The CAO L’Anniversaire Cameroon was launched in 1998 to celebrate the 30th birthday of the company, which was founded in 1968. Of course, it didn’t sell a single cigar back then. CAO founder Cano Ozgener was in a different sector of the tobacco industry. An engineer by trade, we was focused on designing, manufacturing, and selling high quality Turkish “meerschaum” pipes. He was born in Istanbul, so the connection was there. But the pipe business eventually contracted. Fortunately, his contacts from trade shows kept him in the loop about the cigar boom as it took shape. By that time, Ozgener was a fan of cigars. In fact, he fondly recalls being able to not only get pre-embargo Cubans from a shop in NYC, but also to light them up in a nearby movie theater and puff away for a relaxing hour or two.
If we had a time machine, spending an afternoon that way would probably make the list after we hit the historical highlights.
This cigar was more than just ego-stroking for the company – it’s actually a fine blend that scored a 92 rating and was named the 17th Best Cigar of 2004, according to Cigar Aficionado. It was originally blended up by Nick Perdomo, who has helped cultivate a love of cigars in the hearts of many (Boutique Blends’ Rafael Nodal, for example, fell in love with cigars after taking a box of La Tradicions home from Perdomo’s shop in Little Havana). The cigar itself features an authentic African-grown Cameroon wrapper around a Nicaraguan filler blend. Light it up for the flavors of cocoa, toasted nuts, and dry wood. It’s a fine tribute for a company that after 30 years is still just getting started. We can’t wait to see what’s next from CAO and Chief Blender Rick Rodriguez!
Please browse our selection of CAO L’Anniversaire Cameroon cigars at your leisure.
