The CAO La Traviata Maduro Radiante has taken the cigar world by storm entering at a price point that nearly everyone can afford. This medium-full bodied cigar is manufactured in Esteli, Nicaragua. The long filler is made up of tobacco from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, with a Cameroon binder and a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper.

The wrapper is a rich dark chocolate brown with a slight amount of roughness to it, which is different than tooth. The cap is well applied in this case and the scent coming from the foot is that of old, worn leather, wood, and a bit of pepper mixed in. The pre-light draw is much of the same. The most flavor complexity comes in the 1^st third of the cigar with notes of cedar, leather, black pepper, cream, and roasted nuts. The difference between the La Traviata Natural and the Maduro is that the Maduro has the bittersweet chocolate taste that comes from the broadleaf From here on out the flavor doesn't change much but it certainly is one pleasurable smoke.

The CAO La Traviata is quickly becoming the benchmark of what a $5 cigar “should” be. Other sticks in the price range and constantly being compared to it. So far, not many have come close to providing the smoking experience that the Cao La Traviata does.