CigarMind

CAO

Flathead

CAO Flathead is a medium-full strength cigar made in Nicaragua at General Cigar / STG. It pairs Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper; Connecticut Habano binder; Dominican Piloto Cubano Ligero, Nicaraguan Ligero filler. The catalog lists 12 sizes, from 4½ × 50 to 8 × 60.

Maker
CAO
Wrapper
Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder
Connecticut Habano
Filler
Dominican Piloto Cubano Ligero, Nicaraguan Ligero
Country
Nicaragua
Factory
General Cigar / STG
Strength
medium-full
Sizes
12 · 4½ × 50 to 8 × 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 Flathead uses a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. Connecticut broadleaf wrappers tend toward dark chocolate, molasses and a heavy sweetness. 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 to full: best after a meal, when you can give it your attention.
  • Pair with: port, stout, or a sweet bourbon.
  • 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

12 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 Flathead questions

What does CAO Flathead taste like?

CAO Flathead uses a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. Connecticut broadleaf wrappers tend toward dark chocolate, molasses and a heavy sweetness. 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 Flathead?

CAO Flathead is listed as medium-full strength. Medium to full: best after a meal, when you can give it your attention.

Is CAO Flathead good for beginners?

It is a stronger cigar. Most newer smokers are better served starting milder and working up to it. Smoke it slowly, a puff a minute or so, and do not inhale.

Where is CAO Flathead made?

CAO Flathead is made in Nicaragua at General Cigar / STG, according to manufacturer and trade sources.

What wrapper does CAO Flathead use?

CAO Flathead uses a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper over a Connecticut Habano binder, with Dominican Piloto Cubano Ligero, Nicaraguan Ligero filler. Blends can change between releases, so check the band year if it matters to you.

What sizes does CAO Flathead come in?

The CigarMind catalog lists 12 sizes: V642 Piston (6½ × 42), V450 Spark plug (4½ × 50), V450 Sparkplug (4½ × 50), Robusto (5 × 50), Corona Gorda (5½ × 50), Toro (6 × 50), Churchill (7 × 50) and V554 Camshaft (5½ × 54), and more. Each size has its own page with the full blend.

How long does it take to smoke CAO Flathead?

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 Flathead?

With a broadleaf wrapper, common pairings are port, stout, or a sweet bourbon. 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 Flathead?

Cigars with a similar build include Tatuaje TAA Exclusive Series, Luciano Maria Lucia and Jaime Garcia Reserva Especial. They share broadleaf wrapper, medium-full strength, made in Nicaragua. Similarity here is by wrapper, strength, origin and factory, not by a tasting panel.