CAO Zócalo Returns with Two New Sizes
Fans of the limited-edition CAO Zócalo have something to look forward to next month, as General Cigar Co. is bringing it back as a regular-production cigar line with two additional sizes.
Originally released in 2018 as a 6 inch by 60 ring gauge grande with a production run of only 3,500 boxes, the CAO Zócalo marked the first time that the brand had ever come in a Mexican wrapper. The original 6 by 60 size will return, now called Gigante ($8.99), along with a Robusto, 5 by 52 ($7.99), and Toro, 6 by 50 ($8.49).
According to CAO brand manager and blender Rick Rodriguez, response from customers to the original release had been positive, but there was a demand for the cigars to come in more than just one size.
Made at the STG Estelí factory in Nicaragua (where most CAOs are produced), Zócalo is rolled with a Mexican Morrón cover leaf from the San Andrés Valley, a Cameroon binder and all-Nicaraguan filler.
The cigars come in boxes of 20 that are stylized with the colors of the Mexican flag. If the flag motif is different than what you remember, it’s because the first release only depicted an image of Mexico City on the box and bands—Zócalo is named after the city’s central square.
The CAO Zócalo line should be reaching retailers by March 5. See an upcoming issue of Cigar Insider for a vertical brand tasting.
