Full disclosure: we went out on a limb with this pack and put more thought into the pack even more than we usually do. I have some history with CAO - back when they were a small company in Nashville I got my cigar start as an intern with CAO way back in 2008 with guys like Tim Ozgener (now Ozgener Family Cigars) and Jon Huber (now Crowned Heads). The MX2 was one of my first favorite cigars. But not long after they were purchased by one of the big cigar companies and moved out of Nashville. They went from a small family company to a big machine, and despite great ratings and continuing to maintain a loyal fan base, I wrote them off. So when CAO debuted their latest release, the BX3, I did not want a whole lot to do with it. But then I realized... "dammit, this is EXACTLY WHY WE BLIND TASTE CIGARS." Whether you love the brand or hate the brand, we remove the bias and see what the tobacco - what the brand - really has to offer. 

Another reason I begrudgingly include it in our blind tasting package is because it includes some unique tobacco: three (as the name suggests) types of Brazilian tobacco in the wrapper, binder and filler. The result is a flavorful, medium bodied, not especially complex but enjoyable, clean smoke with nice notes of espresso, cocoa, earth and black pepper. Unfortunately for me, it turned out to be a pretty good smoke despite my extremely brand biased assumptions.