CAO Amazon Basin Orellana OR Release 2019

Orellana, which gets its name from the Spanish explorer and conquistador Francisco de Orellana, who discovered the Amazon River and was the first to travel its entire length in 1542.

In the first third, the dominant note morphs into a distinct mocha coffee flavor followed by aromatic cedar, bitter espresso, baker’s spices, earth, hay, cinnamon and dried tea leaves bringing up the rear.

The CAO ends the second third just a bit above medium.

The final third of the cigar, now reminding me more of bitter dark chocolate followed a distinct lemongrass note, as well as cedar, gritty earth, anise, hay, espresso and leather. The maple on the finish is still quite strong, but the black pepper on the retrohale diminishes noticeably.