What sizes does CAO Thunder Smoke come in?

The CigarMind catalog lists 1 size: Toro (6½ × 52). Each size has its own page with the full blend.

How long does it take to smoke CAO Thunder Smoke?

For a 6.5-inch size, plan on about 1 h 5 min to 1 h 40 min. That is a rule of thumb of 10 to 15 minutes per inch at a relaxed pace, a puff about once a minute.

Smoking one?

Scan the band and log itRecord your own notes by third; your Palate DNA learns from them›Every CAO line›