CAO announced yesterday a third groundbreaking addition to its acclaimed Arcana lineup: CAO Thunder Smoke. This release is set to make brand history as the first cigar to feature tobacco from South Africa and Zimbabwe, alongside tobaccos from Cameroon.
Thunder Smoke gets its name from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, known to the local Sotho people as “Mosi-Oa-Tunya,” which translates to “The Smoke That Thunders.”
The Zimbabwe filler leaves in CAO Thunder Smoke are grown in the Limpopo River Basin in the shadows of the mighty Victoria Falls. This tobacco is part of a carefully curated five-country blend, highlighted by the all-African filler, a first for CAO. It comes in one size, Toro Grande (6.5″ × 52) and hasn’t an MSRP of $12.99.
The blend is completed with a Honduran Olancho San Augustin wrapper and a binder grown in the legendary Mexican San Andres Valley, creating a truly global masterpiece.
Ed Lahmann, Senior brand manager for CAO said, “With CAO Thunder Smoke, we are pushing the boundaries of cigar making, venturing into uncharted territories to craft an unparalleled smoking experience. Our mantra, ‘We Go Where The Tobacco Takes Us,’ has guided us to innovate and redefine the industry standard. This release is not just a milestone for CAO, but a bold leap forward for the entire cigar world.”
Thunder Smoke is medium-bodied with notes of earth, hazelnut and raisin.
CAO Thunder Smoke is handcrafted at General Cigar’s Santiago factory in the Dominican Republic. The limited-edition cigars will be released in a single size and presented in 20-count boxes. Thunder Smoke will ship in early September, and CAO fans should expect to see it on shelves by mid-month. Quantities are limited.
