AshMap
Overview
The CAO Flathead V660 Big Block is a cigar that announces itself before you even cut the cap. The American Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper is the color of a freshly paved backroad at midnight — dark, slightly toothy, with a muted sheen that catches the light like a chrome valve cover on a '32 Ford. This is not a cigar that whispers. It's the two-by-four of the Flathead line, a 6x60 gordo that exists to make a statement: full-bodied, unapologetic, and built for the guy who finishes what he starts. In a market flooded with 60-ring novelties that smoke like wet newspaper, the V660 earns its place by delivering a blend that actually justifies the real estate.
From the cold draw, there's a dense, almost chewy sweetness — dark molasses and dried fig — that promises the Broadleaf's signature depth. The first third delivers on that promise with a hammer blow of dark chocolate and roasted espresso, grounded in a pronounced earthiness that feels like fresh-turned soil after a rain. The pepper is present but sits low, a bass note rather than a lead guitar, letting the wrapper's natural sweetness carry the melody. It's a bold opening, but not a brutish one; the balance between the robust body and the underlying sweetness is the first sign that this blend was engineered, not just assembled.
By the second third, the V660 shifts gears. The sweetness evolves from molasses toward dark cherry and cocoa nib, while leather and toasted cedar move into the foreground. The strength builds measurably here — this is where the full-bodied rating starts to flex — but the smoke texture turns creamy and dense, a direct benefit of the 60-ring gauge that allows the blend to breathe. A roasted walnut nuttiness emerges, weaving through the earth and leather backbone like a secondary exhaust note. It's a transition that keeps the palate engaged without losing the cigar's core identity.
The final third is where the V660 tightens its grip. The flavors concentrate into a dark roast coffee and charred oak crescendo, with bittersweet chocolate lingering on the retrohale alongside a pepper spice that refuses to fade. The sweetness recedes but never fully disappears, leaving a long, complex finish with hints of molasses and leather. The strength peaks firmly in the full range — this is not a cigar that fades gracefully; it finishes with authority, like a big-block engine winding out to redline before the checkered flag. The burn line may wander on this large format, but it self-corrects without fuss, and the ash holds in firm, pale grey columns that make you feel like you're smoking something substantial. This is a 90-minute commitment that rewards patience, and it's the rare everyday-priced cigar that punches well above its weight class.
Cigar Specifications
| Wrapper | American Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro — Maduro |
|---|---|
| Binder | Nicaraguan |
| Filler | Blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan long-fillers, aged tobaccos |
| Country of Origin | Danlí, Honduras |
| Vitola / Shape | Gordo |
| Size | 6 x 60 |
| Strength | Full |
| Price | $12–$16 per cigar |
| Tier | Everyday |
| Aging | Tobaccos aged prior to rolling; no extended post-production aging specified |
Tasting Notes & Flavor Progression
First Third
The opening salvo delivers rich dark chocolate, roasted espresso, and a pronounced earthiness that the Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper drives hard from the first draw. There is a underlying sweetness — dark molasses and dried fig — that balances the robust body admirably. Pepper is present but not aggressive, sitting as a bass note rather than a headline.
Second Third
The midpoint transitions into leather and toasted cedar, with the sweetness shifting from molasses toward dark cherry and cocoa nib. Strength builds measurably here, and the smoke texture becomes notably creamy and dense at the 60-ring gauge. A subtle nuttiness — roasted walnut — emerges alongside the continued earth and leather backbone.
Final Third
The final third tightens the flavor profile into a concentrated expression of dark roast coffee, charred oak, and bittersweet chocolate with lingering pepper spice on the retrohale. The sweetness recedes but does not disappear entirely, leaving a long, complex finish with hints of molasses and leather. Strength peaks firmly in the full range — this is not a cigar that fades gracefully; it finishes with authority.
Construction, Burn & Draw
Construction is typically solid for a factory-produced 60-ring offering — the draw is slightly open to ideal, producing voluminous, dense smoke clouds; burn line can wander on the large format but self-corrects without intervention in most cases, and ash holds in firm, pale grey columns to an inch or more.
Pairing Recommendations
Spirit
Bourbon with high corn content and residual sweetness — Maker's Mark 46 or Buffalo Trace work beautifully; also excellent with a dark rum like Zacapa 23 to complement the maduro sweetness
Wine
A robust Zinfandel (Ridge Lytton Springs) or a Petite Sirah with dark fruit and chocolate notes — the wine's density needs to match this cigar's full-body output
Non-Alcoholic
A cold-brew concentrate or a double espresso with a touch of dark chocolate — the beverage should be bold enough to stand alongside the cigar's intensity without being drowned out
Who Should Smoke This?
Picture a guy in his late 30s, a weekend mechanic who's just finished buttoning up a valve cover gasket on his project car — a 1970 Chevelle with a 454 that's finally purring. He's got a cold Buffalo Trace in a rocks glass, the garage lights are low, and he's got nowhere to be until Monday. He's smoked a few Padróns and a lot of Fuentes, but he's looking for something that doesn't demand a special occasion — something that feels earned after a day of honest work. He wants a cigar that hits hard but doesn't punish him, something with enough depth to keep his mind off the torque specs he just torqued. The V660 Big Block is that cigar. It'll give him a full-bodied, 90-minute session that starts with chocolate and earth, builds into leather and coffee, and finishes with a peppery kick that matches the satisfaction of a job well done. He's not a novice, but he doesn't need a PhD in tobacco to appreciate what this blend is doing — he just needs time and a cold drink.
Bottom Line
The CAO Flathead V660 Big Block is a working-class powerhouse that delivers genuine complexity without the pretension. It's the rare 60-ring gordo that earns its size, offering a full-bodied, well-integrated smoke that belongs in every serious humidor. Buy it for the days when you want a cigar that fights back — and wins.
Similar Cigars
Explore all CAO Flathead cigars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CAO Flathead V660 Big Block a strong cigar?
Yes, it's rated Full (4/5) on the strength scale. Physically, you'll feel the nicotine kick by the second third — expect a warming sensation in the chest, a slight buzz if you're not accustomed to full-strength cigars, and a noticeable increase in intensity that peaks in the final third. This is not a morning smoke or a casual lunch break cigar; it demands respect and a full stomach.
What does CAO Flathead V660 Big Block taste like?
The flavor progression moves from dark chocolate, roasted espresso, and pronounced earthiness with dark molasses and dried fig sweetness in the first third, to leather, toasted cedar, dark cherry, cocoa nib, and roasted walnut in the second third, and finally concentrates into dark roast coffee, charred oak, and bittersweet chocolate with lingering pepper spice on the retrohale in the final third.
How long does CAO Flathead V660 Big Block take to smoke?
Plan for 90 to 100 minutes. The 6 x 60 gordo format has a large ring gauge that burns slowly, and the dense filler blend requires a steady, deliberate pace. If you're a fast smoker, you might finish closer to 75 minutes, but you'll risk overheating the tobacco and losing the nuanced flavors. This is a cigar to savor, not rush.
What is the best pairing for CAO Flathead V660 Big Block?
A bourbon with high corn content and residual sweetness, like Maker's Mark 46 or Buffalo Trace, is the ideal match. The bourbon's caramel and vanilla notes complement the maduro wrapper's dark molasses and fig sweetness, while its proof cuts through the cigar's full-bodied earth and coffee flavors without being drowned out. For a rum alternative, Zacapa 23's dark sugar and oak notes work beautifully.
Is CAO Flathead V660 Big Block good for beginners?
No, this is not a beginner's cigar. With a Full (4/5) strength rating and a 6 x 60 gordo format, it delivers a significant nicotine punch and a dense, powerful flavor profile that can overwhelm a palate not yet accustomed to full-bodied blends. Additionally, the $12–$16 price point is a meaningful investment for someone still exploring. Beginners should start with milder, smaller-format cigars before stepping up to this one.
Where can I buy CAO Flathead V660 Big Block?
You can find it at most well-stocked brick-and-mortar cigar shops, particularly those with a dedicated maduro section. Online retailers like Cigars International, Famous Smoke Shop, and Atlantic Cigar typically carry the Flathead line, and you can often find single cigars or five-packs for purchase. Check the CAO website for a store locator if you prefer to buy in person.
What is the price of CAO Flathead V660 Big Block?
The CAO Flathead V660 Big Block typically retails for $12 to $16 per cigar, depending on your local tax rate and the retailer. Online purchases may offer slight discounts, especially when buying in bundles or five-packs, but expect to stay within that range for a single stick.
Is CAO Flathead V660 Big Block worth aging?
Not particularly. The tobaccos in this blend are already aged prior to rolling, and the American Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper is at its peak flavor profile when fresh. Extended post-production aging (beyond 1-2 years) may mute some of the pepper and brighten the sweetness, but it won't dramatically improve the blend. This is a cigar designed to be smoked within a year or two of purchase, not cellared for a decade.
What wrapper does CAO Flathead V660 Big Block use?
It uses an American Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper, which is dark espresso to near-black in color, slightly toothy with a muted oily sheen. This wrapper is known for delivering rich, earthy sweetness — think dark chocolate, molasses, and dried fruit — and it's the primary driver of the cigar's bold, full-bodied flavor profile.
Where is CAO Flathead V660 Big Block made?
It's hand-rolled at the STG (Scandinavian Tobacco Group) Honduras facility in Danlí, Honduras. This factory is known for producing consistent, high-quality cigars, and the V660 benefits from that production standard — expect a solid draw, even burn, and firm ash, typical of well-executed factory-made cigars.